Can You Cook Pasta in a Rice Cooker? Find Out How!
Rice cookers are a popular kitchen appliance used to cook rice. The history of rice cookers is back to ancient China, where rice was a staple food, and cooking was time-consuming.
Today, rice cookers are available in many sizes in the market. They are a convenient and easy way to cook rice. Many models of rice cookers are versatile enough to cook other grains and even soups and stews. Do you know how to cook rice in a cuckoo rice cooker? It’s easy.
For pasta lovers, here the question arises; Can you make pasta in a rice cooker? The short answer is Yes. Using a rice cooker for pasta is comparable to using it for rice. Put your favourite pasta and water in the cooker, and enjoy.
In this guide, we will further discover different pasta recipes you can make in a rice cooker, how it benefits you to cook pasta in a cooker and much more!
Table of Contents
What types of pasta can you cook in a rice cooker?
You can make any pasta you can boil or cook in a rice cooker. However, some pasta may require more water or a longer cooking time than others. It’s best to experiment with different types of pasta and adjust the cooking time and water level as required.
You can make many types of pasta in a rice cooker, including:
How to cook pasta in a rice cooker? two quick recipes
It is easy to cook rice in an Aroma rice cooker. To make pasta, you can use any brand or model of a rice cooker. Here we share two different recipes to make pasta in a rice cooker.
1. Plain pasta in a rice cooker
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cooking Time: 10-12 minutes
- Serve: 02
- Featuring: A Rice Cooker
Ingredients
- Pasta
- Water
- Salt & pepper for taste
- Oil
Directions
- Firstly, Rinse the pasta in cold water and drain it well.
- Add the pasta to the rice cooker and cover it with water. The water level must be about 1 inch above the pasta.
- Add a pinch of salt and oil to the pot to enhance the flavour of the pasta.
- Turn on the rice cooker and let the pasta cook.
- Suppose the rice cooker has different rice settings for brown or white rice. Click the “White Rice” feature.
- Check the pasta after about 10 minutes and stir it gently to prevent it from sticking together.
- Continue cooking the pasta until it reaches your desired level of doneness.
- Keep an eye on the cooker and turn it off before it switches from ‘Cook’ to ‘Heat’ settings. Because if you leave it on the heat setting, the pasta may get burnt.
- Once the pasta is done, turn off the rice cooker and drain the excess water.
- Serve it with your favourite sauce or toppings.
2. Pasta sauce in a rice cooker
Most people use a saucepan for cooking pasta sauce, but users can also use a rice cooker. There are different ways to cook pasta sauce, among the one is the following:
Ingredients
- One can of crushed tomatoes (28 oz)
- 1/2 diced onion, diced.
- Two cloves of garlic, minced.
- Two tablespoons of olive oil
- One teaspoon of dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste.
Instructions
- Turn on the rice cooker and add the olive oil to the pot.
- Once the oil is hot, add the diced onion and minced garlic. Stir and cook until the onion is soft and translucent.
- Add the can of crushed tomatoes, dried basil, and dried oregano to the cooking pot.
- Stir the sauce and close the lid of the rice cooker.
- Set the rice cooker to “Cook” or “White Rice” mode and let it cook for 30-40 minutes, or until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency.
- Once the sauce is made, taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Serve the pasta sauce over your favourite pasta, and enjoy!
Common mistakes people make while cooking pasta
Cooking pasta in a rice cooker can be convenient, but some common mistakes people make can result in bad results. Here are some errors to avoid:
1. Overcrowding the rice cooker
You need to give pasta enough space to move around and cook evenly. Overcrowding the rice cooker can lead to unevenly cooked pasta.
2. Adding pasta too early
Some people make the mistake of adding pasta to the rice cooker before the water boils. This step can result in unevenly cooked pasta and a gummy texture.
3. Not stirring the pasta
It’s important to stir the pasta occasionally while it cooks to prevent it from sticking together.
4. Leaving the pasta in the rice cooker for too long
Unlike rice, you should cook pasta until it is al dente, which means you should cook it through.
Conclusion
Today we have shared such a simple guide with you about paste making. Who would have believed it would be possible and so simple to make pasta in a rice cooker? It just takes 10 to 12 minutes to make it. Next time you cook pasta, save time making it on the stovetop; pour some water and cook it in a rice cooker.
Happy Pasta making!
FAQs
Can you boil eggs in a rice cooker?
Yes, it is possible to boil eggs in a rice cooker. Most rice cookers come with a steaming tray or basket, which you can use to cook eggs.
Is cooking rice in a cooker unhealthy?
Cooking rice in a cooker is not inherently unhealthy. A rice cooker is a convenient and easy way to prepare rice. However, the healthiness of the rice itself depends on the type of rice you use, the amount of water you use and the cooking time.
Can maggi be made in the rice cooker?
Yes, you can make Maggi in a rice cooker. Pour the required amount of water. Once the water is about to boil, add the noodles and the masala (spice) packet to the cooker. Stir the noodles gently and cook for almost 2-3 minutes.
Is a rice cooker better than a microwave?
Both rice cookers and microwaves have advantages and disadvantages, so whether a rice cooker is better than a microwave depends on your needs and preferences.
A rice cooker may be better if you cook rice frequently and want consistently good results. However, if you are looking for a versatile appliance that you can use to cook various foods, a microwave may be a better choice.
