How to Cook Wild Rice in a Rice Cooker

Is there anything a rice cooker can’t do? Turns out, you can easily cook wild rice in this versatile kitchen appliance! Say goodbye to burnt pots and hello to convenience. Discover everything you need to know about cooking wild rice in a rice cooker, including water-to-rice ratios, storage tips, nutritional benefits, and even some tasty recipes to try!

A rice cooker is more than just a tool for cooking white and brown rice. It can handle a variety of rice and grains, including wild rice. What’s not to love about using a rice cooker? It’s incredibly easy and virtually impossible to burn your grains. No more scraping pots, my friend!

Wild rice can be quite expensive, which is why purchasing from bulk bins is your budget-friendly option. Check out your local grocery store’s bulk section to find this precious grain at a more affordable price.

Regardless of whether you have a basic or fancy rice cooker, you can use it to cook wild rice. So let’s get started on this hassle-free cooking process!

📖 Instructions

1. Start by spraying a little cooking spray on the bottom of your rice cooker bowl to prevent sticking.
2. Rinse the uncooked wild rice grains with clean, cool water to remove any dust or debris.
3. The water-to-wild rice ratio is 2 cups of liquid for every 1 cup of wild rice. Keep in mind that 1 cup of uncooked wild rice yields a little over 3 cups of cooked wild rice.
4. Add the water and wild rice to the rice cooker bowl and cover it with the lid.
5. If you have a basic rice cooker, simply push the button down and let it work its magic. The button will pop up to let you know when the wild rice is perfectly cooked.
6. Cooking time varies, but it generally takes about 1 hour for 1 cup of wild rice to cook in a basic rice cooker.
7. If you have a fancy rice cooker with multiple settings, choose the “brown rice” setting before starting the cooking process. Some examples of such rice cookers are Aroma Rice Cookers.
8. Once the rice cooker is done, remove the lid and fluff the wild rice with a fork. It’s now ready to be served!

🔁 Substitutions

Wild Rice blend in the rice cooker

Sometimes, wild rice is found in a mix or medley with other types of rice, like brown and red rice. If you have a wild rice blend, you can use the same water-to-rice blend ratio of 2 cups of liquid for every 1 cup of rice. However, since each wild rice mix may contain different ingredients, you might need to add 1-2 tablespoons of liquid and cook it for longer if the rice is too firm.

Adding Flavors

If you want to enhance the flavor of your wild rice, replace the water with broth (such as chicken, beef, or vegetable broth) while cooking.

🥣 Storage

Cooked wild rice can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. For longer storage, freeze it in a freezer-friendly container for up to 6 months. Remember to let the rice cool completely before freezing to prevent freezer burn. When it’s time to thaw the rice, defrost it in the refrigerator overnight. Alternatively, you can defrost it in the microwave by adding a small amount of water and covering the bowl to retain moisture and fluffiness.

💪 Nutrition

Wild Rice is naturally gluten-free and packed with protein and antioxidants. It’s often referred to as a “superfood” due to its high protein content. Enjoy the health benefits and deliciousness of this grain in your meals!

✨ Top Tips

Here are some handy tips to keep in mind:

• The water-to-wild rice ratio is 2 cups of liquid for every 1 cup of wild rice.
• 1 cup of uncooked wild rice makes a little over 3 cups of cooked wild rice.
• Basic rice cookers typically take about 1 hour to cook 1 cup of wild rice.
• If your wild rice isn’t as soft as desired after cooking, add 1-2 tablespoons of liquid and continue cooking.

Remember, wild rice can also be cooked on the stovetop or in an Instant Pot if you prefer different cooking methods.

🥗 More Recipes/Serve With

Wild rice is versatile and can be incorporated into salads, casseroles, and soups. Here are some fantastic recipes from around the web to inspire your culinary creativity:

• Creamy Wild Rice Soup

🍽️ Equipment

To make this recipe, you’ll need the following items. By following the embedded “Ekilove” hyperlink, you can explore more products on ekilove.com while supporting “Ekilove”‘s mission.

• Rice cooker
• Fine mesh strainer (metal is recommended for durability)

I hope this tutorial on cooking wild rice in a rice cooker has been helpful to you! Enjoy the convenience, deliciousness, and health benefits that wild rice brings to your table.

✌️ Ems