The sheer convenience of a rice cooker is reason enough to ask, “Can you cook pasta in a rice cooker?”. After all, the methods for cooking pasta and rice are pretty similar. So, why not?
Making pasta in a rice cooker is by no means an outrageous notion. Still, it is a little unconventional. This article will investigate whether cooking pasta in a rice cooker is possible. And we’ll detail the best approach when attempting to do so.
Contents
What Is A Rice Cooker?
A rice cooker is an electrical convenience appliance explicitly designed to cook rice. Some rice cookers even come with a steaming basket to steam vegetables or fish while the rice is cooking. But they vary in size, capacity, and features.
The most basic models cook white or brown rice and have a simple on/off switch. More advanced models may have a warming function. This makes it ideal for advanced meal preparation or for serving rice at an event or gathering.
Others may include a delay timer that allows you to set a specific time for your rice cooker to begin cooking. Some models even have built-in filters that purify the water before it flows into the cooking pot.
Rice cookers allow individuals and chefs to cook rice in a far shorter time than they typically do on the stove. And one of its best features is that it switches off automatically when the rice is cooked.
Can You Cook Pasta In A Rice Cooker?
So, can you cook pasta in a rice cooker? Cooking pasta in a rice cooker is a bit unorthodox, but it can definitely be done. The difference is that you won’t be draining the water from the pasta when cooked.
Therefore, knowing how much water to use is essential, so your pasta doesn’t turn to mush. But once you’ve perfected your pasta-to-water ratio, cooking pasta in a rice cooker is easy as pie.
How to Cook Pasta In A Rice Cooker
Here’s a basic guide on how to cook pasta in a rice cooker:
- Add the pasta to the cooking pot, and then add enough water to cover the pasta completely.
- For al dente pasta, add water to the point that it just covers the pasta. If you’d like slightly softer but chewy pasta, raise the water level by about a ¼ inch.
Take care not to fill more than 2/3 of the rice cooker to leave room for the pasta to expand. - Then throw a pinch of salt and a teaspoon of oil into the pasta water. The oil prevents excessive foaming.
- Set your rice cooker to “cook” and leave it to cook the rice. If your rice cooker offers different settings for white and brown rice, select the “white rice” option.
Be sure to open the rick cooker and stir the pasta at intervals to prevent it from sticking together. - Keep an eye on the rice cooker and switch it off before it automatically goes from “cook” to “heat”. If left of the “heat” setting directly after cooking, the pasta may burn and stick to the bottom of the cooker.
- When cooked, check to see whether there is any excess water in the cooker pot. If so, drain it off.
- Add your favorite seasoning, sauce, and garnishing, and serve.
Conclusion
Who would have thought that cooking pasta in a rice cooker would be possible and so easy? It’s also super quick, as the cooking process is a mere 10 to 12 minutes.
So, next time you’re wondering, “Can you cook pasta in a rice cooker?” remember the steps detailed in this post.