If you need to cook large quantities of rice at one time, then a commercial rice cooker is an ideal foodservice equipment investment for your operation. Rice cookers are often selected because they simplify rice cooking and they provide consistently good rice. They are also easy to operate; you add your rice and water and let the rice cooker do the work. Best of all, you’ll no longer have large, unevenly cooked batches of rice and clean-up is easier too. Here are a few commonly asked questions about rice cookers.
What exactly is a commercial rice cooker?
A rice cooker is a commercial foodservice cooking equipment item that can cook several different types of rice along with other similar grains. Rice cookers work in the same way that cooking rice on a range does, by boiling water which is absorbed by the rice grains until it they are tender. Rice cookers maintain an even temperature so you don’t get uneven or burned rice. Also, rice cookers work automatically so that staff members can focus on other kitchen tasks.
Is rinsing rice required?
It is a quite common practice to rinse rice prior to cooking for a variety of reasons. Similar to the practice of rinsing many dried foods like beans, rice or grains prior to cooking, this is done to remove any pesticides, chemicals or other natural materials that may be on the foods. Rice is also rinsed to remove any additional starch which gives the rice a consistent texture and stops the rice cooker from boiling over. Keep in mind that there are exceptions to this practice. There are some types of enriched rice that may have vitamins or minerals added to it that would be removed in the rinsing process, so you should check the packaging prior to rinsing.
How long do you need to cook rice in a rice cooker?
This answer depends on the type of rice that you are cooking. Different types of rice, you Basmati or short grain white rice, will take different amounts of time to cook as well as requiring different amounts of water. Your rice cooker will be able to identify when your rice has finished cooking and it will turn off automatically at the right time. As a general rule, large quantities of rice cooked in a rice cooker will take between 25 and 35 minutes to be fully cooked.
What is the ratio of water to rice needed with a rice cooker?
As with cooking time, the amount of water needed to cook large amounts of rice in a rice cooker will depend on the type of rice being prepared. Rinsing the rice ahead of time will also change the amount of water that is needed. Here are some common varieties of rice and the recommended amount of water.
Long grain white rice: 1-3/4 cup water to 1 cup of rice
Long grain brown rice: 2-1/4 cup water to 1 cup rice
Medium grain white rice: 1-1/2 cup water to 1 cup rice
Short grain white rice: 1-1/2 cup water to 1 cup rice
Basmati rice: 1-1/2 cup water to 1 cup rice
Jasmine rice: 1-1/2 cup water to 1 cup rice
Adding a rice cooker to your foodservice kitchen equipment inventory is a great idea if you prepare large quantities of rice. It will give you consistently delicious rice without the worry of undercooked or overcooked product and it will also free up employees time because they will no longer have to monitor rice as it cooks. We carry rice cookers from several top manufacturers including Globe rice cookers, Thunder Group rice cookers and Winco rice cookers.
