Q&A for How to Cook Rice in a Rice Cooker

Yes. It will give the rice more flavor.

The answer to this depends on the cooker. Some cookers has "quick cook mode" with which you can cook within 20 minutes. But generally it takes about 30-50 minutes. Read the accompanying manual for an exact time.

The order in which the ingredients are added doesn't matter, as long as the water covers the rice and no rice is sticking to the sides above the water level.

It depends on how soft you want it. If you like it mushy, then you should use 1 1/2 cups of water. For slightly firmer rice, you should use a little less than 1 cup.

Anywhere between 16 and 30 oz of water (2 to 4 cups), but 3.5 cups (28 oz) is recommended.

Before cooking, spray the inside pan with pan spray. The rice will come out easily and the pan will be easy to wash.

It usually takes 45 - 55 minutes, unlike white rice, which is only 20 minutes.

If you know that it's too much before you start cooking it, use something like a lid to push the rice back and drain the water. If it has started cooking, stop it, and drain it.

Add lesser water. Rice absorbs water to make it cook and soften. If you want it harder, add less water to it.

No, you cannot. Instant rice is precooked, and will burn rather quickly in the cooker.

Yes, you can steam vegetables in your rice cooker. However, you will need to time them while they cook to prevent overcooking them.

Sticky rice usually takes more water than usual, but the rice should come with instructions when you buy it.

No, you can't. Cooking rice in any method requires a lid, as the steam is what does most of the work.

About 2 cups, but this will vary a little depending on how much water you use.

This can be attributed to excess starch in the rice. Try to rinse the rice or alternatively use less water.

It doesn't really turn off, it just reduces the heat in the rice cooker so the rice doesn't overcook.

13 pounds is about 26 cups (if you use white rice). Look online for rice cookers that have a 26-cup (uncooked) capacity.

Add more water to prevent burning, or just turn off the cooker altogether.

Use 1 cup of water for 1 cup of rice, so 5 cups of water.

Salt and oil are added in order to give flavor to the rice. A small quantity of both does not make a huge difference in the cooking temperature.

It is the same method as cooking a jasmine rice, but before you cook it, you have to soak the rice in water for at least 1 hour. Rinse and put in a rice cooker, 1 cup of rice for every 1 1/2 cups of water.

If you mean over-spilling, add less water and rice into the cooker in the first place.

Using a sieve could work if it fits inside and the lid can close firmly. If the sieve has a handle, it will stick out the side and let too much steam out and undercook the rice.

There's a wide variety of things you can cook in one; reference the rice cooker section of a site like allrecipes.com.

Yes, but note that the two might need different cooking times, so when your rice is cooked, the chicken might be over- or under-cooked.

You can steam vegetables if your rice cooker came with the rack that is usually included for that purpose, but I do not recommend cooking meat it, as it would be difficult to know if the meat was cooked through properly. It wouldn't be safe.

There's nothing you can really do except finish the cooking on a non-electric stove.

Yes, but you would be best cooking the beans separately and not in the rice cooker.

Yes, you can. It won't do any damage and will add flavor. See above in step 5 (add flavorings).

Usually half a cup per person is good. It all depends on the meal and how much you like rice.