I’m a little hesitant to share this ‘non-recipe’, but in my defense, this is less a recipe and more a call for everyone reading this to invest in a rice cooker. Enter your email below and get it sent straight to your inbox. Plus, get recipes & tips every week! Here’s the thing – We can all make wonderful basmati rice without a rice cooker, but the idea is to do so consistently with no thought or effort on our part. Indian and Pakistani cuisine is full of delicious rice dishes such as biryani and pulao. Considering how frequently South Asians consume rice, I think rice cookers are a necessity. And I’ll show you how to use them to make the perfect basmati rice, every time.
The 3 Mistakes that Result in ‘Okay’ Rice:
Ingredients for Basmati Rice in a Rice Cooker
Here’s what you’ll need.
What Is the Basmati Rice To Water Ratio In A Rice Cooker?
This depends on the type of rice you have, particularly if it’s aged or newly harvested. If you use aged, long grain basmati rice made in India or Pakistan, you’ll need 2 cups of water per 1 cup of rice. If you’re using American-made or ‘newer’ basmati rice, try reducing the amount of water to 1 3/4 cups.
How to Make Basmati Rice in a Rice cooker
Do you Have to Rinse Basmati Rice when Making it in a Rice Cooker?
The dreaded answer – it depends. You don’t absolutely have to, but it is a good idea in most cases. Excess starch in rice causes cooked rice to clump together which is not what you want with basmati rice.
If you’re using newer basmati rice found in American supermarkets (shorter grain, more white), then you can do without rinsing. But aged, long-grain basmati rice (longer grain, more ivory-colored) is sometimes excessively starchy. Ideally, you should rinse it. (That said, when in a hurry, I’ve made 1 cup of rice plenty of times without rinsing and no one has complained.) Rinsing is especially important if you’re making multiple cups of rice because the starch can really add up.
Tip for rinsing: When you rinse, make sure to drain the excess water out well so you don’t end up with mushy rice because of too much water.
The Steps:
How To Cook Brown Basmati Rice In A Rice Cooker
If you’re using Indian or Pakistani grown brown basmati rice, increase the water ratio to 1 cup rice to 2 1/4 cups water. (Up to 2 1/2 cups water for super long, sturdy rice.) If you’re using new, American-grown brown basmati rice, stick to 1 cup rice to 2 cups water.
How To Make Flavored Rice In A Rice Cooker
You can easily use this ratio and ingredients for variation:
Add a handful of frozen peas and cumin seeds to make a quick Matar Pulao. Use this Chana Pulao (chickpea pilaf) or Chicken Pulao recipe to make the base in a sauté pan and transfer to the rice cooker. Use leftover curry or meat and enhance it with spices to make a fresh new pilaf with minimal effort.
Tips for making basmati rice in the rice cooker
The rice at the bottom of the rice cooker naturally tends to be stickier, while the rice on the top is more dry. To prevent this, fluff with a rice paddle or spatula after cooking. If you cook a large quantity of rice and leave it in the rice cooker too long, it’ll stick together and form clumps. The cooking time will increase depending on the quantity of rice. To keep the rice from losing moisture or drying out, keep it covered after cooking. Use a quality brand of basmati rice. I suggest purchasing it at Indian or Pakistani grocery stores as it’s generally aged and more affordable there. I use Royal Chef’s Secret Extra Long Grain.
What brand rice cooker is best for basmati rice?
I love the Zojirushi brand. I have the Neuro-fuzzy and was recently sent the Micom NS-WTC10 (thanks, Zojirushi!). I found the Neuro-fuzzy to work a bit better than the Micom.
How to Store & Reheat Basmati Rice
To store basmati rice, place in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can also freeze it by laying it flat in an airtight plastic bag. To reheat, wet a paper towel, squeeze out the excess water, and lay atop the rice before microwaving. You can also sprinkle a bit of water on top of the rice and microwave until heated through.
Serving Suggestions
Basmati rice goes perfectly with almost all curries such as Dals, Masala-based curries like Chana Masala or a Chicken Curry, kebabs, and just about every main dish on this website. It is also great alongside fusion dishes like Spicy Cashew Chicken and Chicken Shashlik. Need more ideas? Check out this roundup of 30+ Easy & Authentic Dinner Recipes to get inspired! Tried this recipe? If you have a minute, please consider leaving a comment telling me how it was! You can also take a quick picture and upload it directly into the comments. If you’re on Instagram, please tag me so I can see your creations. I truly love hearing from you. Thank you!
