Rice is eaten all around the world in lots of different ways, so the need for a good quality rice cooker is a must for a lot of households all across the United States.
Because of its versatility, rice can be eaten with a range of meals including curries, risottos, burritos, and a range of other dishes. So, it’s pretty clear – you need a good rice cooker to be able to get the best quality of rice to serve up for dinner.
One such recommended brand is Black and Decker. They make a range of rice cookers in various sizes – but how exactly do you use a Black and Decker rice cooker? Just how far can you push the boundaries using this one single appliance?
That is what we are going to be covering here. If you are unsure how to use your Black and Decker rice cooker, then we will guide you step by step to make the most amazing rice.
Plus, we will also be thinking outside the box to see what else we can potentially use this rice cooker for to expand its uses and prove its versatility.
So – let’s take a closer look at the Black and Decker rice cooker to see what it has to offer!
What Is The Black And Decker Rice Cooker?
On the surface, there is nothing really outlandish about the Black and Decker rice cooker. It does what it says on the tin, but also comes with a few handy features that allow you to use this one appliance to cook various foods.
Their rice cooker range actually comes in five different sizes that each allows you to cook the right amount of rice depending on your portion needs. The series includes:
The 3 cup rice cooker is small and compact, making it ideal for cooking enough rice to feed one or two people.
The 16 cup rice cooker is larger again, feeding more people or allowing there to be plenty of cooked rice for leftovers.
And finally, there is the 28 cup rice cooker which allows you to cook enough rice for a large gathering or party.
From the 6 cup rice cooker size and up, the Black and Decker rice cookers come with a steam basket that will also allow you to steam vegetables and fish while your rice is cooking.
This means that for small families and upwards, you are also able to make a whole meal using one single appliance that requires very little monitoring.
Because of this, the Black and Decker rice cookers have become a favorite appliance for many families as it helps make cooking up dinner so much easier and faster – but how does it work?
How To Use A Black And Decker Rice Cooker
The process for cooking rice in a Black and Decker rice cooker is the same for all of its size options. It’s super easy and simple, which is why many families are opting to buy a rice cooker because it helps save time and energy when it comes to cooking rice for dinner.
Each Black and Decker rice cooker comes with a nonstick rice pot that acts as a cooking bowl, fitting neatly into the rice cooker. On the inside of the rice pot are measurement markings that indicate the water level.
This is so you can easily fill up the rice pot with the right amount of water to cook your rice with. How much water you add all depends on how much rice you aim to cook.
Simply fill up the bowl with the right water to start cooking your rice. Then, use the rice measuring cup provided by Black and Decker (or your own measuring utensils, it’s up to you!) to measure out how much rice you want to cook.
Add the rice to the water, pop the lid on top of your Black and Decker rice cooker, and plug in the appliance. Flick the center switch of your Black and Decker rice cooker downwards to ‘cook’ – the amber light should light up, and your Black and Decker rice cooker should begin cooking your rice with no delay.
Your rice will take between twenty and forty minutes to cook, depending on how much rice you are cooking. The Rice and Decker rice cooker will switch to warm once the rice is done.
The amber light will switch to yellow and the switch will automatically flip upwards. This means that it will keep your rice warm until you are ready to serve.
Remember to use the serving spoon provided by Black and Decker as this serving spoon will not scratch the rice pot, reducing your chances of damaging your appliance.
How To Portion Your Rice
Something a lot of people struggle with is portioning their rice. Because rice swells in size as it cooks, most people will end up with either too much rice or not enough – but Black and Decker have a recommended portion guide so you know how much rice you will end up with.
By using the rice measuring cup provided, you can accurately estimate the amount of rice you will end up with once it’s cooked.
The 3 cup rice cooker uses up to 1 and a half cups of dried rice which, once cooked, will leave you with three cups of rice.
The 6 cup rice cooker uses 3 cups of dry rice, the 14 cup rice cooker uses 7 cups of dry rice, the 16 cup rice cooker fits 8 cups of dry rice, and the 28 cup rice cooker holds up to 14 cups of dry rice. Using these portions of dry rice will leave you with the same amount of cooked rice in each rice cooker’s name.
If you want to go off-script with Black and Decker’s rice cooking recommended portions, the general rule of thumb to remember is that one cup of rice will need two cups of water to be adequately cooked. Using this measurement, you will be able to cook any amount of rice you desire up to each unit’s maximum capacity.
Steaming Fish And Vegetables
From the 6 cup rice cooker and upwards, each unit comes with a steaming basket that allows you to steam cook both vegetables, dumplings and fish while cooking your rice.
To do this, just fit the basket over the rice pot when your rice is cooking – just make sure that you leave enough room for your basket to fit. Place your desired vegetables and fish into the basket, cover with the lid and leave to cook.
You don’t have to wait until you are cooking rice to use this as a steamer – just add some water and leave out the rice and the Black and Decker rice cooker works just the same as a regular steamer.
Cooking Alternative Meals
Although the Black and Decker rice cooker was designed to cook rice, that is not its only function. It can work great as a steamer to cook vegetables and fish (as we mentioned above) but there are lots of alternative meals you can use your Back and Decker rice cooker to make.
Basically, it has the potential to work as a regular steam cooker. You can use the rice pot to cook other meals such as soups and stews, as well as other slow cooking meals like oatmeal, chilli, and puddings. You can even substitute the rice for other grains like quinoa and couscous to bring some variety to your meals.
To do this, just use your Black and Decker rice cooker as a substitute for a pot on your stove. Fill the rice pot with all the ingredients of your desired meal, flip the switch and leave it to cook. Remember to stir occasionally and stay with the rice cooker to ensure that it does not overflow.
This process is really not complicated at all. With the Black and Decker rice cooker, a range of meals are only a flick of a switch away.
Conclusion
Using a Black and Decker rice cooker is super easy thanks to all the handy tools provided by Black and Decker.
To cook rice, all you have to do is use the measuring tools given to you to accurately work out how much rice you will have for your meal, add it to the pot and flick the switch – it really is that easy!
Plus, cooking alternative meals like steaming veggies or making a stew requires the same few basic steps (just with different ingredients). So, if you are thinking of getting a Black and Decker rice cooker, just know that it is super easy to use and you can make a lot of different meals using this one appliance.
Hi, my name is Kunal Sharma, and I am a self-certified foodie. I love everything about food - from its preparation to cooking, raw ingredients to final dishes.
Some people relax by taking a walk outside or painting, but my release from the day is when I get to come home and cook for my wife and kids. Luckily they aren’t fussy eaters, because it’s a different meal every night!
If you are like me and can’t get enough of all things food related, then I invite you to come on a journey through my website.
