How long does it take to cook rice in one of your rice cookers?
All cooking times stated in our user manuals are approximate. This is because an exact, fixed cooking time cannot be guaranteed with fuzzy logic rice cookers.
Unlike a simple saucepan, our rice cookers continuously monitor and adjust the cooking process. The actual cooking time can therefore vary depending on a number of factors, including:
The cooking programme or setting selected
The type and variety of rice being cooked
The quantity of rice being cooked
The starting temperature of the water
Ambient room temperature
How quickly the rice absorbs water
Other conditions detected by the rice cooker's fuzzy logic system
As a general guide, cooking white rice takes approximately 40 minutes, while brown rice takes approximately 60 minutes when using the standard white and brown rice programmes. Actual times may vary depending on the model and the conditions during cooking, so please always refer to the user manual for your particular rice cooker.
Why does rice take longer in a rice cooker than in a saucepan?
It may seem surprising that a rice cooker can take longer than cooking rice in a saucepan, but this is because the two methods cook rice in very different ways.
When rice is cooked in a saucepan, the process is essentially a straightforward boil. Our fuzzy logic rice cookers use specially developed, phased cooking cycles that control the temperature and cooking conditions throughout the process.
Rather than simply boiling the rice continuously, the cooking cycle can incorporate different stages such as heating, boiling, braising, steaming and resting. This carefully controlled process is designed to help produce the desired texture, consistency and flavour from the rice.
The additional cooking time is therefore part of the cooking method rather than an indication that the rice cooker is inefficient.
Use the timer to have rice ready when you need it
All of our rice cookers include a TIMER/PRESET function, allowing you to programme the cooker in advance so that your rice is ready when you want it.
This can be particularly useful when planning meals, as you can prepare the rice and set the timer rather than having to start cooking manually.
Keep Warm
Another major advantage of a rice cooker over a saucepan is the KEEP WARM function.
Once cooking has finished, compatible rice cooker programmes can automatically switch to KEEP WARM, maintaining the rice at an appropriate temperature until you are ready to eat.
A saucepan cannot do this without continued heating and supervision. With a rice cooker, you can therefore have the rice cooked and ready when you need it, while the cooker takes care of maintaining the temperature.
So although a rice cooker may take longer to cook rice than a simple saucepan, the controlled cooking process, automatic operation, timer/preset function and KEEP WARM capability make it a much more convenient way to consistently prepare rice.