Cody Casey
Yes, you can steam fish in a rice cooker! It's a nutritious, simple, and easy way to prepare a tasty dish for lunch or dinner. The rice cooker can be used to create an assortment of one-pot fish meals, and it's capable of cooking rice and steaming another dish at the same time. The trick to successfully cooking fish in a rice cooker is to place it in the machine with enough sauce or water to cook the flesh evenly. You can also steam a larger piece of fish, as long as it fits inside the rice cooker.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can I steam fish in a rice cooker? | Yes |
| How to steam fish in a rice cooker? | Place fish on a plate that fits in the upper level of the rice cooker. Put the plate in the rice cooker when the rice is almost cooked and steam for 10-15 minutes. |
| What type of plate should I use? | Any plate that fits into the rice cooker. It could be made out of aluminium foil or a steam-proof plate. |
| Do I need to adjust the heat? | No, but you can use the lowest setting if your cooker has one. |
| Do the fish and the rice cook at the same time? | Yes, but you can cook the rice first and then put the fish in when the timer beeps. |
| How long does it take to cook the fish? | It depends on the thickness of the fillet. It could take 5-10 minutes for a fillet less than 1-inch thick, 10 minutes per inch for thicker fillets, or 12 minutes for a whole fish. |
| How do I know when the fish is done? | The fish is done when it easily flakes when poked with a fork. You can also plunge a chopstick through the thickest part of the fillet -- if it passes through easily, it's done. |
| What kind of fish can I use? | Cod, halibut, grouper, or any other fish. |
| Can I use frozen fish? | Yes, but make sure to thaw it thoroughly and briefly rinse it under running water to clean it. |
| What spices can I use? | Garlic, ginger, hot chili, soy sauce, sesame oil, scallions, cilantro, cayenne pepper, chopped onions, celery, green peppers, lemon juice, diced tomatoes with chopped green chiles, basil, oregano, thyme, olive oil. |
What You'll Learn
Preparing the fish
If you are using a whole fish, cut three half-inch clefts on each side of the fish. If you are using fish fillets, use a sharp knife to create three to four quarter- to half-inch slits on both sides of the fish. You can then rub your desired spices onto the fish. This could include garlic, ginger, hot chilli, soy sauce, scallions, or sesame oil.
Finally, get a steam-proof plate that fits into the rice cooker. Scatter some shredded ginger in the centre of the plate, then put the fish fillet on top. You can then add your sauce or more spices on top of the fish.
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Preparing the rice cooker
Firstly, measure out your rice and water according to the instructions of your rice cooker. If you are making a sauce to accompany your fish, you can add this liquid to the rice cooker instead of water.
If your rice cooker has a quick mode, do not use this setting. Set a timer for slightly less than the time it takes to cook your rice. For example, if your rice takes 30 minutes to cook, set a timer for 24 minutes.
When the timer goes off, open the rice cooker. You should see that the rice is still moist and covered with bubbles. If your rice cooker has a steaming basket or steamer, place the fish in this. If not, use a stainless steel steaming rack. Place the rack inside the rice cooker, and put the fish on top of the rack. If you are using a plate, ensure it is steam-proof and will fit inside the rice cooker.
Cover the rice cooker with the lid and continue cooking until the function ends. You may wish to keep the lid on for an extra minute or two to ensure the fish is cooked.
To test if the fish is cooked, plunge a chopstick into the thickest part of the fillet. If it is cooked, the chopstick should pass through easily, and the meat should be opaque on the outside and at the centre.
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Cooking the fish
First, prepare the fish by scaling and washing it. Then, rub some fine salt all over, including the head, stomach, and tail, and let it sit for 15 minutes. If your fish is frozen, be sure to thaw it thoroughly and rinse it under running tap water to clean it. You can also pour hot water all over the fish fillet to get rid of any fishy smell.
Next, shred some celery leaves, cut the ginger into thin strips, and chop the garlic. You can also prepare a spice mixture for your fish, which can include garlic, ginger, hot chili, or any other flavors you wish to have on your fish. Bring out the flavor in your spices by cooking them on low for a minute or two in a little olive oil until they turn slightly brown.
If you are using a whole fish, cut three half-inch clefts on each side. If you are using fish fillets, use a sharp knife to create three to four quarter- to half-inch slits on both sides of the fish. Then, season the fish with salt and pepper, and any other seasonings you like. You can also prepare a sauce for your fish, which should have at least 1 cup of liquid in it to properly cook the fish. If you season your fish without liquids, you will need to place 1 to 3 cups of water into the bottom of the rice cooker.
Now, it's time to place the fish in the rice cooker. Put the fish on a plate that fits the upper level of the rice cooker. If your rice cooker has a steamer basket, place the fish in it. If not, you can place the fish directly on top of the rice. Turn the rice cooker on its lowest setting.
If you are cooking rice at the same time, wait until there is little visible water in the rice before placing the fish in the cooker. If you are not making rice, you can put 3 cups of water in the bottom of the rice cooker and steam the fish on top.
Finally, let the fish cook until it is fully cooked. If using a whole fish, check for doneness after 12 minutes, then recheck every 2 minutes or until the flesh near the top fin easily flakes when poked with a fork. If using fish fillets, check after 10 minutes or until the fish easily flakes when poked. For fillets less than 1 inch thick, check after 5 minutes, and recheck every 2 minutes.
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Cooking the rice
To cook rice in a rice cooker, you will need to measure out your rice and water according to the instructions of your rice cooker. Then, simply place the rice and water in the rice cooker and cook as usual. If you are making a sauce to go with your fish, you can add stock instead of water.
If you are steaming fish at the same time, wait until there is little visible water left in the rice before placing the fish in the steamer basket. If you are not steaming fish, just follow the usual cooking instructions for your rice cooker.
If you are making a one-pot meal with fish and rice, place the fish or fish and sauce in the rice cooker after almost all the water has cooked out of the machine and the rice is almost tender. Cook for an additional 10 to 20 minutes, checking the dish every 2 minutes after the initial 10 minutes.
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Serving the dish
Once your rice is cooked, carefully remove the fish and set it aside. Then, scoop some rice onto a plate and lay a fillet over the rice. You can also add some vegetables as a side dish.
If you want to add some extra flavour to the fish, you can pour a sauce over it. For a Chinese-inspired dish, you can use soy sauce, ginger, sesame oil, cilantro and scallions. Alternatively, you can create a Cajun-style fish dish with seasonings such as cayenne pepper, chopped onions, celery, green peppers, garlic, fish stock, lemon juice and diced tomatoes with chopped green chillies. You could also prepare an Italian fish sauce with tomato sauce, basil, oregano, garlic, thyme and olive oil.
If you want to add some garnish, you can use fresh herbs such as parsley, thyme, oregano, cilantro or ginger, or fresh lemon slices.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can steam fish in a rice cooker.
There are a few ways to steam fish in a rice cooker. One way is to place the fish on a plate that fits in the upper level of the rice cooker, and cook the rice underneath. Another way is to place the fish directly on top of the rice.
The steaming time depends on the thickness of the fish fillet. A good rule of thumb is 10 minutes per inch of fish fillet. For example, if your fish fillet is slightly thinner than an inch, it will need only 6 minutes to cook.
You can use any plate that fits into the rice cooker. It is recommended to use a steam-proof plate or aluminum foil.
