Steaming Veggies In An Aroma Rice Cooker: A Quick Guide

Rice cookers are incredibly versatile appliances that can be used for steaming vegetables, cooking rice, making soup, baking cakes, and more. If you're looking to add more vegetables to your diet or simply want to use fewer appliances, steaming vegetables in your Aroma rice cooker is a great option. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you get started.

Use the steam cook button on your rice cooker to steam vegetables

Using the steam cook button on your Aroma rice cooker to steam vegetables is a straightforward process. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Prepare the Rice Cooker

Ensure your Aroma rice cooker is unplugged from the power source. Open the cooker by pressing the "Lid Release" button. Remove the inner pot, and set it aside.

Step 2: Add Water

Refer to your Aroma cooker's instruction manual to determine the appropriate amount of water for steaming vegetables. Different vegetables require varying amounts of water. For example, according to the Aroma 10-Cup Digital Rice Cooker and Food Streamer Instruction Manual, steaming vegetables like asparagus, peas, spinach, squash, and zucchini requires adding 1/2 cup of water, while steaming cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, corn, and green beans calls for 1 cup of water. Use the provided measuring cup to add the recommended amount of water to the inner pot.

Step 3: Prepare the Vegetables

Select the vegetables you wish to steam. Fresh or frozen vegetables are suitable for steaming. Cut denser vegetables, such as carrots, into thin slices or shreds to ensure even cooking. If steaming multiple types of vegetables with different cooking times, adjust the sizes accordingly, so they cook evenly. For instance, if steaming broccoli and cauliflower together, make the cauliflower florets smaller than the broccoli florets since broccoli cooks faster.

Step 4: Use the Steam Tray

Place the steam tray inside the rice cooker, and arrange the prepared vegetables on it. Ensure they are not overcrowded, allowing for even steaming.

Step 5: Press the "Steam/Cook" Button

Close the lid of the rice cooker. Locate the "Steam/Cook" button on the control panel of your Aroma rice cooker. Press this button to initiate the steaming process. The cooker will begin to steam the vegetables.

Step 6: Monitor the Cooking Process

The Aroma rice cooker will automatically switch to "Keep-Warm" mode once the steaming is complete. Different vegetables have different steaming times, and personal preferences for doneness vary, so you may need to experiment with the steaming time. If your cooker has a countdown timer, you can use it to gauge the remaining cooking time.

Step 7: Serve the Steamed Vegetables

Once the cooker indicates that steaming is complete, remove the vegetables promptly to prevent overcooking. Serve the steamed vegetables while they are hot, or chill them and serve with your favourite sauce.

Using the steam cook button on your Aroma rice cooker is a convenient way to prepare healthy and delicious vegetables. By following these steps, you can easily incorporate steamed vegetables into your meals.

Steam vegetables for 3 minutes

To steam vegetables for 3 minutes in an Aroma Rice Cooker, first add the recommended amount of water to the cooker, usually 2 cups. Rinse your chosen vegetables and place them in the steamer basket. Position the basket over the water and cover with the lid.

If you have a one-button rice cooker, simply push the button and steam the vegetables until they reach your desired consistency. If you have a processor-controlled cooker, select the steam option from the menu and use the up and down buttons to set the time in 1-minute increments.

It's important to note that the timer on the Aroma Rice Cooker counts from when the unit comes to a boil and starts steaming, so your total cooking time will be longer than 3 minutes. However, after steaming vegetables a few times, you'll be able to estimate how long it will take.

Additionally, some vegetables steam more quickly than others, so you may need to adjust the timing accordingly. Broccoli, for example, cooks more quickly than cauliflower. If you want to steam them together, make the cauliflower florets smaller than the broccoli florets. For dense vegetables like carrots, slicing them thinly or shredding them can help ensure even cooking.

Vegetables will steam-cook in 5 to 15 minutes

Steaming vegetables in an Aroma rice cooker is an efficient way to prepare vegetables alongside rice. The Aroma rice cooker can cook multiple dishes at once, and steaming vegetables in a tray just above your rice can enhance the nutrients and flavour of your rice.

If you are cooking a large batch of rice, you may not have room for both the rice and the steamer basket. In this case, you can take out the steamer basket when the vegetables are done, or put it in when the rice is partially cooked.

If you are cooking frozen vegetables, it is recommended to microwave them separately and add them to the rice cooker after cooking, to avoid overcooking them.

Steam vegetables with a steamer basket

To steam vegetables with a steamer basket, start by adding the recommended amount of water to your rice cooker, usually 2 to 3 cups. Rinse your chosen vegetables and place them in the steamer basket. Position the basket over the water inside the rice cooker, ensuring it sits securely. Cover the cooker with its lid.

If your rice cooker is a basic model with a single "on" button, simply push the button and let the vegetables steam until they reach your desired level of doneness. If your cooker is more advanced, with a processor, select the steam option from the menu and set the time using the up and down buttons. You can refer to the manual for a steaming time chart to guide you.

The timer on your rice cooker will likely start counting from when the water begins to boil, so expect the total cooking time to be longer than the time you set. After a few tries, you'll get a sense of how long the process takes.

You can also steam vegetables simultaneously as you cook rice. This works best with a small batch of rice, as the rice cooker may not have enough room for both a full batch of rice and the steamer basket. Additionally, some vegetables steam faster than others, so choose your combinations wisely. For example, cauliflower can be steamed with white rice, while brown rice takes twice as long and requires denser veggies like carrots.

You can also remove or insert the steamer basket halfway through the cooking process to accommodate different cooking times for your vegetables and rice. Just be cautious of the hot steam when doing so.

When preparing your vegetables, keep in mind that some cook at different rates. Broccoli, for instance, cooks faster than cauliflower. So, if you want to steam them together, make the cauliflower florets smaller than the broccoli florets. For dense vegetables like carrots, slice them thinly or shred them to ensure even cooking.

The size of your steamer basket may also influence your choices. Bulky vegetables like baby potatoes or large florets may not fit as well, whereas French-cut green beans or thin-sliced carrots can be easily accommodated.

Steam vegetables without a steamer basket

If you don't have a steamer basket for your rice cooker, there are still several ways to steam vegetables. Here are some methods you can try:

Using a Small Trivet or a Wire-Mesh Strainer

Place a small trivet that fits into your rice cooker inside the cooker. Put the vegetables in a small bowl, plate, or sheet of foil on top of the trivet. Alternatively, you can put the vegetables in a small wire-mesh strainer, place it over the pot, and cover it with the lid. However, this method requires you to drape the top of the rice cooker with a clean kitchen towel to trap the steam effectively.

Using Foil

Roll some foil into balls and place them at the bottom of your rice cooker. Set a plate on top of the foil balls and use it as a platform for your steamed vegetables.

Using a Bowl, Colander, or Plate

Place a bowl, colander, or plate inside the rice cooker along with the water. You can then steam your vegetables in this setup.

Steaming Over Cooking Rice

If you're cooking rice, you can simply place greens and other delicate vegetables on top of the rice once it's done cooking. Close the lid, and the steam from the rice will gently cook the vegetables.

Frequently asked questions