Steaming Rice: Oster Style

The Oster Rice Steamer and Cooker is a versatile appliance that can be used to cook rice and prepare vegetables for a well-balanced meal. It is simple to use, with just one button to initiate cooking and another to keep food warm. The cooker is also fast, taking approximately 15 minutes to cook most types of rice. The process of cooking rice in an Oster Rice Cooker involves rinsing the rice, adding the appropriate amount of water, closing the lid, and plugging the unit in. The cooker will indicate that the rice is cooking with a red light display, and once finished, the light will switch to orange, denoting the keep-warm mode. It is recommended to let the rice rest for 15-20 minutes to absorb additional moisture and soften. The upper steamer tray can be used to steam vegetables, proteins, or other foods simultaneously.

Rice-to-water ratio: 1:1.3 for al dente rice, 1:1.5 for soft rice

The rice-to-water ratio is a crucial factor in achieving the desired texture and fluffiness of the rice. For al dente rice, a ratio of 1:1.3 is recommended, which means for every cup of rice, you would need 1 cup and 1/3 cup of water. This results in rice that is soft on the outside but still has a little bite left on the inside. If you prefer your rice to be softer, a ratio of 1:1.5 is suggested, requiring 1 and 1/2 cups of water for every cup of rice.

The amount of water used in cooking rice directly impacts the final texture. Insufficient water can lead to burnt or undercooked rice, while too much water can make it mushy and sticky. Therefore, it is essential to strike a balance by using the appropriate rice-to-water ratio.

When cooking rice in an Oster food steamer, it is important to follow the manufacturer's instructions and recommendations. The Oster rice steamer and cooker come with a supplied measuring cup to ensure accurate measurements. According to the instructions, for every two cups of rice, use four cups of water; for every four cups of rice, use seven cups of water; and for every six cups of rice, use eight cups of water.

Additionally, the Oster food steamer can be used to cook vegetables alongside rice, making it a versatile appliance for preparing well-balanced meals. It is recommended to place the food that takes longer to cook in the bottom steamer bowl and the other ingredients in the top steamer bowl.

Rinse rice to remove excess starch

Rinsing rice before cooking it in your Oster food steamer is an important step that will ensure you end up with a pot of rice that's fluffy and not clumpy. Rinsing the rice removes any debris and, most importantly, gets rid of the surface starch that would otherwise cause the rice to stick together or become gummy as it cooks.

To rinse the rice, place it in a fine-mesh strainer and run cool water through it. Shake the strainer lightly or agitate the rice with your fingertips to ensure that each grain is washed. You don't need to keep rinsing until the water runs clear, but you should rinse the rice thoroughly. The water may appear cloudy, and that's normal. To make sure all the starch is gone, capture some of the rinse water in a bowl and check if it's starchy. Keep reserving and checking small amounts until the water is clear.

Once you've rinsed the rice, you can add it to your Oster food steamer. Pour the desired amount of rice into the supplied measuring cup. One cup of uncooked rice will make roughly two cups of cooked rice. Do not put more than seven cups of uncooked rice into the cooker. After pouring the rice into the inner pot, add the correct amount of water. For every two cups of rice, add four cups of water; for every four cups of rice, add seven cups of water; and for every six cups of rice, add eight cups of water.

Lower the inner pot into the rice cooker and confirm that it's firmly seated within the body of the cooker and is touching the heating plate. Cover the pot with the supplied lid to prevent steam from escaping. Plug the power cord into an AC wall outlet and turn the steamer on by pushing the "Power" switch located on the front of the steamer.

Soak rice for 5-10 minutes

Soaking rice is an important step in the cooking process, and it comes with several benefits. Firstly, it helps to remove any unwanted layers, making the rice softer and fluffier. Secondly, it improves the texture of the rice, allowing it to retain its aromatic elements and producing a beautiful bloomed texture. Soaking also has health benefits. It helps to remove phytic acid, a substance found in plant seeds that impairs the body's absorption of important minerals like iron, zinc, and calcium. Additionally, it helps in boosting the gastrointestinal tract, making it more effective in absorbing vitamins and minerals from the rice.

When it comes to the Oster Rice Steamer and Cooker, the process of cooking rice is straightforward. The cooker comes with a supplied measuring cup, and the general rule is to use one cup of uncooked rice for every two cups of cooked rice. However, it's important not to put more than seven cups of uncooked rice into the cooker at once. After measuring the desired amount of rice, it should be poured into the inner pot. The next step is to add the correct amount of water. For every two cups of rice, four cups of water should be added, and this ratio should be adjusted accordingly for larger quantities.

Once the rice and water have been added, it's time to lower the inner pot into the rice cooker. It's important to ensure that the pot is firmly seated within the cooker body and is touching the heating plate. The supplied lid should then be placed on top to prevent steam from escaping. The power cord can then be plugged into an AC wall outlet, and the power switch on the front of the steamer can be turned on. The red "Cook" light will illuminate, indicating that the cooking process has begun.

While the Oster Rice Steamer does not specify the need to soak the rice, doing so for 5-10 minutes can be beneficial. This duration is shorter than the recommended soaking time for most types of rice, which is typically around 30 minutes. However, even a short soak can help improve the texture and nutritional value of the rice. After soaking, the rice can be cooked in the Oster Rice Steamer by following the standard procedure outlined above.

Rice cooking time: 15-20 minutes

To cook rice in an Oster food steamer, follow these steps:

Firstly, ensure you are using the correct rice-to-water ratio. For white rice, the ratio is 1 cup of rice to 1.5 cups of water. For long-grain or brown rice, use 1 cup of rice to 2 cups of water. Adjust the ratio depending on your preferred rice texture. For softer rice, use 1 cup of rice to 1.5 cups of water. For short-grain rice, reduce the ratio to 1 cup of rice to 1.1 cups of water.

Next, rinse the rice a few times with cold water to remove excess starch and prevent the rice from boiling over. Then, fill the inner pot of the cooker with the appropriate amount of water, up to the designated fill line, and add the desired amount of rice. Allow the rice to soak in the water for 5-10 minutes.

After soaking, close the lid and plug the unit in. The cooker will indicate that the rice is cooking, usually with a red light display. Cooking time for most rice is approximately 15 minutes. Once the rice is cooked, the light will switch to orange, indicating that the cooker has entered keep-warm mode. Allow the rice to rest for 15 to 20 minutes to enable it to absorb additional moisture and soften.

During cooking, you may need to mix the rice. After 15 minutes, remove the lid and use a large wooden spoon or paddle to stir the rice. Then, replace the lid and allow the rice to continue cooking.

You can also use the upper steamer tray to cook vegetables, proteins, or other foods simultaneously as the rice cooks.

Rice resting time: 15-20 minutes

Once the rice is cooked, it is important to let it rest for 15 to 20 minutes. This allows the rice to absorb additional moisture from the pot, helping it to soften and making it taste even better. During this time, the rice will remain warm and ready to serve.

The Oster rice cooker is designed to keep your rice warm until you are ready to serve it. Once the rice is cooked, the light will switch to orange, indicating that the cooker has entered keep-warm mode. This mode will remain active until the cooker is disconnected from the power source.

The keep-warm feature is a handy way to ensure your rice is ready when you need it, without overcooking or drying it out. It is a useful function if you are preparing multiple dishes or waiting for guests to arrive.

Remember, the rice will continue to absorb moisture and soften during this resting period, so if you prefer your rice with a slight bite, you may want to remove it from the cooker before the full 20 minutes are up.

The resting time is also a good opportunity to prepare other dishes or set the table. You can also use this time to quickly wash the lid and rice bowl in hot, soapy water, or on the top rack of the dishwasher, so they are ready for the next use.

Frequently asked questions