Steamer Basket For Rice Cooker: Make Your Own

Rice cookers are a handy kitchen appliance that can be used for more than just cooking rice. If your rice cooker has a steam basket, you can use it to steam tender and flavourful vegetables, meats, and even dumplings at the same time as cooking rice. This saves time and counter space and can even enhance the nutrients and flavour of your rice. In this article, we will explore how to make a steamer basket for your rice cooker, the different foods that can be steamed, and the benefits of using a rice cooker with a steam basket.

Choosing the right steamer basket

Material

The material of the steamer basket is crucial. Bamboo steamer baskets are ideal for cooking sticky rice, a glutinous rice variety popular in Thai and Lao cuisine. Bamboo's natural fibres prevent the rice from sticking to the basket, ensuring it cooks evenly without losing flavour, nutrients, shape, and colour. You can find bamboo baskets with natural reeds to prevent sticking for under $20.

Size

The size of your steamer basket should be appropriate for the amount of rice you plan to cook. If you're cooking for a large family, choose a bigger basket that can accommodate a larger volume of rice. Smaller baskets are suitable for single servings.

Compatibility

Ensure that your chosen steamer basket is compatible with your rice cooker. Look for a basket that fits snugly on top of your rice cooker, allowing the steam to envelop the rice effectively. Some rice cookers have specific steam settings, so checking the instruction manual is essential.

Ease of Use

Select a steamer basket that is easy to use and clean. Look for features like a tight-fitting lid to trap steam and a removable base for easy rice removal and serving.

Additional Features

Some steamer baskets come with additional features like a Teflon cooking sheet, which is useful for kneading the rice after steaming to allow it to expand. Others may include serving baskets made of bamboo, a traditional and aesthetically pleasing way to serve sticky rice in Thai and Lao cultures.

Preparing food for steaming

When preparing vegetables for steaming, ensure they are cleaned and cut into similar-sized pieces. Vegetables with stiff skin, such as squash or pumpkin, should be placed in the basket with the flesh side down. Smaller pieces of food will steam faster, so it is advisable to cut larger vegetables into smaller sections to fit properly in the basket.

If you are steaming meat or fish, it is recommended to use foil to prevent the flavours from seeping into the rice. You can steam tender meats like chicken, beef, and pork. It is important to monitor the temperature of the meat with a meat thermometer to ensure it reaches a safe cooking temperature.

Additionally, you can experiment with different liquids in the cooking pot to add flavour to your rice. For example, you can substitute broth for water or add coconut milk or tea for extra fragrance.

Using a rice cooker to steam

If you want to steam food while also cooking rice, follow the steps below:

• Measure rice and water and add to the pot.
• Add food to the steamer basket and place it on top of the cooking pot.
• Close the lid and start the cooking cycle.
• The more food added to the steamer basket, the longer the steam time.
• Smaller pieces of food will steam faster than larger pieces, so cut food into similar-sized pieces.
• Use a kitchen timer when steaming food while also cooking rice.

If you want to steam food without anything cooking in the pot below, follow these steps:

• Pour the recommended amount of water into the cooking pot.
• Add food to the included steamer basket.
• Place the steam basket on top of the cooking pot, close the lid, and start the cooking cycle.

You can steam a variety of vegetables and meats with the steam basket. Vegetables should be cleaned and cut before they are placed in the basket. Vegetables with stiff skin, such as squash or pumpkin, should be turned flesh down.

You can steam more than just vegetables. The steamer function can be a great way to tenderise meat for pulled beef or pork. If you're cooking meat or fish in the steamer, always use foil to keep the flavours from seeping into the rice.

Steaming rice in a bamboo basket

Step 1: Preparing the Rice

Wash the rice by rinsing it in a sieve under cold running water to remove some of the starch. This will help reduce the stickiness after cooking. Next, soak the rice in a bowl of cold water for about 10-12 hours or overnight to help speed up the steaming process. If you want to add extra flavour to the rice, you can add whole spices to the water while soaking.

Step 2: Preparing the Bamboo Basket

Drain the rice and place it in the bamboo basket. Line the basket with a muslin cloth, a moist steaming cloth, or large vegetable leaves such as cabbage or bok choy. This will help hold in the moisture and prevent the rice from falling through the slats of the basket. Spread the rice grains out to form a thin layer. You can also spray the sides of the basket with vegetable oil to prevent sticking.

Step 3: Preparing the Pot

Place the bamboo basket in a wok or stainless steel pot. Fill the pot with 2-3 inches of water and place it on the stove. Heat the water and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat slightly so that the water continues to boil gently.

Step 4: Steaming the Rice

Fit the bamboo basket into the pot, ensuring that the rice is above the water line and not in the water. You may need to stack two baskets on top of each other to keep the rice out of the water. The bamboo basket should fit tightly into the pot to prevent steam from escaping. Steam the rice for about 30-35 minutes, adding water to the pot as needed. Check the rice periodically to ensure it doesn't dry out, but replace the lid on the bamboo basket as quickly as possible.

Step 5: Fluffing and Serving the Rice

Remove the bamboo basket from the pot. Use a wooden spoon to turn the rice over and fluff it up. Serve the rice immediately, or place it in a bowl and cover it with a moist cloth to keep it warm and prevent drying out.

You can also infuse flavour into your rice by steaming it with vegetable or meat broth instead of plain water. Additionally, lining the basket with banana leaves, grape leaves, or corn husks can add subtle flavour. You can also steam vegetables or meat in a separate basket below the rice to infuse flavour and save time.

Steaming food without rice

Using a Rice Cooker

If your rice cooker has a steam basket, you can use it to steam tender and flavourful vegetables at the same time as cooking rice. You can also steam meat or fish in your rice cooker, but be sure to use foil to prevent the flavours from seeping into the rice. Check your product guide for steaming times, but also monitor your food to ensure it is cooked properly. For example, chicken and other poultry should be cooked to at least 165°F, while beef and pork must reach at least 145°F.

Using a Stove

If you don't have a rice cooker, you can steam food on the stove. Here are some methods to try:

• Plate on tinfoil: Fill a pot with 1/2 inch of water and place three small balls of aluminium foil at the bottom. Rest a heat-proof plate on the foil, cover the pot, and bring the water to a boil. Add your vegetables to the plate, cover, and steam until tender.
• Microwave: Place your vegetables in a microwave-safe bowl with a tablespoon of water. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave until crisp, checking frequently.
• Steam in water: Fill a pot with 1/2 inch of water, add your vegetables, cover, and bring to a boil. Cook until tender, then drain. This method works best for firmer vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots.
• Steam in a fine-mesh sieve: Place a fine-mesh sieve in a large pot over boiling water. Put your vegetables in the sieve, cover, and steam until tender. However, this method may not work well if your pot and sieve are not large enough to capture the steam effectively.

Using a Bamboo Steamer

You can also steam food without rice using a bamboo steamer. Here are the steps:

• Pre-soak your rice for at least 10 minutes.
• Drain the rice and transfer it to a shallow, heat-proof container that will fit in your steamer.
• Place the container in the steamer basket and fill the steamer with cold water (the water should not be boiling when the rice is placed inside).
• Turn on the heat to high, cover, and cook for 20 minutes.
• Turn off the heat and let the rice sit in the steamer with the lid on for at least 5 more minutes. You can also keep it covered to stay warm until you're ready to serve.

Frequently asked questions