Steaming Eggs In A Rice Cooker: Easy, Quick, And Efficient!

Steaming eggs in a rice cooker is a simple, effective way to cook eggs without the need for boiling water. This method is ideal for those who want to avoid the mess of cracked eggs in a pot and achieve perfectly cooked eggs every time. The rice cooker's steaming function gently cooks the eggs, eliminating the issue of cracked shells and unsightly grey yolks from overcooking. By placing the eggs in the steamer tray, you can cook soft or hard eggs with ease, making it a convenient option for a quick breakfast or meal.

How to Steam Eggs in a Rice Cooker

How to steam eggs in a rice cooker without a steamer tray

Steaming eggs in a rice cooker is a great way to cook soft or hard eggs that are perfectly cooked and easy to peel. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to steam eggs in a rice cooker without a steamer tray:

Step 1: Prepare the Rice Cooker

Add about half a cup to a cup of water to the inner pot of your rice cooker. The amount of water added will depend on the desired doneness of your eggs. For soft-boiled eggs, use less water, and for hard-boiled eggs, use more water.

Step 2: Prepare the Eggs

Place the desired number of eggs into the inner pot of the rice cooker. Make sure they are standing upright, with the bottom of the eggs down. This will help balance out the yolks, especially if you plan on making deviled eggs.

Step 3: Cover and Cook

Cover the rice cooker with its lid. It is important to keep the lid closed during the cooking process to prevent steam from escaping. Set the rice cooker to the “Cook” setting (not steam) and start a timer. For soft-cooked eggs, set the timer for 13 to 15 minutes. For hard-cooked eggs, set the timer for 20 minutes.

Step 4: Prepare an Ice Bath

While the eggs are cooking, prepare a large bowl of ice water. Fill the bowl with cold water and ice cubes until it is about two-thirds full. This will be used to stop the cooking process and cool the eggs after they are done.

Step 5: Transfer Eggs to Ice Bath

Once the timer goes off, carefully remove the eggs from the rice cooker using tongs or a slotted spoon. Immediately transfer them to the prepared ice bath and let them sit for a couple of minutes. This will stop the cooking process and make the eggs easier to peel.

Step 6: Peel and Enjoy

After a few minutes in the ice bath, your eggs should be cool enough to handle. Tap the eggs gently on the counter to crack the shells all over, and then start peeling them under running water. Rinse off any remaining shell fragments, and your steamed eggs are now ready to be enjoyed!

Note: The cooking times may vary slightly depending on your rice cooker model, the starting temperature of the eggs, the size of the eggs, and the number of eggs being cooked. These instructions are for refrigerated large chicken eggs. Adjust the cooking time as needed for your specific circumstances.

How long to steam eggs for soft, medium, and hard yolks

Steaming eggs in a rice cooker is a great way to achieve your desired yolk consistency without the risk of cracking the eggs or ending up with an unsightly grey colour around the yolks. The cooking time will depend on the type of rice cooker you have, the temperature of the eggs, the size of the eggs, and the number of eggs being cooked. However, here is a general guide for how long to steam eggs for soft, medium, and hard yolks:

Soft Yolk

For a soft yolk, steam your eggs for around 13-15 minutes. This will give you a runny yolk, but you can reduce the cooking time by a minute or two if you prefer your yolk even runnier.

Medium Yolk

For a medium yolk, steam your eggs for around 13-15 minutes. This will give you a yolk that is slightly set but still jammy.

Hard Yolk

For a hard yolk, steam your eggs for around 17-20 minutes. This will give you a yolk that is fully set but still custardy. If you prefer your yolks firmer, you can steam them for a minute or two longer.

Regardless of the yolk consistency you are aiming for, be sure to place the eggs in an ice bath for a few minutes after steaming to stop the cooking process.

How to peel steamed eggs

After steaming your eggs in a rice cooker, it's time to peel them. But how?

First, it's important to cool the eggs. You can do this by running them under cold water for several minutes, or by transferring them to a bowl of iced water. This will also stop the cooking process.

Once the eggs are cool, you can start peeling. The shells should slide off easily. Tap on the fat end of the egg (the bottom) to crack it first. There is often an air bubble there, which is a good place to start peeling away at the shell without digging into the egg itself. Then, gently tap on the sides of the egg, rolling it as you go. You can then start peeling from the crack you made at the bottom.

If you're not eating the eggs straight away, you can store them in the refrigerator to keep them fresh for a few days.

How to steam eggs in a rice cooker with a steamer tray

Steaming eggs in a rice cooker is a great way to cook "boiled" eggs with less effort and achieve perfect results every time. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do it using the steamer tray that comes with your rice cooker.

Step 1: Prepare the Rice Cooker

Fill the inner pot of your rice cooker with water. The amount of water you need will depend on the type of rice cooker you have. For a rice cooker with a steamer tray, add about 1 to 1.5 cups of water, or enough to reach a depth of 1 to 1.5 inches. Place the steamer tray inside the rice cooker and close the lid.

Step 2: Adjust Settings and Timer

Turn on your rice cooker and adjust the settings. If your rice cooker has a "Steam" function, select that. Otherwise, set it to the "Cook" setting. Set the timer according to your desired level of doneness. For soft-cooked eggs, set the timer for 13 to 15 minutes. For hard-cooked eggs, set the timer for 18 to 20 minutes.

Step 3: Prepare the Eggs

While the rice cooker is heating up, prepare the eggs. Take them out of the refrigerator and let them come to room temperature if desired. Using room-temperature eggs may result in slightly different cooking times, so adjust your timer accordingly.

Step 4: Steam the Eggs

Once the water in the rice cooker is boiling and steam is being produced, carefully open the lid and place the desired number of eggs into the steamer tray. Close the lid and let the eggs cook for the specified time. If you are cooking a large number of eggs, you may need to cook them in batches to avoid overcrowding the steamer tray.

Step 5: Cool the Eggs

When the timer goes off, carefully remove the steamer tray from the rice cooker and transfer the eggs to a bowl of ice water. This will stop the cooking process and make the eggs easier to peel. Let the eggs cool for about 2 to 3 minutes before peeling.

Step 6: Peel and Enjoy

After the eggs have cooled, crack the shells and carefully peel them away from the eggs. Rinse the eggs under running water to remove any shell fragments. Your steamed eggs are now ready to be enjoyed! You can serve them as-is or use them in other dishes, such as egg salad or deviled eggs.

By following these steps, you can easily steam eggs in your rice cooker using the steamer tray. This method ensures your eggs are cooked gently and consistently, resulting in perfect hard-boiled or soft-boiled eggs every time.

How to steam eggs in a rice cooker and a pot

Rice Cooker

First, add water to the rice cooker. The amount of water you need to add will depend on the type of rice cooker you have. For a rice cooker with a steam tray, add 2 cups of water to the inner pot. If your rice cooker doesn't have a steam tray, add 3-6 tablespoons of water, depending on how soft or hard you want your eggs.

Next, place the desired amount of eggs into the steam tray. If your rice cooker doesn't have a steam tray, place the eggs directly into the inner pot.

Then, close the lid and select the appropriate cooking function and time. If your rice cooker has a steam function, select this and set the steam time according to your desired level of doneness. For soft-boiled eggs, steam for 8-13 minutes; for medium-boiled eggs, steam for 11 minutes; and for hard-boiled eggs, steam for 13-20 minutes. If your rice cooker doesn't have a steam function, select the White Rice function and set a timer for 8-13 minutes, depending on your desired level of doneness.

Once the time has elapsed, immediately transfer the eggs to a bowl of iced water to stop the cooking process. Allow the eggs to sit in the ice bath for 2-3 minutes before peeling and serving.

Pot

To steam eggs in a pot, fill a pot with water and bring it to a boil. The amount of water will depend on the size of your pot. If you are using a pot with a steamer basket, add water until it just touches the bottom of the steamer basket.

Once the water is boiling, place the steamer basket in the pot and add the desired amount of eggs. If your pot doesn't have a steamer basket, you can carefully add the eggs directly to the boiling water.

Cover the pot and set a timer. For soft-cooked eggs, steam for 6 minutes; for hard-cooked eggs with a slightly soft yolk center, steam for 10 minutes; and for fully cooked-through yolks, steam for 12-15 minutes.

When the time is up, transfer the eggs to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Allow the eggs to cool for 5-10 minutes before cracking and peeling.

Frequently asked questions