I recently was asked if I wanted to try the 4-20 Cup Rice and Hot Cereal Cooker from Hamilton Beach. Naturally, I said, “Yes,” especially after I heard that I could make Shrimp and Grits in it! I love to try new products and my husband had been telling me for a while that he wanted a rice cooker. (Yes, this is a sponsored post. However, the thoughts in this post are my own, as are the grammatical mistakes.)
So I got this pretty little, lightweight rice cooker and did what I typically do – I tried to make rice without thoroughly reading the directions. (It might have been that I didn’t take a nap that day.) Let’s just say, please read the directions before you make rice. Also, don’t try to cook the rice in the steamer basket. ‘Nough said.
After a little bit of trial and error, I figured out how to steam fresh broccoli. Yea! It is right in line with my goal of trying to increase my daily consumption of fruits and veggies. (I read that we need 9 servings per day. NINE!)
Overcooked broccoli is not good broccoli. Broccoli should be bright green once it has been cooked and still have a good texture.
Here’s how to do it. These are really simple instructions. Ready? Add 2 cups of water into the cooking pot of the rice cooker. Rinse broccoli florets (crowns) and place them in the nifty little steamer basket. (You can use the basket as a colander, if you’d like.)
Put the colander into the rice cooker.
Place the cover on top, plug in the rice cooker, and push the STEAM COOK button and hold it until it hits the 3 minute mark. Release the button and let it work for you.
Though it takes just 3 minutes to steam, it takes several minutes for the cooker to heat up to the right temperature. So if you are planning on having steamed broccoli or any other steamed item for dinner, you need to be sure to allow for the rice cooker to “preheat.”
Season with a little salt and pepper to taste and enjoy.
How To Steam Broccoli in a Rice Cooker
Ingredients
- 1 head of broccoli
- 2 cups of water
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Cut the florets off the broccoli and discard the stalk (or reserve for another use).
- Pour 2 cups of water into rice cooker pot.
- Rinse florets in running water and place in steam basket. Place basket in rice cooker and close lid.
- Using the STEAM COOK feature, steam broccoli for 3 minutes.
- When finished, lightly salt.
Overall, using the Hamilton Beach Rice Cooker is pretty easy once you get the hang of it.
Some of the nice features of the 4-20 Cup Rice and Hot Cereal Cooker are:
- There’s no need to watch the pot.
- You can cook rice, steam vegetables, make soup, bake a cake, make maccaroni and cheese, cook grains, and so much more.
- It will keep your rice, soup, etc. warm once the cooking phase is complete.
- It cooks all varieties of white rice, including short- and long-grain rice.
- It’s great for oatmeal, grits, and cream of wheat.
I made the Lentil Soup for Rice Cooker recipe that is on the Hamilton Beach website. It was easy to make and pretty hearty.
I also made the Pumpkin Spice Cake for Rice Cooker recipe. The batter itself was quite good, but once it cooked – and it took longer in my rice cooker than what the directions stated – it came out a little rubbery. I need to practice making more cake in the rice cooker. (I suspect the rice cooker would be a great way to make a pudding cake. You know, the kind with a layer of warm pudding beneath the cake layer.)
How to Steam Broccoli in a Rice Cooker
Ingredients
- 1 head of broccoli
- 2 cups of water
- salt to taste
Instructions
-
Cut the florets off the broccoli and discard the stalk (or reserve for another use).
-
Pour 2 cups of water into rice cooker pot.
-
Rinse florets in running water and place in steam basket. Place basket in rice cooker and close lid.
-
Using the STEAM COOK feature, steam broccoli for 3 minutes.
-
When finished, lightly salt.
I’d make brown rice
I would try a macaroni and cheese dish with bacon.
I would make rice with mixed veggies for a side dish. Love rice but don’t always make it good.
i make yucky rice without a cooker!
I would make a vegetable beef soup.
I’d like to try it to make old fashioned sugar cake.
I would like to make chinese rice with veggies.
I’ll make some steamed summer squash
I’d like to try making lentil soup
I would make steamed veggies for my kids
I’d make Spanish rice
I’d start with a basic brown rice the first time, then get creative. I’d like to make a complete dinner using a rice cooker.
I would use it to steam a veggie medley, especially brussels sprouts.
I would make rice and veggies
I’d make Mexican rice
I would make steamed wild rice
I’d make some oatmeal
I’d like to try making steamed carrots and broccoli
I would make oatmeal.
I’d make some jasmine rice
I’d make basmati rice for chicken vindaloo
I would make brown rice and veggies
I would make rice for gumbo.
I would make steamed rice with carrots and broccoli
I would steam veggies, especially brussels sprouts.
I would make steamed veggies. Thanks!
I would make chicken and sausage jambalaya.
I would make steamed veggies.
I would make steamed chicken breast with rice
I would make steamed rice for my kids since that is one of their favorites!
I would make oatmeal.
I would make steamed ginger garlic broccoli
I would make steamed veggies for my family.
I would make steamed veggies.
I would make rice pilaf
I would make steamed rice.
I would love to make rice and a grilled vegetable stir fry.
Short-grain sweet rice for sushi. Only way to go about it!
I would makes steamed veggies with rice
I’d make steamed veggies, for sure! I also want to add more healthies to my diet.
I would make rice.
I would love to make Macaroni & Cheese in the Hamiton Beach Rice Cooker!
Andysavi.Mom@gmail.com
I would make a black bean chili.
I would make vegetarian rice with mushrooms, spinach and other veggies
I would make carrots, onions, and throw in a few other veggies!
I would cook carrots and onions!
I would make lots and lots of steamed veggies. My family loves their veggies.
I would like to make cheesy grits.
I would make rice with steamed veggies
I would make baked oatmeal
I would make sesame chicken and shrimp fried rice.
Honestly, i just want to make rice. I have such a hard time making great rice on the stovetop
I would make Garlic Rice Pilaf .
That’s sounds delish!
Would love this Hamilton Beach Rice Cooker, as my euphemistically called “vintage” one is on its last leg… Thanks for doing this and all the delicious recipes!