Steamed broccoli is a veggie powerhouse and the best way to make steamed broccoli is by steaming it in a rice cooker.
I 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. (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.
🥘 Ingredients
- 1 head of broccoli
- 2 cups of water
- salt to taste
🔪How to Cook Broccoli in a Rice Cooker
Here’s how to do it. These are really simple instructions. Ready? Add water to 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.”
Add a pat of butter and season with salt and black pepper.
How to Steam Broccoli in a Rice Cooker
Ingredients
- 1 head of broccoli
- 2 cups of water
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Cut bite-sized 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.
Video
Nutrition
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 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.
Sharon says
I would make a vegetable beef soup.
Sharon says
I’d like to try it to make old fashioned sugar cake.
Sharon says
I would like to make chinese rice with veggies.
Geoff says
I’ll make some steamed summer squash
Melissa says
I’d like to try making lentil soup
Elena says
I would make steamed veggies for my kids
Geoff says
I’d make Spanish rice
Leslie says
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.
Sharon says
I would use it to steam a veggie medley, especially brussels sprouts.
Elena says
I would make rice and veggies
Melissa says
I’d make Mexican rice
Carol says
What is Mexic rice
Elena says
I would make steamed wild rice
Geoff says
I’d make some oatmeal
Melissa says
I’d like to try making steamed carrots and broccoli
Sharon says
I would make oatmeal.
Geoff says
I’d make some jasmine rice
Melissa says
I’d make basmati rice for chicken vindaloo
Elena says
I would make brown rice and veggies
Sharon says
I would make rice for gumbo.
Elena says
I would make steamed rice with carrots and broccoli
Sharon says
I would steam veggies, especially brussels sprouts.
Elena says
I would make steamed veggies. Thanks!
Sharon says
I would make chicken and sausage jambalaya.
Elena says
I would make steamed veggies.
Elena says
I would make steamed chicken breast with rice
Sonya Morris says
I would make steamed rice for my kids since that is one of their favorites!
Lynne T says
I would make oatmeal.
Elena says
I would make steamed ginger garlic broccoli
Sonya Morris says
I would make steamed veggies for my family.
Sonya Morris says
I would make steamed veggies.
Elena says
I would make rice pilaf
Sonya Morris says
I would make steamed rice.
Candice says
I would love to make rice and a grilled vegetable stir fry.
Savannah says
Short-grain sweet rice for sushi. Only way to go about it!
Elena says
I would makes steamed veggies with rice
Stephanie L. Robertson says
I’d make steamed veggies, for sure! I also want to add more healthies to my diet.
Sonya Morris says
I would make rice.
Angela Saver says
I would love to make Macaroni & Cheese in the Hamiton Beach Rice Cooker!
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Kelly D says
I would make a black bean chili.
Elena says
I would make vegetarian rice with mushrooms, spinach and other veggies
Sonya Morris says
I would make carrots, onions, and throw in a few other veggies!
Sonya Morris says
I would cook carrots and onions!
Kimberly M says
I would make lots and lots of steamed veggies. My family loves their veggies.
Lynne T says
I would like to make cheesy grits.
Elena says
I would make rice with steamed veggies
Elena says
I would make baked oatmeal
Livivua says
I would make sesame chicken and shrimp fried rice.
Denise M says
Honestly, i just want to make rice. I have such a hard time making great rice on the stovetop
HS says
I would make Garlic Rice Pilaf .
Lynda says
That’s sounds delish!
Sara says
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!