Can I steam rice in this or are the openings too large to keep the grains in?
1471964
I would agree that the holes may be too large to steam most varieties of rice inside this basket, although you could certainly try a small amount and see what happened and you could also line the basket with muslin or cheesecloth. And BTW you can wash and reuse muslin. I steam rice in the oven inside a regular pot without a basket, by putting about half the water as you would on the top of the stove, so the standard 1 cup rice to 2 cups water, would be 1 cup rice to approx 1 cup to 1.25 cups of water. Put in the oven (in an oven proof pot with an oven proof handle) at 350F/180C for 30 to 45 min for white rice and 1.25 hours +/- for brown or other colored rices, including wild rice. I would agree that the holes may be too large to steam most varieties of rice inside this basket, although you could certainly try a small amount and see what happened and you could also line the basket with muslin or cheesecloth. And BTW you can wash and reuse muslin. I steam rice in the oven inside a regular pot without a basket, by putting about half the water as you would on the top of the stove, so the standard 1 cup rice to 2 cups water, would be 1 cup rice to approx 1 cup to 1.25 cups of water. Put in the oven (in an oven proof pot with an oven proof handle) at 350F/180C for 30 to 45... » Read More I would agree that the holes may be too large to steam most varieties of rice inside this basket, although you could certainly try a small amount and see what happened and you could also line the basket with muslin or cheesecloth. And BTW you can wash and reuse muslin. I steam rice in the oven inside a regular pot without a basket, by putting about half the water as you would on the top of the stove, so the standard 1 cup rice to 2 cups water, would be 1 cup rice to approx 1 cup to 1.25 cups of water. Put in the oven (in an oven proof pot with an oven proof handle) at 350F/180C for 30 to 45 min for white rice and 1.25 hours +/- for brown or other colored rices, including wild rice. « Show Less
1471965
Rice cannot be be steamed in this strainer because the holes are too large.
1471966
The holes are very large. You could not steam rice in this strainer....also it's a tall strainer and the handle protrudes over the edge by a couple of inches making it not possible to put a lid on the pot you are using.
1471967
I don't think you'd be able to do rice in this without losing a lot of grains in the process.
1471968
From looking at the steamer, I would say the holes are a bit too large for steaming rice effectively.
546913
Yes, but minimal - the moisture that is not absorbed by the rice has to go somewhere. Mostly steam but some drops will spit out of the vent. It is the best rice cooker I have owned.
1906213
I rarely cook rice, and have a multicooker that does that very well. I don't think you can steam rice in this because the rice will fall through the holes in the steaming basket down into the hot water below. Actual electric rice cookers are cheap and automatic, so that's the way to go.
425874
Are you sure you didn't put into much water? Like 1/2 cup of rice to 1 cup of water. Is a little steam catcher on the side that needs to be emptied by pinching and pulling it off each time that you use it. If it fills up it might go out the top. I hope that helps.
739800
While I have not used it for this purpose a rice steamer came inside the unit. The instruction manual also talked about steaming vegetables in this unit.
47756
The lid on my cooker fits on the cooker so that steam does not escape.However, I can move the lid slightly backwards and forwards. The lid always stays over the ceramic bowl. In other words, there is never a gap between the lid and the ceramic bowl for steam to come out of.Maybe this can help you determine whether there is a manufacturing defect.
740740
It's not good for steaming other kinds of food because the little drawer is only as high and wide as a hotdog and it's very flimsy plastic. So most veggies won't even fit. If you squeeze food in it won't cook well because there aren't enough holes. And the top level is impossible to use since there's hardly any steam there. Sadly, you can't boil corn or other things in the bottom level because there's no room at all. So you can't really use it for steaming other foods.
209080
We put three cups of dry rice in a single tray. So when all three trays are used it steams quite a bit of food. We regularly cook for four adults and have others over in addition. This is quite large.
1901714
Yes, you can cook as little as 1/2 cup. If you just want to steam vegetables you don't have to cook any rice, just add fluid in the bottom and place the basket on top with your vegetables in it.
1963134
I don't use it yet, But I know most of the rice cook they have steam release, and some still stay on the lip. If you want the rice still good for next day, after you cook and serve. unplus and keep it open unstill cold, and then close.But not tie.
1039893
We bought this to replace an old bamboo steamer for potstickers. With short grain rice some might slip through the small holes but since I have a rice maker I have not tried rice in the steamer. It does great with steaming veggies as well.
2046511
I have rinsed brown rice in the colander and a few grains did escape through the holes. It was not a major loss.
1479318
Not sure. The one I bought works ok except for the fact that there's one or two spots where the rice are soggy. I think that where it releases the steam.
505161
I have not used the colander for cooking rice. However, if you are cooking rice in the colander some grains may fall through the holes if they are standing up. If you are using the colander to drain the rice I should be alright. Again, some grains may fall through but I do not think it would be a significant amount.
488104
Yes and no. Yes - An uncooked rice grain has a smaller than 1/16" diameter (the app. diameter of the holes in this colander) and can easily be slipped through the holes if held perpendicular to the holes. No - Grains of rice lie horizontally when in the colander so it is my experience than no uncooked rice grains ever fall through the holes.No - Cooked grains of short grain rice rice swell to a grater than 1/16" diameter and will not fit through the holes..
705679
The opening is 7 inches. I guess if the steamer basket was small enough it could fit.
2073101
Well there is a steamer basket about three inches deep that fits on top of the nonstick pot part. It has a desalinated steam setting, but I have also had success with just adding the veggies in the basket while I'm cooking rice. It works pretty well for a steamer, but compared to my actual electric steamer it falls a little short, mainly the steamer basket isn't as deep as my electric steamer and it takes about five minutes to warm up and start steaming my Black & Decker Flavor Burst Handy Steamer only takes about thirty seconds. Overall if I would have had the Aroma rice cooker first I would have not purchased the Handy Steamer. Well there is a steamer basket about three inches deep that fits on top of the nonstick pot part. It has a desalinated steam setting, but I have also had success with just adding the veggies in the basket while I'm cooking rice. It works pretty well for a steamer, but compared to my actual electric steamer it falls a little short, mainly the steamer basket isn't as deep as my electric steamer and it takes about five minutes to warm up and start steaming my Black & Decker Flavor Burst Handy Steamer only takes about thirty seconds. Overall if I would have had the Aroma rice cooker first I... » Read More Well there is a steamer basket about three inches deep that fits on top of the nonstick pot part. It has a desalinated steam setting, but I have also had success with just adding the veggies in the basket while I'm cooking rice. It works pretty well for a steamer, but compared to my actual electric steamer it falls a little short, mainly the steamer basket isn't as deep as my electric steamer and it takes about five minutes to warm up and start steaming my Black & Decker Flavor Burst Handy Steamer only takes about thirty seconds. Overall if I would have had the Aroma rice cooker first I would have not purchased the Handy Steamer. « Show Less