Can you cook wild rice in a rice cooker? You sure can! This flavorful, nutty grain can be served as a side dish to curries and stews, or you can use it as a base for salads and soups.
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Wild rice is packed with protein, fiber, and essential minerals, which means it's a super healthy addition to any meal.
The best part is that cooking wild rice in a rice cooker is that it's incredibly easy and convenient. And, you're guaranteed to get perfectly fluffy, tender grains every time. Just follow my simple step-by-step instructions.
And, if you have a rice cooker you might also like my rice cooker cilantro lime rice or my popular coconut rice recipe.
💡Difference Between Wild Rice & Wild Rice Blends
Wild Rice
Wild rice is a single ingredient, consisting of the grains harvested from any of the four species of wild rice (Zizania palustris, Zizania aquatica, Zizania texana, or Zizania latifolia). When cooking wild rice, the general ratio is 1 cup of wild rice to 2 cups of water.
Wild Rice Blends
A wild rice blend is a mixture of wild rice and other types of rice, such as long-grain brown rice, white rice, or even other grains like quinoa or barley. The exact composition of the blend varies depending on the brand. Because of the varying ingredients, the cooking time and water ratio for wild rice blends may differ from plain wild rice.
If no specific instructions are provided, a good starting point is to use slightly less water than you would for plain wild rice. For example, try using 1 cup of the wild rice blend to 1.5-1.75 cups of water.
👨🍳How To Make Wild Rice In A Rice Cooker
- Rinse the wild rice under cold water in a fine-mesh sieve to remove any debris.
- Place the rinsed wild rice in the rice cooker inner pot. Add water or broth to the pot. The general rule of thumb is to use 2 cups of liquid for every 1 cup of wild rice.
- If desired, add a pinch of salt for seasoning and flavor. You can also add a small amount of butter or olive oil to add flavor to the rice. Place the inner pot into the rice cooker and close the lid.
- Select the appropriate cooking setting on your rice cooker. If your rice cooker has a specific setting for wild rice, use that. Otherwise, you can use the regular rice setting. Start the cooking cycle. The rice cooker will automatically shut off once the rice is done cooking, typically in about 45-50 minutes.
- Once the cooking cycle is complete, let the rice sit in the rice cooker for an additional 10-15 minutes to allow for steam absorption and fluffing.
- After resting, open the lid of the rice cooker and fluff the wild rice with a fork.
Top Tip
Lightly grease your rice cooker insert to prevent the rice from sticking.
🍽️ What To Serve With Wild Rice
- Cranberry and Pecan Salad: Toss cooked wild rice with dried cranberries, toasted pecans, diced apples, and chopped fresh parsley. Dress the salad with a simple vinaigrette made with olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and maple syrup.
- Mung Bean Curry: This creamy mung bean curry would be great served with rice cooker wild rice.
- Stuffed Bell Peppers: Cut the tops off bell peppers and remove the seeds. Stuff them with a mixture of cooked wild rice, black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, and spices. Bake the peppers until tender and serve them as a colorful and nutritious main course.
- Mushroom Stroganoff: Sauté sliced mushrooms (like shiitake, cremini, or Portobello) with onions and garlic. Add vegetable broth, non-dairy milk, and seasonings to create a creamy sauce. Here's a recipe for vegan mushroom stroganoff.
- Use your wild rice in this vegan wild rice soup recipe.
❄️ Storage Instructions
Refrigerator
Allow the cooked wild rice to cool completely. Spread it out on a baking sheet or large plate to allow it to cool down to room temperature. This prevents excess moisture from building up.
Transfer the cooled wild rice to an airtight storage container or resealable plastic bag and store it in the fridge. Cooked wild rice can last for 4-6 days in the refrigerator. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Freezer
You can also freeze cooked wild rice. Follow steps 1-3 above. Place the airtight container or resealable plastic bag in the freezer. Cooked wild rice can be frozen for up to 6 months.
When you're ready to use the frozen wild rice, remove it from the freezer and thaw it in the refrigerator overnight. Reheat the thawed rice in the microwave or on the stovetop before serving.
📖 Recipe
Wild Rice In A Rice Cooker
Ingredients
- 1 cup wild rice
- 2 cups water or broth
- Salt optional, to taste
- Butter or olive oil optional, for flavor
Instructions
- Rinse the wild rice under cold water in a fine-mesh sieve to remove any debris.
- Place the rinsed wild rice in the rice cooker inner pot. Add water or broth to the pot. The general rule of thumb is to use 2 cups of liquid for every 1 cup of wild rice.
- If desired, add a pinch of salt for seasoning and flavor. You can also add a small amount of butter or olive oil to add flavor to the rice. Place the inner pot into the rice cooker and close the lid.
- Select the appropriate cooking setting on your rice cooker. If your rice cooker has a specific setting for wild rice, use that. Otherwise, you can use the regular rice setting. Start the cooking cycle. The rice cooker will automatically shut off once the rice is done cooking, typically in about 45-50 minutes.
- Once the cooking cycle is complete, let the rice sit in the rice cooker for an additional 10-15 minutes to allow for steam absorption and fluffing.
- After resting, open the lid of the rice cooker and fluff the wild rice with a fork.
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