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Cooking 9 types of Brown Rice

I want to introduce you to my rice cooker, the Tefal 8-in-1. No, I am not in any way connected to the brand or commissioned to publicly genuflect its brilliance. I simply think it’s The Snazz.

Brown rice never seduced me until it came from a rice cooker. The trick is to bypass long grain brown rice altogether. This variety is achingly boring in comparison to the legions of wholegrain rice available in its place.

The Jazz

At one stage, American actress Mariel Hemingway made brown rice so fashionable that Californian grocers struggled to keep it in stock. Mariel is a bit of a beaut, so it’s hardly surprising to find brown rice, lentils and chickpeas at the heart of her diet.

You see, whole grains like brown rice contain those mighty B vitamins responsible for fuelling our batteries and busy bods. Vitamin B3 can especially help lift your mood, like daydreaming about James McEvoy, or making small changes to David Cameron’s Wikipedia page.

There’s far less B3, fibre and manganese in the white starchy stuff. We need fibre to service our pipes and regulate our poops. Nothing nice about constipation. And of course manganese is crucial to an antioxidant enzyme called SOD, the maestro of all antioxidants. One cup of brown rice delivers almost 100% of our daily manga-needs! Manganese comes from the Greek word for magic. ‘Nuff said.

There are plenty of whole grain rice to choose from. Here’s an introduction to a few, alongside cooking instructions for the 8-in-1 Tefl Rice Cooker. You can find rice cookers on Amazon should you feel inspired to surf for deals.

Brown Basmati

This is the fastest brown rice to cook. Add 1 teaspoon of caraway seeds for a smack of Bombay.

Rinse and simmer 1 & 3/4 parts seasoned water to 1 part rice. Ready in 22 minutes (check the cooking time suggested by the manufacturer on the packet). Soaking rice apparently improves digestibility and seems to shorten cooking time.

For the Tefal 8-in-1 rice cooker: Measure 2 Tefal cups of brown basmati into the special basin. Pour water to level 2 of the chamber. Press ‘white rice’ programme (this is not a typo – it cooks best on this programme). Will automatically keep warm for a few hours without overcooking the rice.

Brown Jasmine

Rinse and simmer 2 parts seasoned water to just over 1 part rice. Follow directions on the packet, but 30-40 minutes should be just about right. Brown Jasmine rice usually takes less time than long or short grain for example. During the final few minutes, remove the lid and boil off any remaining liquid.

If you have a Tefal 8-in-1 rice cooker, measure 2 Tefal cups of brown Jasmine rice into the special basin. Pour water to just under level 2. Use the ‘brown rice’ programme. Will automatically keep warm for a few hours without overcooking the rice.

short grain rice cooker

Short Grain

Among my top two favourites. Rinse very well, and simmer 2 parts seasoned water to 1 part rice. Ready in 45 minutes. Soaking rice apparently improves digestibility and shortens cooking time. There’s no downside to soaking rice, so I think it’s probably a sensible thing to do.

If using the Tefal 8-in-1 rice cooker, measure 2 Tefal cups of short grain brown rice into the cooker’s basin. Rinse very well. Pour water on top of rice, to level 2. Add a pinch of salt. Press ‘brown rice’ programme. We often do 1 & ½ cups short grain with ½ cup whole barley. Works beautifully.

Brown Long Grain

The most popular brown rice, but certainly the least impressive. Cooked long grain rice does not keep well, so only cook as much as you need. In comparison, short grain and sweet brown rice make for excellent leftovers, loosened up with spicy olive oil and nori sprinkles.

Rinse and gently simmer 2 parts seasoned water to 1 part rice. You can add 1 tablespoon of millet, quinoa, wild rice or amaranth to each cup of long grain brown rice, and cook for 40-45 minutes. It will be stickier than regular long grain, but very nourishing alongside a curry or stew. Soaking rice shortens cooking time by 10 minutes.

If using the Tefal 8-in-1 rice cooker, measure 2 Tefal cups of long grain brown rice. No need to pre-soak the rice, but please do rinse very well. Pour water on top of rice, to a little higher than level 2. Press ‘brown rice’ programme.

Sticky Brown Sushi Rice

Wash sushi rice very well in cold water. Transfer to a saucepan with twice as much cold water to sushi rice. Soak for 30 minutes, then boil for 40 minutes. Remove from heat, and leave to stand until all the water is absorbed. My Japanese friend advises to use a plastic spatula to avoid splitting the grain and mushing it.

Red (Camargue) Rice

Great for beginners. Rinse thoroughly. Simmer in 2 parts water to just under 1 part rice for approximately 40-50 minutes. Be mindful of the final few minutes of cooking, to avoid the bottom burning.

Or measure 2 Tefal cups of red rice into the Tefal 8-in-1 rice cooker. Rinse first. Add salt then pour water to level 2.5. Press ‘brown rice’ programme. Will automatically keep warm for a few hours, thankfully without overcooking the rice. We love adding 1 tablespoon of sweet paprika and doing 50-50 barley-camargue. The end result is much chewier and comforting than a regular bowl of white rice. (Please note barley is not gluten free).

long grainred rice

Sweet Brown Rice

Our favourite brown rice. Best with curries. Sweet grain is a cross between short grain and sticky brown rice. Great the next day for breakfast with your favourite olive oil, tamari and avocado chunks. Rinse and simmer 1 part rice to 2 parts water and a touch of sea salt. Cook for 35 minutes. Remove from heat, and keep the lid on to dry-steam in the pot for 10 further minutes. The rice should have soaked up all the water.

Or measure 2 Tefal cups of sweet brown rice into the Tefal 8-in-1 rice cooker. Rinse first. Add salt then pour water to level 2. Press ‘brown rice’ programme. Will automatically keep warm for a few hours, thankfully without overcooking the rice.

Wild rice

Very expensive, so it’s advisable to add a tablespoon into other varieties of brown rice instead of serving it straight. This rice can be soaked and sprouted for hard-core herbivores. Can’t say I’m a fan of sprouted wild rice, but I do harbour pure admiration for those who are dedicated to serving it up!

Black glutinous (sticky) Thai rice

More purple than black, this rice is fabulous cooked in the Tefl pot. Leftovers keep surprisingly well, and can be a quick breakkie with olive oil, tamari and hemp hearts. Measure 2 Tefal cups of black glutinous rice into the Tefal 8-in-1 rice cooker. Rinse very well. Pour water to level 2.5. Press ‘brown rice’ programme which steams the rice for 90 minutes.

Red and White Quinoa? The rice cooker will do this too!

Rinse the grain very very well. Measure 2 Tefal cups of quinoa into the basin of the Tefal 8-in-1 rice cooker. Add a pinch of sea salt flakes, then pour water to level 2. Press the ‘grains’ function which will gently steam the quinoa for about one hour. Makes the best quinoa you are ever likely to taste.

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16 Comments

  • Reply Shauna February 2, 2014 at 2:27 pm

    Susan,

    Just wondering where you is the best place for buying all these types of rice?

    Thanks!

    • Reply Susan Jane February 2, 2014 at 9:07 pm

      Hi there. I get everything in Asian stores, or health food stores. Fallon & Byrne in Dublin 2 do about 8 varieties. Good luck! You won’t regret the trip! SJ

  • Reply Dev March 16, 2014 at 5:09 pm

    Hi Susan

    Wonder if you can help me? . I got Tilda Brown Easy Cook Long Grain rice and followed tilda website guidelines for rice cooker ( I have a Tefal Rk302e15 8-in-1 Cooker). Easy Cook Brown Wholegrain 1500ml water for 500 gm rice so I adjusted accordingly to my desired quantity. But when I hit the brown rice function it automatically started counting backwards from 90 minutes !! where as at the back of Tilda packaging it says easy cook brown rice should only take 25 min in tefel rice cooker. How Do i overcome this ? Shall I cook easy cook brown rice in white rice function ? If so how much water ? I read someone advising this on another forum. Can you shed some light on this. Many Thanks in advance. Cheers

    • Reply Susan Jane March 18, 2014 at 11:03 pm

      Hi there. The rice cooker steams all brown rice for 90 mins, and quinoa for 60 mins (white rice takes much longer than the saucepan too). That’s just what they do I’m afraid! But you will much prefer the taste, I assure you!

  • Reply ionutz August 18, 2014 at 11:00 am

    Hello Susan,

    Many thanks for the tips on cooking brown rice. I have the Tefal 8-in-1 rice cooker and I’ve been making brown rice following the instructions in the booklet, so using a minimum of 2 cups (as you also indicate in your post). Now I’m trying to find the best way for making just one cup of brown rice. Do you have any tips on that, by chance? I’m thinking about using the white rice program with one cup of brown rice and 1 and 3/4 cups of water (so a little more than the 1 and 1/2 cup of water for making a cup of white rice). But I don’t know if this is the way to go… it will be trial and error, I guess 🙂 Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

    Thanks,

    Ionutz

    • Reply Susan Jane August 23, 2014 at 3:47 pm

      Hi Ionutz- I haven’t tried one cup yet. We are far too greedy in my family ! Good luck, and let me know of any successes. SJ

  • Reply muka January 28, 2016 at 6:26 pm

    Hi Susan, thanks for all tips. I\’d like to ask you one extra question in relation to this Tefal 8in1, does it also works same as slowcooker? I mean would it be possible to prepare nice stew in it? Trying to convince my husband that he needs that gadget same as I do:) grains for me, stew for him. Win win:)

    • Reply Susan Jane February 1, 2016 at 10:50 am

      It does! I don’t use it as a slow cooker because I have a professional Aga (which is a slow cooker with 4 ovens). But it works perfectly 😉

  • Reply Paula August 15, 2016 at 11:11 am

    Have you or can you do a post on slow cooking in the Aga. I have the 2 oven model! 

    • Reply Susan Jane August 19, 2016 at 1:23 pm

      Sounds like a good idea, but I’m afraid less than 1% of my readers own an Aga :/ Maybe in 2017 when I vow to have more free time!

  • Reply Alan W May 20, 2017 at 10:04 am

    Can the 8in1 cook lentils/daal recipes – if so what setting is used?

    • Reply Susan Jane May 20, 2017 at 2:37 pm

      No idea yet! let me know how you get on

  • Reply Arlene A. France December 18, 2018 at 9:32 am

    Hey Susan, i was just shocked after seeing this.i had no damn idea that brown rice can be cooked in 9 ways.thanks for sharing this information.all the items seem good. Your tips will help me to make those correctly. Keep posting this type of great recipes.. 🙂

    • Reply Susan Jane March 14, 2019 at 11:56 am

      Woohoo! Glad to be of assistance!

  • Reply Daniel December 31, 2020 at 8:02 pm

    I followed the 35 minute, remove heat, let stand Sweet Brown Rice instruction and it came out perfectly.

    I had been doing a typical 40 minute simmer with no dedicated follow up instruction.

    I think it’s great that you did the research and testing of rice, in all it’s wonderful forms.

    • Reply Susan Jane February 6, 2021 at 1:31 pm

      Daniel thanks so much! What a lovely message to receive. We’re still mainlining brown rice here. Sometimes I add a bit of millet to it, and my boys think it’s fancy “take away” rice. Score!

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