Joyce_RH_10950_IB_25-4-03 4/25/03 10:29 PM Page 4
How it works
Basically, you put food and water into the pan and leave it to boil dry. The cooker detects the
1.Use exactly the right amount of water, and leave the cooker to switch to Warm automatically — this is the method used to cook rice.
2.Use enough water, time the cooking, and move the switch up when it’s done. This is the easiest way to steam “unknowns”, unknown quantities,
unknown vegetables, unknown sizes.
When you use method 2, keep notes. Next time, you can use just the right amount of water, and leave the cooker to do the job on its own (method 1).
Overcooking
Steaming is relatively gentle, so overcooking isn’t normally a problem. Just don’t leave it too long (unless you like soggy veg), and take extra care with delicate foods like shellfish, which tends to go a bit rubbery if overcooked.
Preparation
1.Sit the cooker on a firm, level,
2.Steam will escape, so don’t put it near curtains, under shelves or cupboards, or near anything that might be damaged by the escaping steam.
3.Have oven gloves (or a cloth) to hand, and a
4.Put the pan inside the cooker.
Cooking rice
5.Some suppliers tell you not to wash rice, as it washes away nutrients. We recommend washing rice in cold water and letting it drain. This will remove excess starch and any loose bran. It also makes the cooked rice less sticky.
6.Fill the pan with the amount of rice required.
7.Add the required amount of water — generally, use 1 cup of water for each cup of rice.
8.Don’t fill past the 1.8 mark inside the pan.
9.Put the lid on the pan.
10.Plug the cooker in (switch the socket on, if switchable). The Warm light will come on.
11.Press the control down — it’ll lock in the down position, and the Cook light will come on.
12.When the rice is cooked, the control will pop up to its original position, the Cook light will go out, the Warm light will come on.
13.Let the rice rest for about 10 to 15 minutes, then unplug the cooker.
14.Put on the oven gloves.
15.Steam and hot air will escape when you lift the lid. Tilt it slightly to direct the steam away from you.
16.Lift out the pan and set it down on a
17.Use the spatula to turn and mix the rice, to let all the steam escape.
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