Tier 1: The Rice
Using the Cuckoo CR-0351F Series to make Basic Rice
Learn your Rice Cooker and make the perfect serving of rice. Whether you want to set your rice to soak overnight to have porridge or rice for breakfast, to soak the rice while at work or class and have it ready for dinner, or have it ready early in the day so you can grab a bit whenever you want, the first priority is to perfect your rice cooking method with your cooker.
If you are in a rush to make a bigger meal, feel free to use larger quantities than are listed here. I suggest using the minimum quantity of your rice cooker to make a few batches to start so you can iterate until you find the perfect settings for your taste. This guide is specifically for the Cuckoo Brand CR-0351F Series (the little red or green 3-cup cookers).
SCHEDULING
The Cuckoo CR-0351F Series Rice Cookers have a PRESET TIMER that allows you to set the time you want the rice to be ready so that it automatically starts when appropriate based on your setting choices. This is not available for the Steam mode.
WARMING
The Cuckoo CR-0351F Series Rice Cookers have a WARMING FEATURE that lets you keep cooked rice warm in the cooker in the safe range for 24 hours, although they say it is best to keep it to 12 hours because off-taste and smells can start to occur after that. This does not work well for brown/mixed rice. Combined with the scheduling capability, you can put your rinsed rice and water in the cooker before sleep and the next morning (or lunchtime or dinnertime) it will be ready at your chosen time. Then you can keep your leftover rice on the warming setting and it will be safe to eat and hot for the next 12 or so hours (after which anything left over should be refrigerated or frozen).
Serving
Generally 1 cup of uncooked rice makes about 3 cups of cooked rice, so 1/2 cup of uncooked rice is the perfect amount to make to see what your personal ‘serving size’ of rice is. I like to make smaller amounts more frequently so that I do not have to store cooked rice in the fridge or the freezer. Remember that rice is one of the most common unexpected causes of food poisoning – so rice that is not in the warming mode must be cooled and stored appropriately in the fridge (4-6 days) or freezer (best quality within 6 months) within no more than 2 hours of cooking. If the rice has a bad smell or off appearance, discard it.
Although these instructions are for generic White Rice, with the Cuckoo CR-0351F Series, you can follow these instructions for any appropriate rice using the tables as guidelines. Be sure to make note of what settings work best for you with your preferred rice and settings.
Step 1: Unpack and Read the Manual
If you haven’t already unpacked your rice cooker, now is the time.
Be sure to read all of the warnings and cautions in the manual for your own safety as well as the safety of the machine. While unpacking, look at the parts section of the manual (if there is one) to familiarize yourself with the cooker. Make sure you understand how all of the parts go together properly and the Use/Care and Cleaning for your unit.
If your cooker has a time/timing feature and is not a Cuckoo CR-0351F Series, or if the instructions linked below do not work, refer to your manual for how to set up your cooker. Feel free to read all of the manual at this point if you want to!
A – Set Up The Cooker
- Follow the Manual to INSTALL all Parts and Set up the COOKER.
B – Set the Time
- PLUG IN the Rice Cooker.
- HOLD the <Preset/Hours (예얀/시)> button for 2+ Seconds.
- PRESS the <Preset/Hours (예얀/시)> button to increase the HOUR in 1 hour increments.
- PRESS the <Menu/Min (메뉴/분)> button to increase the MINUTE in 1 minute increments.
- Check that AM/PM is correct (12 noon is 12PM and 12 midnight is 12AM).
- After 7 seconds, the colon in the time should stop blinking, indicating that the time is set.
- ? PRESS <Cook/Reheat> (취사/재가열) button to store the time.
Note: If the time is not displaying, it might be time to replace the battery.
Step 2: Prepare the Machine
If you plan to soak your rice in a separate container, follow the ‘Soaking’ step before the other steps to maximize your time.
Be sure to read all Safety, Care and Warning Instructions in your manual.
A – Clean the Cooker
- CLEAN and DRY the POT.
Use a soft cloth or brush to clean the pot – make sure to dry it before putting it back in the cooker. (this MUST be incredibly soft to not damage the surface). - CLEAN the LID and Internal Parts of the COOKER
If the Lid/Cooker is not clean, follow the cleaning instructions in the manual. The inner lid is removable and should be cleaned occasionally or when a simple wipe-down does not clean it thoroughly. Unplug the Cooker if you are going to remove any parts (including the lid) or clean the inner chambers of the Cooker. - EMPTY and CLEAN the DEW DISH.
The Dew Dish is the small clear plastic tray on the back of the Cooker. It should be emptied after every time you cook rice (if there is water in it). Clean and replace this if it is not already clean.
Step 3: Measure and Soak the Rice
Choose a rice to start learning to make.
I would suggest starting with a White Rice such as Jasmine or Medium Grain White Rice, then expanding to other rice types. Remember that 0.5 cups of White Rice generally makes about 1.5 cups of cooked White Rice. I’d recommend starting there and repeating the cooking process several times to get a good sense of the cooker, rather than starting with larger batches.
A – CHOOSE your RICE and MODE
- CHOOSE THE TYPE of Rice you want to figure out how to make.
For White Rices I suggest starting with the ‘Glutinous’ or ‘White Rice’ mode. ‘Turbo’ mode will cook it faster but it will often be stickier and/or not as high quality. If you are using Brown Rice, use the ‘Mixed/Brown’ mode.
Glutinous
White Rices
(Best Quality)
0.5 c raw min
3 c raw max
30-41 minutes
Turbo
White Rices
(Fastest)
0.5 c raw min
2 c raw max
22-32 minutes
Mixed/Brown
Brown Rices &
Long Rices
0.5 c raw min
2.5 c raw max
44-58 minutes
Porridge
White Rices
(Porridge)
0.5 c raw min
3 c raw max
62 minutes
B – CHOOSE your AMOUNT
- DECIDE HOW MUCH dry rice you would like to make for your first test.
To get familiar with your cooker quickly, make the smallest amount possible (1/2 cup for the CR-0351F Series) and repeat several times if you want more than that to eat (if you have time). Use the chart in section A to check the minimum and maximum allowable amounts for the CR-0351F Series, or your user manual if you are using a different Rice Cooker. Many cookers will now let you do only 1/2 c, so be sure to check for your particular cooker. If you use more than 1/2 c, adjust the measurements in the directions accordingly.
C – MEASURE and RINSE the RICE
- MEASURE 1/2 cup of rice using the included rice cup.
Note that in general 1 cup in a Rice Cooker Rice Cup is not the same as 1 cup in a standard measuring cup. I usually measure it directly into the Cooker Pot and then rinse it in there, although the Cooker instructions say to do it in a separate container. - RINSE the rice with cold water (optional but recommended).
I rinse my rice until the water comes out largely clear. I usually run it under cold water, swish with my fingers and drain the top part of the water off mostly – then repeat until the water looks clear-ish.
If you are using Enriched Rice or want the extra stickiness, you might want to skip this step – but rinsing may help with digestion and keeping stickiness/foaming down.
D – SOAK the RICE
- SOAK the RICE for 15 minutes to 12+ Hours.
Soaking the Rice is also optional but recommended. A 30 minute soak helps the quality of the finished rice (in my experience), and an overnight soak makes it easier to schedule. - ADD RICE to the Rice Cooker Pot.
- ADD WATER to the 0.5 Line.
(The 0.5 Line is the the bottom mark on the left scale for Glutinous/Turbo, on the right scale for brown/mixed). At this point, I usually gently stir/swish. - PUT the Rice Cooker POT in the Cooker and close the lid.
Step 4: Cook The Rice
Decide Between Manual Start or Preset (Scheduled) Timing
If you want to soak the rice and press to cook when you are ready, just follow the ‘Cook’ instructions. If you want to schedule the rice ahead, you can allow the rice to soak by making sure the Preset time is set to at least an hour later than the current time. For example, the chart says that Glutinous White Rice cooks for 30-41 minutes. If you set the time for cooking to finish an hour from now, 60 min timed – 30 min cook = 30 min soak OR 60 min timed – 41 min cook = 19 min soak. With a small amount of rice, this time might be shorter, so the rice might be ready earlier than expected.
A – COOK
- SET the MENU to ‘Glutinous’.
Press the <Menu/Min (메뉴/분)> button until ‘Glutinous’ is Selected (or ‘Mixed/Brown’ for Brown Rice). - IF Soaked, START or continue to SET PRESET TIME.
IF you have already soaked your rice (or plan to skip soaking), PRESS the <Cook/Reheat> (취사/재가열) button to start cooking OTHERWISE move to ‘Preset Time’ step to Schedule your rice.
B – PRESET TIME (Optional)
This will use the Preset Function to set up what time you want the rice to be ready. For White rice, by choosing about an hour from your current time, the rice will soak for about half an hour and then cook (since the cook cycle is about 30-40 minutes) – although smaller quantities of rice may take less time.
- CONFIRM that the TIME is correct.
Check the time (including AM/PM) and that the MODE is set to the mode you want (I’d start with ‘Glutinous’ for White Rice). - SET the PRESET TIME for when you want the rice to be ready.
PRESS the <Preset/Hours (예얀/시)> button (I think once ?) and within 7 seconds set the time you want the rice to be ready using the <Preset/Hours (예얀/시)> and <Menu/Min (메뉴/분)> buttons to increase the hours and minutes. Remember that 12 noon is 12PM. The ‘Timer’ Light should be on ??. - START the countdown.
PRESS the <Cook/Reheat> (취사/재가열) button to start cooking to be ready at the designated time.
Note: If the preset time is more than 13 hours in the future, the cooker will display ’13Ho’ until the time is less than 13 hours.
C – DURING COOKING
- Once you or the preset timer function has started the cooker, a rectangle should be shown in the panel briefly and then the time left for cooking will count down to when the rice is ready.
Step 5: After Cooking
Eat your rice immediately or stir and keep warm until you are ready for it.
Once your rice is cooked, the rice cooker will automatically move into ‘Keep Warm’ mode to maintain the rice at a safe temperature. You can take rice out and keep the rest warming as long as you don’t toggle the <Keep Warm/Cancel (보온/취소)> button.
A – KEEP WARM
- STIR if you can.
After the Rice is Cooked, the Keep Warm function will automatically kick in. When this happens it is best to stir the rice with the paddle (remember no metal/sharp objects) so that the bottom doesn’t discolor. Open the cover, stir and close the cover. - Make Sure KEEP WARM is Activated if you aren’t eating the rice immediately.
If you do not press the <Keep Warm/Cancel (보온/취소)> button, the Keep Warm mode should continue to stay on (The number on the display should be the time the rice has been in the Keep Warm mode). - ADD WATER (just a bit) if in WARMING for an extended time and rice is drying out.
Remember to add a bit of water if you keep it in there for a long time, and be sure to remove it by within 12 hours for best quality. If you accidentally cancel the ‘Keep Warm’ function, press the <Keep Warm/Cancel (보온/취소)> button again to toggle it back on.
B – TURN OFF
- TURN OFF COOKER!!!
Turn the cooker OFF by pressing the <Keep Warm/Cancel (보온/취소)> button!
Recipes:
So now what?
You’ve got rice. Keep doing this until you figure out the best settings for your particular rice. You can go back and try different types or brands of rice or play with Turbo mode (for faster cooking of White Rice) or Brown/Mixed Mode. What to do with the rice you’ve made? C’mon, you’ve had rice before. Here are some basic suggestions:
A – PLAIN RICE
- BUTTER
When Rice is still hot, mix in some butter – yum! - OIL
Although Toasted Sesame Oil is best (my personal preference), any tasty oil can be mixed in (Chili Oil is also a stand-out). Note that some brands call their Toasted Sesame Oil just ‘Sesame Oil’ (for example there’s a Kikkoman Sesame Oil out there that says it is toasted on the back). Toasted tends to be darker than standard Sesame Oil – but both are delicious. - HOT SAUCE
I absolutely love rice + butter + hot sauce! If you are a hot sauce fan, this is a great way to test out different hot sauces because the flavor really shines through. - SEASONING
salt, pepper, garlic powder work very well, bouillon powder is great as long as you add a little extra water when stirring it in. - SPICES
Check out the ‘Spices’ section of your store for more ideas. Dash/Mrs. Dash products are salt-free blends that are widely available, but it’s likely that your store will have a variety of blends regardless of where you are. Think outside the box with a Creole Seasoning, Everything Bagel, or a BBQ Rub. Just make sure to notice the salt content and use accordingly.
B – WITH A MEAL
- SIDE DISH
Have the rice with a sauce-based food as a side dish (common in many Asian dishes) - BOWL
Mix the rice with whatever random leftovers you have around. Or heat up and pour some beans over the rice. - BURRITO
Wrap the rice in a burrito with some beans, salsa and other leftovers.
C – COOKING
- EGG – If you like frying/cooking eggs, they make a great addition to plain rice.”, “FRIED RICE – use the rice for fried rice or other cooked rice dishes.