how to cook riblets in a slow cooker

The great thing about slow cooker rice is that you don't have to supervise your rice as it cooks, and can just leave it to do its own thing while you forget all about it.

Image Credit: gyro/iStock/GettyImages

The great thing about slow cooker rice is that you don't have to supervise your rice as it cooks, and can just leave it to do its own thing while you forget all about it. You can slow cook white rice, brown rice and even wild rice.

It might be easier to cook perfect rice in crock pot than using any other method of cooking rice. You can just choose the rice variety you want to cook, and let your slow cooker do its magic. Once the rice is ready, it can be stored in the fridge for up to six days, and in the freezer for up to three months. Crock pot rice is, therefore, a great way to prepare a big batch of rice for future meals.

Slow Cooking White Rice

The following instructions will prepare about six servings of slow cooker rice. You can actually use any amount you want, depending on your needs. The important thing to realize is that you can cook any amount of rice in a crockpot with this method, limited only by how big your crock pot is. Here are the steps:

Place a steamer basket in the slow cooker: Start by removing the center post from the steamer basket and then placing it in a slow cooker with a capacity of between three and a half and six quarts. You can use several small foil balls or a wire rack if you don't have a steamer basket. Cover the slow cooker and heat it on "high" for approximately 15 minutes.
Add the water and rice: Separately bring four cups of water to a boil and then add two cups of the boiling water to the slow cooker. Place a dish of about 1.5 quarts on the steamer basket, foil or rack. In the dish, add the other two cups of boiling water, and mix them with one cup of uncooked long-grain white rice. Add a large pinch of salt.
Once everything is inside, cover the dish with a lid. You can also use a plate or aluminum foil, so long as it completely covers the dish. Cover the slow cooker, set it on high, and let it cook for 1 and a half hours, or at least until all of the water has been absorbed by the rice. You can then remove your crockpot rice and use it as you wish, such as in this recipe by The Spruce Eats.

Slow Cooking Brown Rice

Rice cooked in a crock pot can easily be served on its own, or added to other recipes. You can make a quick lunch with brown rice by topping it with an egg, a crumbled slice of bacon and some shredded cheese.

The process for making brown rice in a crock pot is fairly straightforward. Start by spraying non-stick cooking spray generously on the inside of the slow cooker, so the rice doesn't stick. Once the inside is well covered, mix two cups of brown rice with about four cups of either water, or reduced-sodium broth. You can optionally add one or two tablespoons of snipped fresh herbs and one or two tablespoons of olive oil. Set the slow cooker on "high" and let the crockpot rice cook for the next 3 hours. Better Homes and Gardens also outlines how you can slow cook brown rice with an oven instead of a slow cooker.

Slow Cooking Wild Rice

Wild rice is perfect for cooking with a slow cooker because it takes far longer than white or brown rice to prepare. Recipe Tips states that wild rice takes longer than any other rice to cook, and recommends soaking the wild rice for a few hours or even overnight, if possible. Soaking overnight will allow the wild rice to absorb some of the water, and to be ready for cooking so it doesn't end up under-cooked.

To cook wild rice in a crockpot, start by rinsing and draining one cup of wild rice. You can then mix it with three cups of either water or reduced-sodium broth. If you want to add in any extra ingredients for an additional flavor, you can stir them into the mixture at this point. Then pop the whole thing into the slow, cooker and set on a low heat. Let it cook for at least three hours. Taste-test before serving, to ensure you have the texture you want.