Cooking rice on 12v or 110v converter , anyone doing it ?

[Westycamper]

Hi

I eat a lot of rice , but have not really tried to cook it on the road ,

I have a few 110v rice cookers and a 12v to 110v converter,

what are you using ?
any tips of what to do or not do ?

I could also use the rice cooker to cook pasta or heat up soup etc

thanks for you ideas

 

[Reducto]

I used to use one quite a bit but have switched over to propane after I got other things that needed it. I was already using more power than my panel could gather in winter so there was none left to cook with.

If you have power to spare, which you probably do if you're doing a lot of driving, it can be a great way to cook. Definitely give it a shot and see if you run into issues. If you do, you can get a cheap propane stove anywhere as a backup.

My only tip would be if you eat whole grain rice to spring for the instant variety. Regular stuff takes too long to cook.

 

[GrinningPanther]

Hey Westycamper,

I've seen rice cookers mentioned on other RV blogs. How much power those RVs have, and need for the rice cooker, I don't know.

But if you have, or would consider getting, a solar oven--here's a link to a YouTube video of a young lady making rice in her solar oven. It takes about an hour for her to make two cups raw white rice into a nicely cooked finished dish.


GP

 

[flying kurbmaster]

Rice cookers are a waste of money and energy in my opinion. Cooking rice is a fool proof and simple process, brown or white. Perfect every time, never soggy never burnt. Simply double your water to rice bring to boil with lid on, remove from heat let sit covered for 15 minutes for white, 20 for brown, while you prepare the rest of your meal. I usually let brown rice boil an extra minute or two before removing. Lid should stick to pot and require twisting to remove if you have a good sealing lid otherwise this won't work.
A Filapina roommate taught me this 30 years ago and I have never burnt or made soggy rice since as long as my pot sealed, all you need is a quality pot with a good sealing lid, this is the crux, it has to seal, so no vent holes in the lid, usually low grade pots with poor fitting lids don't work, but some do. You can test your pot by boiling water, setting aside with lid on for five minutes, it should vacuum seal to pot and require a twist to remove lid. Happy Cooking

 

[Simran]

my 12V lunch box makes a mean batch of rice; it takes awhile though. I like the idea of the vacuum kettle in the previous post. It makes perfect sense.

 

[Westycamper]

I would like to be able to cook the rice as I am driving , so I can have it for lunch and not have to sit there waiting for it to cook,

Plus when driving you can charge the battery
my tiny 1 1/2 cup 110v rice cooker takes 200 watts which would drain the battery if just parked and motor turned off ,
a regular car headlight is 45 to 55 watt to give you an idea

How long does the 12v Lunchbox take ?

 

[Lucky mike]

in a pan on the stove 45 min!!!...........perfect wild rice everytime!!

2 cups in the solar oven with chicken broth base.....perfect at the end of a hard day!!!!

1cup in the microwave 20 min to perfection!!!

1 cup in the rice maker.....Not so much , even the dog flipped the bowl !!!!!

 

[Simran]

I cook a lot of things in my 12V lunch box while driving. They were designed for truckers and they are no gimmick; they work. From burrito's to rice to cake. The darned things will cook anything . . .well maybe not a turkey :-/

I would like to be able to cook the rice as I am driving , so I can have it for lunch and not have to sit there waiting for it to cook,

Plus when driving you can charge the battery
my tiny 1 1/2 cup 110v rice cooker takes 200 watts which would drain the battery if just parked and motor turned off ,
a regular car headlight is 45 to 55 watt to give you an idea

How long does the 12v Lunchbox take ?

 

[akrvbob]

Thermos cooking makes rice a lot cheaper and easier to make. I'm going to do post on it very soon.

Basically, if you have a quality thermos it cuts the simmering time in half with brown rice (the only kind I make).
Bob

 

[Simran]

You know I don't know what to tell you on the time it takes to cook rice in a lunch box. It is not real fast although it was faster than I initially though it might be.
How's that for dodging a question. I should go into politics maybe!

Also Bob, I think you've mentioned the thermos rice b'fore. Sounds interesting. The first question that comes to mind is how you get the rice out of the thermos after cooking it!! Brown rice is my favorite too!!

 

[akrvbob]

Simran, the key is to buy a wide-mouth, short thermos. That way getting things out and cleaning it is easy. I use this Nissan Thermos model:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RHFRVS/

Bob

 

[Belinda2]

I have lived in many places in Asia under many conditions, and boondocked also. Here is how it is done (very similar to Bob's method):
1.Start with long grain, non instant rice 1 cup rice to 2 cups water. Little less if you use sticky rice, or Japanese sushi rice. Little more water1-2 Tbsp if you want the grains separated, like Jasamine or brown rice.
2. Put rice and water in the pot at the same time, just like you do with a rice cooker. Do not stir. Do not drain. Do not add salt or butter like American recipes suggest.
3. If using rice cooker, turn on and it will click off or keep warm until done. If using the stove or a 12 volt car mug, bring water to a boil with the lid on. Watch you have some room in the pot, or you can make a mess in your limited space area.
4. Turn off the heat source. Keep lid on.
5. The car mug is a thermos, so just wait 15 minutes. For anything else, put it inside a cooler chest, or cover under and over with insulating hand towels. Let steep for 15 minutes.
6. Enjoy!!!

 

[WheelEstate USA]

I've got a Bubba Keg, but more awesome looking than the one below and it works really well for thermos cooking. Wrap it in a towel like any thermos and your favorite evening meal will be ready when you are after a day on the road. It has a wide mouth (5") and a flip spout if used for drinking. Great for 2 people. Works great hot or cold....
http://www.amazon.com/Bubba-Insulat..._sim_lg_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=1D7RRFBA7YVN9Q9Y3HZN

Found mine at a yard sale still in sealed plastic for a buck a few years ago.
Its one item I insisted on keeping during the downsize to the RV.

 

[spd2918]

http://www.nutricity.com/royal-rice-basmati-burlap-10-lb?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=pricegrabber

I made the switch to stovetop Basmati rice and the quality / flavor can't be beat. It is cheap, but storage of a large bag might be an issue for some. It would be less convenient than a rice cooker. For on the road, a gas stove top burner would be best.

 

[Simran]

Yah Bob, after you said it it it is kind of a no brainer. Someone says Thermos; I think Coffee of course :blush:

Simran, the key is to buy a wide-mouth, short thermos. That way getting things out and cleaning it is easy. I use this Nissan Thermos model:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RHFRVS/

Bob

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

I am not a big fan of rice, so I don't make it often. But I make a lot of other grains that need reconstituting in a 3 qt aluminum pressure cooker. It is a fast, brain dead way to cook.

I have a small pot that fits inside,
add rice & water to pot & cover,
add ~1" water to pressure cooker,
put covered pot inside & seal,
heat until pressurised,
remove from heat,
wrap in blanket, sleeping bag, or make a kozy.

Food is usually ready in about 10 minutes (depends on what you are making). Food will continue to cook and stay warm for a loooong time. --Spiff

 

[Zil]

thinking back to a post on microwave cooking. Birds Eye, Steamfresh whole grain brown rice. 5 minutes in a small microwave for surprisingly good rice. Package contains cooked brown rice.
I like one can of vegetable broth with one cup of brown rice and boil on the stove top.

 

[Westycamper]

I took one for the team and cooked some regular white rice

Black and Decker tiny rice cooker model RC3303 , 3-Cup (200 watt) $12.34 at amazon today,
1 cup of rice and 2 cups of water , the "official" rice cup is smaller and with the USA 1 cup it was right at the top when cooked. I will use 3/4 cup next time.

I had a 500w cheapy 12v to 110 converter , and an extra 12v car battery that was not in the car.

So set it all up, hooked up the battery and pressed cook !
all went well , the cookers light went on and 40 minutes later I had a big bowl of cooked rice , I also did the same test on 110v house current and it was 33 minutes

if I do it again I will check battery start voltage and voltage when it is cooked but I forgot to this time.

So for a first time it went well , If you are driving it is going to make a "fog" inside the car and no idea if there is anything in the steam that might mess up the headliner etc, I would also figure out a strap / belt to hold the lid on in case you hit a bump and probably put the rice cooker in a box on the front floor

I might try it later with the next size up rice cooker which takes 2x the power ,

 

[Telcobilly]

I'm really enjoying the cooking forum and the suggestions. My Amazon wish list is filling up from the great links I'm seeing all over the forum. Thanks for the reviews of the various products too.