What Else Can You Cook in a Rice Cooker? 12 Ideas
Quick answer: Besides rice, a rice cooker can cook oatmeal, quinoa and other grains, steam vegetables, fish and dumplings, boil eggs, make porridge and simple soups, and some models can even bake a small cake. Avoid foods that foam heavily or need high heat unless your manual allows it.
Last updated: November 1, 2026
12 things to cook in a rice cooker
- Oatmeal: see how to make oatmeal in a rice cooker.
- Quinoa: see our quinoa guide.
- Other grains: barley, millet and farro, using extra water.
- Steamed vegetables and fish: with a steamer basket.
- Dumplings and buns: steamed in the basket.
- Boiled eggs: see boiling eggs in a rice cooker.
- Porridge or congee: use the porridge setting if there is one.
- Polenta: see polenta in a rice cooker.
- Soups and stews: small batches, below the max line.
- Pancakes: see pancake in a rice cooker.
- Rice mixes: see Rice-A-Roni in a rice cooker.
- Cake: some cookers, such as the Zojirushi NS-TSC10, have a cake menu.
Tips and cautions
- Do not exceed the maximum fill line, especially for foods that expand or foam.
- Use only foods the manual allows. Basic cookers have no temperature control.
- Stir sticky foods occasionally to prevent burning on the bottom.
- Clean thoroughly afterwards. See how to clean the inner pot.
Which rice cooker is best for more than rice?
Multi-cookers and models with grain, steam and porridge settings are the most flexible. See our best rice cooker by feature guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can you cook pasta in a rice cooker?
Some people do, but it can foam and stick, so check your manual and watch it closely.
Can you fry in a rice cooker?
Not in a basic cooker. Models with a saute function can brown food.
Is it safe to cook soup in a rice cooker?
Yes in small amounts, below the max line, but follow your manual.
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