Do I need to use the pressure lid or can I use the glass lid for cooking brown rice

To insure long life and satisfactory performance from your Nordic Ware Rice Cooker, follow these simple guidelines (microwave use only).

1. Before using your Rice Cooker wash it thoroughly by hand in warm soapy water or in the dishwasher (top rack only).
2.Foods with strong colors (particularly red sauces, tomatoes) may stain your cookware.Staining that may occur will not affect the use of the cookware.
(Cooking times may vary due to variations in microwave ovens.Adjust cooking times for best results in your oven.)

To Cook Rice:
1. Remove basket.
2. Pour 1 cup of uncooked rice into the bottom of the basket, rinse rice thoroughly with cold water.
3. Transfer the rinsed rice from the basket to the bottom of the cooker.
4. Add 1 1/2 cups of water and 1 tsp salt (salt is optional).
5. Secure lid and lock clamps. Open vent holes.
6. Microwave on medium setting (50%) for 10 - 12 minutes (white rice) or 18-20 (brown rice).
7. Remove from microwave, close vent holes and let stand with the lid fastened for 4-5 minutes (the steam continues to cook the rice.)
8. Remove rice from the cooker and fluff with a fork.
Yields: 3 cups of cooked rice or 4 to 6 servings.

Cooking Potatoes and Vegetables:
1. Insert Basket.
2.Pour one cup of water plus 1/4 tsp. salt into the bottom of the cooker.
3. Peel vegetables (if desired), cut into evenly sized pieces and place inside basket.
4. Secure lid and lock clamps. Close vent holes.
5. Microwave on high for 3-4 minutes.
6. Remove from microwave and let stand with lid fastened for 3-4 minutes (the steam continues to cook the vegetables.)

Cooking Pasta:
1. Remove basket and lid (lid not used initially for preparing pasta inside the microwave).
2. Pour 2 cups (5 oz.) of uncooked noodles into the bottom of the cooker.
3. Add 2 1/2 cups water.
4. Microwave on high setting 10 minutes, stirring after 5 minutes.
5. Remove from microwave, stir noodles, secure lid and lock clamps. Close vent holes. Let stand for 3-4 minutes.

HELPFUL HINTS TO ENHANCE THE FLAVOR OF ANY MICROWAVE DISH:
1. Use chicken broth instead of water for added flavor.
2. Add a little butter or oil to contents.

Cover with the lid and turn the heat down to its lowest setting. Leave it alone - once the lid is on, set the timer and go away! If you lift the lid and let the steam out you can slow down the cooking process, and rice should always be cooked as briefly as possible. Give white rice 15 minutes and brown rice 40 and use a timer - overcooking is what spoils rice. The best way to test if it is cooked is simply to bite a grain. Another way is to tilt the pan and, if liquid collects at the edge, it will need a couple more minutes' cooking.

Yes - I think it's a great way to cut down on the time needed for cooking. I particularly love using my pressure cooker for beans which I soak over night and then they only take 20 minutes in the pressure cooker. It's also great for rices like brown rice that take 40 minutes when boiling - it cuts the cooking time by half.

Check this procedure:
* Before cooking, rinse rice in warm water until water becomes clear. Then place the rice in the inner pot with fresh water.
* Take care to use proper water to rice ratios.
* Use a 1:1 ratio of rice to water plus ½ cup of water for white rice and a 1:1 ratio plus ¾ cup of water for brown rice.

TIPS:
# You may wish to tweak the "rice to water ratio" with experience - for example: for larger quantities of rice, you may find a little less or more than one and a half the amount of water results in better rice.
# One cup of dry rice grains cooked in this way is about sufficient to accompany a meal for 2 adults.
# If the rice is a major component of the dish, you might need up to 1 cup of rice per adult.
# Your base measurement doesn't need to be a cup necessarily - the key is to add 1.5x as much water as rice, whatever the quantity.
# It works best to use the original lid of the pot you use, since it will seal best.
# When the rice first boils, it might weep a bit or even lift the lid. Keep watch and an ear out for the start of the boil.
# These times and ratios are for white rice (e.g. Jasmine, Basmati, etc). If you are cooking brown rice you will need around 2C water to 1C rice and double the time.
# Salt is not necessary when cooking rice, but can be added. Unless you add a ridiculous amount of salt it will not significantly change the boiling temperature or time.
# Water boils at a lower temperature at altitude. If you live at a high altitude it will take longer to cook rice using this method.

I hope help with this (remember to rate this answer).

The steam tray as you call it goes on the inside bottom of the cooker. It's purpose is to keep the cooking rice separated from the heating element during the steaming process. The basic measurement is 2 parts water to 1 part rice. Add a quarter cup more water for brown rice. The automatic shut-off won't turn off until the water is gone. It's magic! Cleaning; soak the cook pot and perforated plate to remove rice goo DO NOT USE STEEL WOOL PADS or abrasive cleanser. I use a nylon dish cleaning brush to remove the stuck on brown material.

Here are the instructions that came with the cooker:

Cooking times may vary due to variations in microwave ovens. Adjust cooking times for best results in your oven.
To Cook Rice:
1. Remove basket.
2. Pour 1 cup of uncooked rice into the bottom of the basket, rinse rice thoroughly with cold water.
3. Transfer the rinsed rice from the basket to the bottom of the cooker.
4. Add 1 1/2 cups of water and 1 tsp salt (salt is optional).
5. Secure lid and lock clamps. Open vent holes.
6. Microwave on medium setting (50%) for 10 - 12 minutes (white rice) or 18-20 (brown rice).
7. Remove from microwave, close vent holes and let stand with the lid fastened for 4-5 minutes (the steam continues to cook the rice.)
8. Remove rice from the cooker and fluff with a fork.
Yields: 3 cups of cooked rice or 4 to 6 servings.
Cooking Potatoes and Vegetables:
1. Insert Basket.
2. Pour one cup of water plus 1/4 tsp. salt into the bottom of the cooker.
3. Peel vegetables (if desired), cut into evenly sized pieces and place inside basket.
4. Secure lid and lock clamps. Close vent holes.
5. Microwave on high for 3-4 minutes.
6. Remove from microwave and let stand with lid fastened for 3-4 minutes (the steam continues to cook the vegetables.)
Cooking Pasta:
1. Remove basket and lid (lid not used initially for preparing pasta inside the microwave).
2. Pour 2 cups (5 oz.) of uncooked noodles into the bottom of the cooker.
3. Add 2 1/2 cups water.
4. Microwave on high setting 10 minutes, stirring after 5 minutes.
5. Remove from microwave, stir noodles, secure lid and lock clamps. Close vent holes. Let stand for 3-4 minutes.

I had the same problem when I cooked brown rice in my rice cooker! I found that adding a tablespoon of butter on top of the cooking rice solves the problem. (A friend told me it works when cooking beans in a pot, so I figured it would help with rice too, and it did!)

yup! there is a different ratio for brown rice.

1 cup brown rice = 2 cups water

hope this helps

there is normally a special rice bowl, which looks like the lid upside down which is used for rice cooking and should be placed at the highest point in the upper steam bowl and place the lid on top. for 1 cup of white regular rice, use 1 1/2 cups of water, steam for 45-50 mins for 1 cup long grain rice use 1 2/3 cups of water, steam for 50-55 mins for 1/2 cup of brown regular rice, use 1 cup water and steam for 42-45mins