What's the cooking time for rice in a commercial steamer

To better meet the demand for large-scale rice steaming in school cafeterias, restaurants, hotels, and other food service industries, a variety of commercial steam cabinets, including rice steamers, have been developed. Compared to traditional rice cookers, commercial rice steamers use electricity or gas for heating and are designed for large-scale steaming of rice, steamed buns, and dumplings. They efficiently meet the high-volume demands of the food service industry.

But how much water should be added when cooking rice in a commercial rice steamer? And how long does it take to steam rice? Let’s explore these questions.

 How Much Water Should Be Added When Steaming Rice in a Commercial Rice Steamer?

In the food service industry, where large amounts of rice are needed daily, relying solely on household rice cookers is not practical. The introduction of commercial rice steamers has significantly improved steaming efficiency while ensuring the quality and texture of the cooked rice, making them an essential tool for maintaining both efficiency and quality.

So, how much water should be added when steaming rice in a commercial rice steamer?

There is no fixed amount of water, as it depends entirely on the amount of rice being cooked. Generally, the recommended rice-to-water ratio is about 1:1.2. If a firmer, drier texture is preferred, slightly less water can be used. Additionally, different types of rice may require slight adjustments in water quantity to achieve the best results.

 How Long Does It Take to Steam Rice in a Commercial Rice Steamer?

Now that we have an idea of how much water to add, let’s look at how long it takes to steam rice in a commercial rice steamer.

For a 12-tray electric rice steamer, it takes approximately 11 minutes to generate steam from cold water. Once steaming begins, cooking rice takes about 45 minutes.

For a 12-tray gas-powered rice steamer, steam is generated in about 8 minutes, and the total rice steaming time is approximately 40 minutes.

Since commercial rice steamers handle large quantities of rice, the steaming time may need to be adjusted based on the actual load. To reduce cooking time and enhance the texture of the rice, it is recommended to soak the rice in water for about an hour before steaming. This not only shortens the steaming process but also results in softer, more elastic rice.

Once cooked, the rice can be served as is or used in dishes like pineapple rice and fried rice, adding variety to meal options.