How to Make Porridge With Your Rice Cooker

There is always the question of what you should eat when you are sick, and if you are a fan of Japanese anime/manga/drama, you should have probably witnessed a scene of the main character getting sick, and their love interest visiting them and cooking rice porridge for them.

The great thing about having rice porridge when you are sick is that:

1. It is hot food.

2. It is easy to eat because it is quite watery, so you do not really need to chew.

3. It is easy to digest.

4. You can make a big pot and save some for later, as they are also easy to heat up again.

It might seem complex, but it is extremely easy if you have a rice cooker at home, and that is another good thing to add to the list!

If you did not know, most rice cookers you can get in Japan have the function of making porridge.

With the "okayu" (おかゆ) button, you can put the rice and water in and it will cook a fluffy delicious meal for you. The amount is usually half of the size of the rice cooker itself.

Just be aware that it takes a considerable amount of time to cook (1 hour plus on my machine), so it is better to put things in earlier and set a timer instead.

Personally, I also prefer my porridge with more water, so I would put less rice to balance it out. People who like more gooey porridge (Chinese style) can cook it earlier and let the porridge sit in the cooker for a couple more hours.

I actually like rice porridge without anything added, especially when I am sick, but those who find it way to plain to enjoy could add salt or have tsukemono on the side.

People even put vegetables and even meat into the rice cooker when they make porridge, and that is an option to make them tastier. You can definitely find plenty of recipes online for how you can make your porridge fancier, but just remember that it might not be as healthy, and also make sure you do not put too much and cause it to overflow.

This is a function that I do not use enough, but it is definitely an easy option for a hot filling meal that is especially perfect for when you are sick. If you have never used that function before, give it a try and you might be opened to a new world of Asian food.