How to Cook Couscous in a Rice Cooker: Ratio, Setting and Time
Yes, you can cook couscous in a rice cooker. Aroma, the rice cooker brand, uses equal amounts of couscous and broth plus a little olive oil, stirred and cooked on the White Rice setting until the cooker switches to Keep Warm.
Fluff it with a fork when it is done. Pearl (Israeli) couscous is larger and needs a little more liquid.
- Ratio for fine (Moroccan) couscous: 1 cup couscous to 1 cup broth or water.
- Use the White Rice or Cook setting. Aroma’s recipe uses White Rice.
- Add 1 tablespoon of oil or butter per cup to keep the grains separate.
- Do not rinse couscous. It is pasta, and rinsing makes it gummy.
- Fluff with a fork straight away so it does not clump.
Can you cook couscous in a rice cooker?
Yes. Couscous is tiny pasta made from wheat semolina, not a grain, but a rice cooker handles it well. The cooker heats the liquid, the couscous absorbs it, and the cooker switches to Keep Warm on its own.
Aroma publishes a rice cooker couscous recipe for its 8-cup digital multicooker. It uses 2 cups couscous, 2 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth and 2 tablespoons olive oil, cooked on the White Rice setting.
Couscous to water ratio for a rice cooker
| Couscous | Dry amount | Broth or water | Oil or butter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine (Moroccan) | 1 cup | 1 cup | 1 tbsp |
| Fine (Moroccan) | 2 cups | 2 cups | 2 tbsp |
| Pearl (Israeli) | 1 cup | Follow the package; usually a little more than 1 cup | 1 tbsp |
| Whole wheat | 1 cup | 1 cup, plus 1 to 2 tbsp if dry | 1 tbsp |
Use the same cup for the couscous and the liquid. The ratio matters more than the cup size. Using the rice cooker’s water lines will add too much water, as they are marked for rice.
Stovetop directions often call for more liquid, because some evaporates. In a closed rice cooker, almost none escapes, so the 1:1 ratio is enough.
How to make couscous in a rice cooker
- Add everything. Put the couscous, broth or water, oil and a pinch of salt in the inner pot.
- Stir. Give it a quick stir so no dry pockets are left.
- Cook. Close the lid and press White Rice or Cook.
- Wait for Keep Warm. The cooker beeps or clicks when the liquid is absorbed.
- Fluff. Open the lid and fluff with a fork at once, breaking up any clumps.
- Finish. Stir in lemon juice, herbs or butter, and serve.
How long does couscous take in a rice cooker?
Aroma lists 30 to 45 minutes for its recipe on a digital cooker, which includes the slow preheat built into the White Rice program. A basic pot-style cooker is usually quicker: Aroma says its pot-style models cook faster than its digital ones.
If you are in a hurry, fine couscous needs only boiling liquid and about 5 minutes covered off the heat. The rice cooker is best when you want hands-off cooking or are making a larger batch.
Which setting to use
- Aroma rice cookers: White Rice, as in Aroma’s own recipe.
- Basic one-switch cookers: press Cook.
- Multi-setting cookers: White Rice or Quick. Avoid Brown Rice and Porridge, which add soaking time and can make couscous mushy.
Pearl (Israeli) couscous in a rice cooker
Pearl couscous is a larger, toasted pasta ball. It holds its shape and has a chewy bite, more like orzo. It needs more liquid and a longer cook than fine couscous.
Toast it in a little oil first if your cooker has a Sauté setting, then add liquid and cook on White Rice. Check the package for its liquid amount, and add a splash of hot water if it is still firm.
Flavor ideas
- Lemon herb: broth, then lemon zest, parsley and mint after cooking.
- Aroma’s add-ins: corn, grilled chicken, tomato, avocado, black beans, chickpeas and parsley.
- Moroccan style: a pinch of cumin, cinnamon and raisins, with toasted almonds.
- Garlic and Parmesan: butter and garlic in the pot, Parmesan stirred in at the end.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Gummy or mushy | Too much liquid, rinsed couscous, or left on Keep Warm too long | Use 1:1, do not rinse, fluff and serve soon |
| Hard or dry | Too little liquid, or pearl couscous on a short cycle | Add 2 tbsp hot liquid, close the lid and rest 5 minutes |
| Stuck to the bottom | No oil, or a very small batch | Add oil or butter; make at least 1 cup |
| Clumps | Not stirred before or after cooking | Stir before cooking, fluff with a fork after |
Frequently asked questions
Can I make couscous in a rice cooker?
Yes. Add equal amounts of couscous and broth with a little oil, stir, and cook on the White Rice setting. Fluff with a fork when the cooker switches to Keep Warm.
What is the couscous to water ratio in a rice cooker?
1:1 for fine couscous, such as 1 cup couscous to 1 cup water or broth. Pearl couscous needs a little more; follow the package.
Which setting on an Aroma rice cooker is for couscous?
White Rice. That is the setting Aroma uses in its own rice cooker couscous recipe.
Do you rinse couscous before cooking?
No. Couscous is pasta, and rinsing makes the surface wet and sticky. Add it to the pot dry.
Can I cook couscous in a small rice cooker?
Yes. A 3-cup mini cooker handles ½ to 1 cup of couscous well. Keep the pot no more than half full of couscous and liquid.
The bottom line
Couscous is easy in a rice cooker. Use equal amounts of couscous and broth, add a little oil, cook on White Rice and fluff with a fork as soon as it is done.
- Aroma Housewares, Rice Cooker Couscous.
- Aroma Housewares, How Long Does It Take in an Aroma Rice Cooker?
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