485182 Thu Jan 31 18:17:09 -0800 2008 7 31 Home Cooking 0 3353967 This is a dumb question, but I am making some basmati rice in my rice steamer and wondering if it is okay to add some frozen peas and raw carrots to it. Will cooking everything at the same time ruin it? Thu Jan 31 18:17:09 -0800 2008 72474 sophia519 1 3353978 no, i frequently cook khichdi which is lentils and rice, various types of pilafs, even tried biriyani an fried rice. have to prep before adding but it works. Thu Jan 31 18:20:29 -0800 2008 3353967 76259 foodwich 1 3354002 The carrots may still be firm (cut them smaller), but the peas should be fine. They're frozen and already flash cooked, so they really just need to be reheated. Honestly, I add just about any vegetables to my rice cooker. I've also added spices, sauces, other grains... it's a very accommodating appliance. Thu Jan 31 18:30:29 -0800 2008 3353967 70779 assorted 2 3354122 With 'dry' vegetables like this, add them after you have added the right amount of liquid - assuming you add liquid up to x level. That way the additions won't mess up the rice to water ratio. Frozen peas could be added later, but there doesn't seem to be much harm in adding them at the start of the rice cooking. They accumulate on top of the rice. Things like carrots should cook in the same time as the rice if cut small enough. Diced onion is best sauteed a bit first. A (simple) rice cooker uses high heat until most of the water is absorbed. At that point temperature in the pot starts to rise, and high heat switches off. So regardless of the additions, it is the liquid-rice ratio that determines cooking time. paulj Thu Jan 31 19:19:19 -0800 2008 3354002 12139 paulj 1 3354394 I often add yams or Japanese sweet potatoes to rice. Makes it both aromatic and pleasantly sweet. Thu Jan 31 21:08:23 -0800 2008 3353967 11583 ipsedixit 1 3354417 Raw carrots will actually need to cook, but you could even add frozen peas just at the very end of cooking so that they get heated through - they'll be fine that way. (a long way of saying why would it not be okay? It's your rice! (seriously, the taste will be fine and it won't hurt the rice in any way) Thu Jan 31 21:15:49 -0800 2008 3353967 11599 Alice Letseat 1 3354526 Carrots I would steam or par boil first. Frozen peas can be mixed with the rice or laid on top at the beginning of cooking. Any type of dried bean needs to be soaked first and possibly short boiled before adding to rice. Corn, diced broccoli, diced daikon etc - no problem Thu Jan 31 22:14:48 -0800 2008 3353967 93805 hannaone 2 3355374 Thanks everyone, the rice turned out fine with the peas and carrots. I cut the carrots pretty small, so they were fine. Thanks for the additional suggestions! Fri Feb 01 08:25:48 -0800 2008 3354526 72474 sophia519