Making the perfect bowl of rice in a rice cooker is relatively easy, but you can easily mess it up too. Sometimes, you may end up with hard, undercooked, crunchy rice that is not desirable.
You don’t have to throw the rice out if this happens to you. There are a few ways you can fix it and salvage the situation altogether.
Fixing hard undercooked rice in the rice cooker is pretty straightforward. All you need is half a cup of boiling water and a fork.
Pour the water into the rice cooker, use a fox to mix the rice with water, cover the rice cooker with its lid and set it to cook for 3 minutes. Your rice will have the right texture after completing the process.

This article gives you the step-by-step process of fixing rice in a rice cooker.
Additionally, we will look at how to; cook rice in the rice cooker the correct way, fix undercooked rice in the microwave, make the perfect rice every time, and avoid crunchy rice.
We will also discuss whether it is okay to eat crunchy rice.
Also, Check Out: How to use a Rice Cooker.
How to fix crunchy rice in a rice cooker
If you discover that your rice is hard, crunchy, and undercooked, all hope is not lost. You can still fix it in the rice cooker.

Follow these steps to fix crunchy rice.
- Boil half a cup of water on your stovetop.
- Pour the water into the rice cooker containing the undercooked rice.
- Use a fork to stir the rice and water mixture. The fork also separates rice grains stuck together during the cooking process.
- Cover the rice cooker with its lid.
- Set the rice cooker to “cook” for 3 minutes. After three minutes, it will automatically turn off and switch to the “warm” setting.
- Let the rice remain in the warm setting for 10 minutes.
- After 10 minutes, uncover the lid and check the rice texture.
If the rice is still hard and crunchy, repeat them until you achieve your desired texture.
Also, Check Out: 20 Minute Meal- Prep Chicken, Rice And Broccoli Recipe
How to cook rice in the rice cooker (the right way)

Knowing how to cook rice in the rice cooker correctly is the number one way to avoid crunchy rice.
The first thing you should do is use the suitable water to rice ratio. This ensures that the rice doesn’t burn during cooking. Likewise, the rice won’t be undercooked.
The correct water to rice ratio is 1:1. However, if you notice that your rice remains undercooked when you use this ratio, you can use the ratio 1 ½: 1.
Use one and a half cups of water for every cup of rice you intend to cook. Note that wild and brown rice may need more water.
Follow these instructions to cook rice in your rice cooker.

- Rinse the rice in cold running water until the water runs clear. Rinsing gets rid of the dust and prevents the rice from sticking together.
- Place the rice in your cooker add salt and the water you measured.
- Cover the rice cooker with its lid and set it to cook. The rice cooker will automatically cook the rice and switch to “warm” when it completes the cooking process.
- Let the rice remain in “warm” mode for approximately ten minutes before uncovering the rice cooker. This way, the rice will not be undercooked.
- Open the lid and taste the rice to determine if the texture is right. If not, add ½ a cup of boiling water to the rice, use a fork to stir the rice, cover the lid and cook for 3 minutes.
Also, Check Out: The Best Stainless Steel Rice Cooker-which will make you Love Cooking.
How to fix crunchy rice in the microwave

You can also fix crunchy rice in a microwave. Here is how to do it.
- Transfer the rice to a microwave-safe bowl.
- Wet a few paper towels with water.
- Squeeze out some of the water and leave the paper towels damp. Do not dry them out.
- Use the paper towels to cover your bowl and place it in the microwave.
- Place the bowl in the microwave and turn it on for a few minutes.
- Remove the bowl from the microwave, slowly remove the paper towels, and check the rice texture.
- Your rice will no longer be undercooked. Serve and enjoy!
If, by chance, the rice is still undercooked and crunchy, repeat the process until you achieve the correct texture. It is doubtful that the rice will overcook or burn in the microwave.
Tips on avoiding crunchy rice

Fixing crunchy rice may be helpful, but the rice often doesn’t taste the way it would have if you had gotten it right the first time.
If your rice turns out crunchy every time, you may be making common, avoidable mistakes. Below are a few tips on avoiding crunchy rice.
Close the lid tightly before starting the cooking process
You must close the rice cooker lid tightly during the cooking process. Not doing so allows steam to escape. Consequently, the rice doesn’t cook as well as it should.
Use moderate temperatures to co cook the rice
If you use high temperatures for cooking rice, it won’t cook evenly. The water may also evaporate before the rice cooks properly. Stick to low temperatures to avoid undercooked, crunchy rice.
Let the rice rest for ten minutes after cooking before you uncover the lid
Most people uncover the lid immediately after the rice cooker completes the cooking process, which is wrong.
It would be best to always let the rice sit for at least ten minutes after cooking before uncovering the lid.
This way, the rice won’t be undercooked.
How to make the perfect rice every time

If you want your rice to turn out perfect every time, here is what to do;
Use the correct water to rice ratio
Using the correct water to rice ratio is critical in making the perfect rice. Ideally, when cooking rice in the rice cooker, the water to rice ratio is 1:1.
If you are making wild or brown rice, use the ratio 1 ½: 1 because these two rice varieties require more water.
Rinse the rice before cooking
It is best to rinse rice three times before cooking or until the water runs clear.
If you use aromatic rice like basmati or jasmine, you should soak the rice for a few minutes before cooking. This ensures that the rice cooks properly.
Do not interfere with the rice as it is cooking
Once you have turned on the rice cooker, leave it alone. Do not interfere with the rice during the cooking process.
Uncovering the rice cooker lid during the cooking process releases steam and reduces the temperature inside the rice cooker resulting in undercooked rice.
Fluff the rice when you are done cooking
Once the cooking process is complete, fluff the rice. This ensures that the rice doesn’t form any lumps and its texture remains intact.
Can You Eat Crunchy Rice?

Eating crunchy rice won’t have adverse effects on your health. However, it would be best not to eat crunchy, undercooked rice.
Undercooked rice may harbor bacteria spores that may cause food poisoning. The bacteria mainly grow when you leave rice at room temperature.
If you eat undercooked rice that has bacteria, you may experience nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and in extreme cases, diarrhea.
I highly recommend fixing crunchy rice in the rice cooker or microwave by following the abovementioned steps to avoid getting these symptoms. It would only take a few minutes.
Bottom Line
You must follow the correct process to make the perfect rice bowl in your rice cooker.
If it turns out hard, undercooked, and crunchy, you can still salvage the situation using the methods discussed above. Fixing undercooked rice in the rice cooker is pretty straightforward.
I hope this article answered your question on fixing hard, undercooked, crunchy rice.