A Healthy Way To Cook Rice In A Crock-pot

Traditional Crock-Pot recipes are convenient to make, but they aren't always the most healthful options for food preparation. Classic Crock-Pot cookbooks often suggest including large amounts of oil, butter, cheese, bacon and other unhealthy ingredients to create rich, hearty comfort foods. However, none of these items are integral to the recipes -- you can cook low-fat, low-cholesterol meals in your Crock-Pot just as easily. To cook healthful rice dishes, use long-grain brown rice instead of white rice, and omit add-ons such as ham and oil.

Step 1

Heat water on a stove until it begins to boil. Transfer it to the Crock-Pot. Add long-grain brown rice. Stir in salt.

Step 2

Add optional ingredients to create a more complex dish. For a savory vegetable dish, slice 4 oz. mushrooms and 4 green onions, and add the vegetables and 1 tsp. white pepper to the rice. For a curry-style dish, add 2 tsp. turmeric, 1/2 cup raisins and 1/2 cup slivered almonds.

Step 3

Cover the Crock-Pot. Cook the rice on high for 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours or on low for 6 to 8 hours.

Step 4

Check the rice after 2 hours on high or 6 hours on low. Add 1 cup hot water to the pot if the rice dries out before it is thoroughly cooked. Re-cover, and continue cooking until the rice is done.

Tips and Warnings

Experiment with different combinations of vegetables and herbs or fruits and spices. Use low-sodium chicken stalk or beef stalk instead of water for a richer flavor.