How to Cook Germinated Brown Rice in a Rice Cooker

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By Ashley Woodward • Last Updated: February 16, 2023

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How to Cook Germinated Brown Rice in a Rice Cooker

Where does the germinated brown rice come from? How does this rice grow? What kind of health benefits this rice has. And of course how to cook germinated brown rice in a rice cooker – in other words, in the best possible way.

Improves digestive system, prevents cancer, perfect anti-oxidant, controls diabetes are just a few of the remarkable benefits of GBA or Germinated Brown Rice. In this post you will learn everything you need to know about GBA rice.

The History of Germinated Brown Rice

A long time ago in Asia, brown rice was popularly used in many areas. Although white rice also existed later on, brown rice was more popular then because it was easier to produce. Brown rice is unprocessed, unpolished, either not milled or partly milled whole grain.

It has a distinct chewy texture and nutty flavor. All grains before were being soaked for easier digestion especially to children. Only in 2004, the GBA or Germinated Brown Rice was discovered by the United Nation’s Year of Rice while they were doing their research.

They have found out that the Gama-amino butyric acid (GABA) is attained by soaking the brown rice in water from 4-20 hours and rinsing it every once in a while. GABA levels increase during germination depending on the total soaking hours.

Soaking is not enough to have GBR (germinated brown rice); you have to let it sprout for better results. Sprouting and fermenting brown rice reduces Phytic Acid which is referred to as “anti-nutrient”.

GABA is known for the positive psychological and emotional benefits. During the germination process, a lot of other vitamins and minerals are also unlocked from the grains that were proven to be heaven sent. Also species such as jasmine rice and basmati have a positive effect on the human nervous system.

Since then, the demand for germinated brown rice has tremendously increased most especially to health conscious people. There are available ready-made germinated brown rice packed and sold in organic supermarkets worldwide.

Why Eat Germinated Brown Rice?

Why Eat Germinated Brown Rice

There is a long list of benefits that can be taken from eating germinated brown rice. The very first benefit is that since brown rice is raw or unprocessed, the nutrition inside the grains is still unpacked unlike white rice wherein you have to process the grains and add other suitable components until the commercial value is achieved.

The GABA (Gama-amino butyric acid) is released ten times more in germinated brown rice compared to white rice, and twice than the regular brown rice, thus increasing mental and emotional well being.  Apart from these, there are a lot more important health benefits that germinated brown rice offers:

  • Lowers Blood Sugar
  • Powerful Anti-oxidant
  • Prevents Dementia, Amnesia, and Alzheimer’s
  • Anti-Depressant
  • Prevents Cancer
  • Lowers Cholesterol level
  • Boosts the Immune system
  • Improves the Nervous and Digestive systems
  • And many more

The release of essential vitamins and minerals during germination is highly notable. Some germinated brown rice is now available in dried forms for better shelving and market value.

How to Germinate Brown Rice

How to Germinate Brown Rice

Any variety of brown rice can be germinated. You can even germinate them on your own by following the steps below:

  1. Rinse brown rice (size of your choice) with water and then place it on a medium to large bowl.
  2. Soak the brown rice with warm water and cover with towel or screen and allow it to soak for 12 hours to overnight.
  3. After soaking overnight, drain the water from the bowl using a strainer. Rinse the rice well with clean water and allow it to drain again. Let it drain for another 12 hours.
  4. After 12 hours of draining, rinse the rice with clean water and drain it. Repeat this step for 2-3 times a day about every 12 hours.
  5. After 1-2 days of rinsing and draining, tiny sprouts will begin to appear from the rice grains. Rinse and drain the sprouts thoroughly and then transfer it on a clean covered container.

Do not let the grains sprout longer since the taste will be quite different.

Cooking Germinated Brown Rice in a Rice Cooker

Cooking germinated brown rice is so easy. You can even do this on any rice cookers with several rice variety cook options. However you must consider the way of cooking it as it greatly affects the flavor of the grain. Here is the complete guide on how to cook germinated brown rice in a rice cooker:

  1. Rinse and then dry 2 cups of germinated brown rice.
  2. Transfer the rice inside the rice cooker pot.
  3. Fill it with 3 cups of water and bring to a boil.
  4. Use the same brown rice cook option for about 30 minutes.
  5. Carefully fluff with fork to see if the rice is cooked. Unplug the rice cooker when the germinated brown rice looks cooked and allow it to warm itself.

If you do not have much experience with rice cookers, here you have a simple description of how to use rice cooker.

The video below shows cooking sprouted brown rice with white rice.

Traditional Way of Cooking Germinated Brown Rice (Asian Style)

Before rice cookers became readily available, people used pots or saucepans for cooking rice. Other Asian countries even use clays and bamboos for cooking rice but that will be quite complicated for us due to lack of materials. Upon cooking, there are a number of factors to consider like the water level, and the heat. Refer to these steps:

Asians believe in the 1:1 ratio for cooking rice but that totally depends on the variety of the grain you are using. For germinated brown rice we will add an extra cup to cook it better.

  1. Rinse and drain 2 cups of germinated brown rice and put it on a saucepan
  2. Add 3 cups of water cover the pan and let it boil on medium heat.
  3. When the rice is already boiling, reduce to low heat until the water is completely gone. Avoid opening the lid while the rice is cooking.
  4. Turn off the heat and allow the rice to sit for about 10 minutes.
  5. Fluff the germinated brown rice using a fork or chopsticks.

Serve warm!

This traditional way of cooking germinated brown rice seems a little bit complicated because there are no definite steps. Everything is estimated, that is the key. Pretty much for expert levels!

Summary

Germinated brown rice has long been present and used in other parts of the world and now that it has reached its global phenomenon, people all over are going crazy over this staple food. There have been many organic companies selling germinated brown rice in different varieties and we cannot deny the many benefits of it.

Thank nature for all its goodness! The process on how to cook germinated brown rice is so easy especially when you use a rice cooker that is suitable for your needs and lifestyle. Choose the rice cooker that offers versatility, durability and real satisfaction.

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