Along with the tiny kettle, this scaled-down version of a rice cooker has been a great way to get more from my Teardrop trailer’s electrical system. And by lessening use of the butane camp stove, it increases self-sufficiency and decreases environmental footprint on road trips.

Generically known as “rice cookers” they can cook pretty much any grain that would ordinarily simmer in water: quinoa, couscous, kashi, steel cut oats, oatmeal and other forms of porridge, and much more. I also use mine to cook prepared mixes of grains and seasonings like spanish rice.

Low Power Consumption

The rice cooker I use in the Teardrop galley is about as small as they come, with the cooked volume of grains (2-3 cups) suitable for a one-person main dish or perhaps a side dish for two. My measurements show it consumed 0.15kwH to cook brown rice and a mere 0.07kwH for white rice. Both of these should be manageable for a solar-powered Teardrop trailer system with even just a single battery.

Like most rice cookers, mine runs off 120VAC, so you need an inverter to create “house current”. While there are 12VDC rice cookers, they may draw a lot of current (amps) so you must be sure your 12V trailer wiring can safely supply that.

Once you do a little research to understand the simple two-stage heating process a rice cooker uses, you will easily be able to cook a variety of grains, and even figure out how it can be used to cook pasta, eggs, and other foods you might never have guessed!

Hints & Hacks

• When buying, pay attention to wattage and typical cooking time to be sure it is within the capability of your inverter and the capacity of your battery.
• Rice cookers generally list their capacity as cooked (not raw) grains.
• I am not a big fan of non-stick coatings, but it’s a trade-off for cleaning ease while on road trips. There are a few mini-rice-cookers with stainless steel bowls but cleaning baked-on residue may be a pain.
• Use only wood or melamine utensils to avoid flaking/chipping the non-stick coating.
• Consider ordering a spare inner bowl when you buy the cooker. If you wait until the original has worn out, an exact replacement may no longer be available.

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So, that’s how I do things with my Teardrop Trailer but by no means the full story or the best way. What about you? Add your own methods, ideas and experiences using the comment box below for the benefit of all readers.