Pasta & Grains

COOKING PASTA
Preheat water on MEDIUM-HIGH.  Use 25% less water and it will cook 25% to 50% faster once you turn the heat down to low with lid on.  Because rice and pasta have no minerals or vitamins, the water and high temperatures will not destroy any nutritional value.

COOKING RICE
Brown long grain varieties 
Add 2 cups of water for every 1 cup of rice, Start at medium- high heat to get the water up to a high simmer/boil with lid ajar approximately 5-8 minutes. When you the place lid on reduce the heat down to medium-low the Vapo-Valve will have steam venting out – don’t worry about this it takes a few minutes for the heat inside the pan to drop, when the Vapo-Valve keeps clicking rapidly turn to low to tenderize. Takes a total of 35 minutes
Brown short grain varieties 
Add 2 1/4 cups of water for every 1 cup of rice, Start at medium- high heat to get the water up to a high simmer/boil with lid ajar approximately 5-8 minutes. When you the place lid on reduce the heat down to medium-low the Vapo-Valve will have steam venting out – don’t worry about this it takes a few minutes for the heat inside the pan to drop, when the Vapo-Valve keeps clicking rapidly turn to low to tenderize. Takes a total of 45 minutes
White varieties
Add 1 ¾ cup of water for every 1 cup of white rice , Start at medium- high heat to get the water up to a high simmer/boil with lid ajar approximately 3-5 minutes. When you the place lid on reduce the heat down to low the Vapo-Valve will have steam venting out – don’t worry about this it takes a few minutes for the heat inside the pan to drop, if the Vapo-Valve keeps clicking rapidly turn to a lower temperature
Knuckle Method
It's simple: pour the rice into the pan you're going to cook it in. Level it out and place your index finger so that it is touching the surface of the rice. Add enough water so that it comes up to your first knuckle — use the crease on the palm-side of your finger. Cover with lid and cook over medium heat until Vapo-Valve clicks rapidly, then reduce heat to low.