Quick answer

Use the inner-pot waterlines for your rice type, select the Umami setting for everyday white rice, and start the cycle without opening the lid. For the NL-GAC10/18, the Umami setting soaks and steams longer to build flavor, so plan a little extra time and avoid stirring until the rest period ends.

Why the Umami setting changes your timing

The Umami setting is not a speed setting. It deliberately extends soaking and steaming, which means the total cycle runs longer than a standard cook. That extra time is the point: it gives the rice space to absorb water evenly and release more flavor. If you are used to a quick-cook cycle, resist the urge to open the lid to check progress. The NL-GAC10/18 relies on a sealed environment during those phases, and lifting the lid releases the steam the setting is trying to use.

Water ratio: start with the lines, then adjust

The most reliable starting point for the NL-GAC10/18 is the waterline markings inside the inner pot for the menu you selected. Those lines are calibrated for the cooker, so they remove most of the guesswork. If you rinse your rice, drain it well before adding water, because leftover rinse water counts toward the total and can push the ratio too wet. Once you have a baseline you like, adjust by a small amount on the next batch rather than making a large change at once.

When to choose a different menu

The Umami setting is designed for white rice. For jasmine rice, the dedicated Jasmine and Quick Jasmine settings are the better match, and congee has its own setting for a reason. Using the Umami setting for every grain can produce uneven results, so match the menu to the rice you are actually cooking.

Step-by-step: cooking rice in the NL-GAC10/18

  1. Measure rice with the supplied cup: Use the measuring cup that came with the cooker, not a kitchen cup, and level each scoop. Common mistake: packing or heaping the cup, which throws off the water ratio before you even start. Level scoops keep the waterline markings accurate.
  2. Rinse and drain until the water is mostly clear: Rinse the rice in a bowl, swirl gently, and pour off the cloudy water. Repeat a few times, then drain thoroughly in a strainer. Common mistake: leaving standing rinse water in the pot, which adds unmeasured water to the ratio. Drain well so the waterlines mean what they say.
  3. Add water to the correct line for your menu: Place the rinsed rice in the inner pot and add water up to the line for the menu you plan to use. Common mistake: using the wrong line for the rice type, such as a jasmine line for white rice. Match the line to the menu, not to habit.
  4. Select the Umami setting for white rice: Close the lid, choose the Umami setting, and press start. Do not open the lid during the soak, cook, or steam phases. Common mistake: lifting the lid to peek, which releases steam the setting is using. Leave the lid closed until the cycle finishes.
  5. Let the rice rest before opening: When the cycle ends, let the rice rest undisturbed for the time the cooker indicates before opening the lid. Common mistake: opening immediately and stirring, which makes the rice gummy. The rest period is part of the cook, not optional.
  6. Fluff and serve, then switch to keep warm: Open the lid, fluff the rice with the paddle, and serve. If you are not serving right away, close the lid and use the keep warm function. Common mistake: leaving rice on keep warm for many hours, which dries it out and changes texture. Keep warm is for short holds, not all-day storage.

Product facts