A device (17) for cooking food such as rice (4) is adapted to perform a cooking process which is performed by heating the food (4) under the influence of boiling water during a period of time. The device (17) comprises means (23) for controlling an operation of the device (17), which controlling means (23) are adapted to operate components of the device (17) in such a way that a total quantity of water (5) to be used in the cooking process is gradually supplied to the food (4), the supply of a major portion of the total quantity of the water (5) being performed when the cooking process is already taking place. Preferably, the cooking process is initiated by evaporating a relatively small portion of the total quantity of the water (5) to steam, supplying this steam to the food (4), and allowing this steam to condense on the food (4).