If it can boil water, then it can cook rice. For cooking calrose rice, wash the rice and add rice and water to heater in one for one proportions. Let the rice soak for about 1/2 hour, then turn on the heat. Let it boil for 20 minutes with a cover on, then turn off the heat and leave the cover on for 20 more minutes. Mix the rice and serve.

Unfortunately no, or should I say I would not eat the rice that you might end up with. my reasoning is this the heating element is this water heater (not water boiler) will not get the water to a boil and that is the temp needed to steam or boil rice, now risotto is not made this way but you still need (in my experience) medium heat to produce a successful risotto. If you attempt this at the heat you have you are probably going to get a very gummy glob of partially cooked rice.

Unless the element is DIRECTLY in the rice, you should be able to cook rice in it as long as you can leave it on for 20-45 minutes, based on the type of rice. Oh yeah – one important point – it needs to be able to bring water to a boil, to cook the rice.

Not sure never seen one of those, but I’ll tell you what you have to have. A glass or metal, bowl or pot that has a very tight fitting lid, hot boiling water and a heat source that will keep it hot enough to simmer on low for 20 minutes. If your water heater can do that then maybe it will work.
A wonderful way to cook rice is in the microwave same as above. Minute rice is an easy alternative. Just boil water then remove from stove, pour in rice, cover and wait 10 minutes. No cooking.