A package is reproducible if you use the same inputs, run the build, and get the same outputs.

The issue is that the build can produce different outputs given the same inputs. So you need to modify the build or patch the outputs. This is something that is being worked on by most distributions: https://reproducible-builds.org/who/projects/

NixOS is not special in that regard nor are all NixOS packages reproducible.

Nope, nix doesn’t ensure or require that the builds are deterministic. It’s not any better in that regard than other package managers.

It’s not really fully reproducible either.

Yes, I meant a bouillon or stock cube, sorry for the typo. Or you can use stock or a broth instead of water.

Stock is also pretty easy to make. You can buy a whole chicken and then throw the leftover carcass, skins, bones, with onions, carrots, celery and some herbs into a pot and simmer it for 2 hours.

You can also saute an onion before adding the rice and water, and add a bullion cube, to improve the flavor.

The implementations mostly don’t matter. The only thing that you need to get right are the interfaces.