How To Make Amazing Rice
Are you tired of wondering how restaurants you eat out at get their rice done so well? Have you ruined one too many lunches on account of badly cooked rice? Then your luck is about to change. Crunchy, soggy or unevenly done rice is the bane of every home cook’s existence. But, you do not need to worry though, the most suitable techniques can be learned. With a few simple steps and a handful of tips, cooking rice could become as easy as your ABCs. So, in that vein, here is how to make amazing rice every time.
Rinse, Rinse And Rinse
Never underestimate the power of a good rinse. It could honestly be the only thing between you and a delicious mouthful of rice. It is a well-known fact that rice has a very high starch content. Boiling it without washing it results in a thin layer of chalky powder forming on top of the rice. This can all be traced back to the shipping process. While being transported, the grains tend to rub together and some of the starch flakes off. Do the math, once the starch coated grains come in contact with boiling water a reaction is created. The starch does what it always does in hot water and thickens causing a sticky mess.
This leads to the individual grains smushing together thanks to all the water they absorb. Sometimes they form large clumps, and other times the rice turns into a porridgy mess. The one way to escape this is to rinse the rice before boiling it. Simply put the uncooked grains in a dish, pour in some cold water, then run your fingers it. The first couple of times, the water will be cloudy, but soon you will be left with relatively starch free rice.
Portions
This is a tricky aspect, figuring out the correct rice to pot ratio is something that will just get better with practice. Another thing that will come to light while you figure this out is that the width and the height of a pot affect the way it turns out. In addition to this, whether the pot is tightly covered or left ajar contributes. Think of it this way, a tightly closed pot is most likely to retain the water while a slightly opened one leaves some room for escape. You do not want the rice to retain too much of that water so that it does not get soggy. On the other side of the spectrum, leaving it open too wide could leave it crunchy. With an adequate amount of practice, you will be sure to find that balance in no time.
Note that the brand of the rice also affects the portions. For instance, basmati rice does not rise as much as Uncle Ben’s. As such, different rice to pot ratios come into play.
Let It Rest
This may seem like a hassle, especially on a day when your insides have already started digesting themselves. But, it could make all the difference in the world. The resting period is grossly overlooked, yet it ensures that rice is cooked through evenly. So in order to avoid that cocktail of firm and soft grains, you need to observe this step religiously. It may sound like madness, but be rest assured there is a method to it. Once you turn off the heat, proceed to take off the lid then drape a clean dry cloth over the top of it. After that, put the lid over the cloth and shut it tightly to create a vacuum. What the towel does is to soak up any remaining water, while simultaneously stopping it groom dripping back into the pot. With this knowledge at your fingertips, you will find that cooking rice is not as complicated as you once perceived it. All in all, a good 15 to 20 minutes should make the rice as fluffy as possible.
How To Boil Rice
Now that you have all these pointers at your disposal, why not try your hand at it? To have a plate of the perfectly cooked white race here is what needs to be done.
- Get a bowl of cold water and rinse out your white rice till the water turns from dull and murky, to a clear color.
- Make use of a sieve in order to conveniently drain the clean rice out of the water. If you do not have a sieve, improvise. You can attempt to put out as much water as possible without spilling all the rice out.
- Add an adequate amount of salt depending on how much rice you aim to cook. Also, pick out a suitable pot using the same criteria.
- Combine the rice with some wanted in a pot and give it a slight swirl. Refrain from stirring it because this opens up another issue entirely.
- Once it boils, close the pot tightly and put it on medium to low heat. This ensures that it cooks through at a steady pace. Leave the lid on for about 18 minutes before taking it off the heat.
At this point, proceed up let it rest as instructed earlier. Once it is done, serve it immediately so that you can have it while the texture is superb.
You also might want to invest in a rice cooker. It’s a very useful kitchen gadget for all the rice fans.
Useful Tips For Cooking Perfect Rice
- Employ the use of a thick or heavy-bottomed pot in order to guard against burning.
- Use a little bit of olive or vegetable oil to ensure that the grains remain unsticky.
- Make sure the pot is the tightly shut while the cooking process goes on.
- Find out more about the nature of the brand of rice you are boiling. As aforementioned, the actual brand of rice heavily influences the way it cooks.
- The general rule of thumb is that for every cup of rice measured out, you should pour in about half a cup of water.
- Craters in the boiling rice are a sure indicator that the rice needs to be taken off the heat.
