We all know that a portion of really good cooked rice can transform a humble dinner into a feast. That is why I believe everyone should know how to cook rice that is perfectly fluffy and soft every time. Even though cooking rice can be tricky for the beginner home cooks and chefs, there are a few simple rules to follow so you get a perfect result.
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Rice is easy to find in every supermarket. It’s very cheap and perfect base for many favorite dishes like stir-fries, sushi, pilafs, salads, risotto, paella, and so on, or simply as a side dish. The most common rice used is long-grain white rice, short-grain white rice, and brown rice. There is also wild rice and red rice, but they are usually a bit harder to find. Also if you do have them, the cooking process is almost the same as the brown rice.
You don’t need any fancy equipment for cooking rice. If you really love and cook rice all the time, you could get a rice cooker. It is really easy to use and you will get the perfect result every time if you follow the instructions. But in my opinion, they just take up the precious space. So for me, the pot with the lid is just enough.
Here are some basics on how to cook rice perfectly and get the fluffiest result
First, you will need to rinse the rice under the cold water until the water runs clear. This way you remove the extra starch on the rice grains. Of course that you can skip this step if you’re short on time. But rinsing the rice can help to get the beautiful fluffy rice.
The second tip is that when you’re cooking the rice, keep the lid on. You want your rice to steam and not let the hot air escape the pot. If you do lift the lid, let the rice steam for additional 5 minutes to get the perfect result. PRO TIP – if your lid starts to jump because of the foam of the boiling water inside that means that the heat is too high, and it needs to be set as low as possible.
The third tip is to always use precise measurements for your rice and water. Never measure by eye, because you can overcook, or even burn the rice.
The fourth, always boil the water first, then add the rice. I don’t know why, but this gives me better results than adding the rice and cold water to the pot. Correct me if I’m wrong.
And last, but not least, don’t be afraid to experiment. Adding herbs and spices can give you a big variety of side dishes (here is my simple recipe for fluffy clove and parsley white rice). Everyone will think that you are a pro chef (not saying you’re not!) 😉 Also you can swap the boiling water for any type of stock, to add more flavor. Use the same amount as for boiling water.
Hope you’re now feeling more confident on how to cook rice in your own kitchen. If you have any questions or comments feel free to write them in the comments below.
Anchy
Yields 4 servings
Cooking rice shouldn’t be scary. Here is a simple tutorial on how to cook different types of rice perfectly every single time.
5 minPrep Time
45 minCook Time
50 minTotal Time
Save Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup short-grain white rice
- 1 ½ cups boiling water
- Pinch of salt
- 1 cup white long-grain rice
- 2 cups boiling water
- Pinch of salt
- 1 cup brown rice
- 2 ½ cup boiling water
- Pinch of salt
Directions
- In a small pot over medium-high heat, add rice, boiling water, and salt.
- When the water starts boiling again, cover the pot with the lid and turn the heat down to a simmer.
- For the short-grain white rice cook for 10 minutes, then remove from heat and let steam for 10-15 minutes with the lid on.
- For the long-grain white rice cook for 15 minutes and then remove from heat and let steam with the lid on for 10 more minutes.
- For the brown rice cook for 30 minutes, then remove from heat and let steam for 15 minutes with the lid on (the bran should be cracked and that means that the brown rice is cooked).
- Fluff the rice with a fork and serve. Enjoy!
Notes
*Rinse the rice under the cold water.
*Don't remove the lid from the pot. Let the rice steam.
*If the heat escapes the pot, let the rice steam for the additional 5 minutes.
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