Cook Rice

Cooking a pot of rice is one of those everyday things that everyone has to do, but no-one seems to be able to do well! For most, the biggest problem is rice sticking to the bottom of the pot or burning altogether. With this technique, this is no longer a worry. Since the pot is not over an open flame and the steam will keep the pot moist even after the rice finishes cooking, you can walk away, forget about it, and go take a nap.

Steps

 * 1) Common rice sold in the US is usually fortified with key vitamins and minerals (like Iron and Niacin), most of which will be washed away if the rice is soaked and washed prior to cooking. On the other hand, soaking and washing the rice will result in fluffier, lighter cooked rice, with fuller grain that doesn't stick.  Washing will remove a good percentage of the starch in the grain leaving the protein intact.
 * 2) Soak the rice in cold water for 30-60 minutes
 * 3) Rinse/wash in sink until it the water is clear enough to see the rice through it. So basically, keep the water running on low while shaking the rice until the foggy white color turns to clean clear.
 * 4) Measure one cup of washed rice into a pot (or you if you skipped the soaking/washing you can start here with dry rice out of the bag).
 * 5) Pour one and a half cups of cold water into the pot. It depends on the rice and your preference, you may want to add 1.75 cups of water.
 * 6) Place the pot over a moderate to high heat.
 * 7) Turn down the heat to the minimum possible when the rice comes to a rolling boil, and continue heating for five more minutes. Place a well sealed lid on the pot at this time.
 * 8) *A "rolling boil" is when large bubbles appear that cannot be dissipated by stirring, and will keep breaking the surface. In making rice, the rolling boil is important so that enough steam builds up to completely cook the rice without it being over an open flame.
 * 9) Turn off the heat after five minutes. Place a paper towel between the lid and the pot to avoid moisture buildup. Do not lift the lid as the steam inside will cook the rice through.
 * 10) *The pot of rice will be fully cooked, light and ready to eat about 10 minutes after the heat is turned off.
 * 11) Take a little taste of the rice to be sure it is cooked (this should be no problem if you measured out the water correctly). If the rice is still a bit crunchy, put the lid back on to retain the steam, and get a little bit of hot water from the tap (not too much, maybe a ¼ of a cup) and add it to the pot. Put the lid back on and wait another few minutes.

Tips

 * Instead of cooking the rice in water, you can use beef stock or chicken broth.
 * You may wish to tweak the "rice to water ratio" with experience - for example: for larger quantities of rice, you may find a little less or more than one and a half the amount of water results in better rice.
 * One cup of dry rice grains cooked in this way is about sufficient to accompany a meal for 2 adults.
 * If the rice is a major component of the dish, you might need up to 1 cup of rice per adult.
 * Your base measurement doesn't need to be a cup necessarily - the key is to add 1.5x as much water as rice, whatever the quantity.
 * It works best to use the original lid of the pot you use, since it will seal best.
 * When the rice first boils, it might weep a bit or even lift the lid. Keep watch and an ear out for the start of the boil.
 * These times and ratios are for white rice (e.g. Jasmine, Basmati, etc). If you are cooking brown rice you will need around 2C water to 1C rice and  double the time.
 * Salt is not necessary when cooking rice, but can be added. Unless you add a ridiculous amount of salt it will not significantly change the boiling temperature or time.
 * Water boils at a lower temperature at altitude. If you live at a high altitude it will take longer to cook rice using this method.

Things You'll Need

 * Rice
 * Water
 * Pot
 * Something to measure with (cup, mug, etc.)
 * Stove
 * Paper towel

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Cook Rice in a Microwave
 * How to Cook Yellow Rice
 * How to Cook Low Carb White Rice Without a Rice Cooker
 * How to Cook White Rice Peruvian Style
 * How to Cook Pongal
 * How to Cook Delicious Spicy Claypot Rice
 * How to Cook Long Grained Rice