How to Boil Rice

Rice is a staple in many countries. It almost always comes up in every meal. Cooking rice is an everyday chore that a lot of people can’t seem to get used to or perfect doing. If you are one of those who have been having a hard time producing the perfect pot of rice, you have come to the right article. We will give you notes on how to boil rice and do it perfectly every time.

Step-By-Step Guide

Okay, so there are many factors that may affect the whole procedure. But we will deal with those later in the article. For now, let us first learn the basic steps.

Ideally, you need to wash the grains before cooking. However, there are certain varieties, usually available in Western counties that sans the need for washing. Pre-treated and pre-cooked rice can go straight to the pot because washing it will only make the nutrients in it disappear. In Asian countries, meanwhile, rice needs to be washed in order to make a fluffier, lighter outcome.

Some people and some varieties of rice need soaking before cooking. Again, you have to be vigilant in knowing what variety you are actually dealing with. If it needs soaking, let it be. After soaking, you should wash your grains again until you can see them through the water.

Pick a large saucepan or saucepot to cook your rice. There should be enough room for the rice to move about and not stick to the pan or burn.

Get an idea of how much water you need to boil a certain amount of rice. This may differ according to the variety you are cooking. Aside from that, you must also be able to measure how many cups of rice you need to cook for a certain meal.

Place the pot with rice and water over medium to high heat. You may add salt to your rice if you believe in it (more on this later) but you may also discard it.

When your pot of rice comes to a boil, you may lower the heat and continue cooking it in a simmer for five more minutes. After five minutes, turn off the heat and wait for ten minute more before serving. Do not lift the lid before you are ready to serve. The steam that built up inside the pot is important to cook the rice through.

Rice is cooked if there is no longer a hard center. You have to pick a grain and press it between your fingers to test its tenderness.

Helpful Tips

Now that you have learned how to boil rice, it is time to empower yourself with some reminders that would help ensure you will be cooking the perfect pot of rice every single time.

First and foremost, you have to understand that there are about two thousand different varieties of rice. A good lot of them are cooked every different way. You have to be quite familiar of the variety you are using and keep a stock of it in your home so you will never have to learn a new technique every time you need to prepare and serve rice.

As much as there are different varieties, rice is cooked also for many varied reasons. Some serve it as a main dish, a side dish, a dessert, or a salad. It is important that you have an idea what you need the rice for in order to pick the right variety and the right method of cooking.

Instead of boiling rice in plain water, you may also add salt and other seasonings. You may also boil rice in broth, milk, or stock, whatever your recipe calls for.

Some believe in adding salt, some do not. Others think that by adding salt, you are going to make your rice tastier, if you are serving it plain, as a side dish. However, there are those who believe that adding salt to water will only break apart the grains, which results to a mushy mess.

Aside from adding salt, there is another reason that may break apart the grains. That is, stirring or simply sticking a spoon to taste the rice. Allow the rice to cook on its own, as much as possible unless you recipe calls for stirring; just like in risottos.

Generally, you must purchase good quality of rice to get a good quality of outcome. Old rice stick is known for less tasty and firmer outcome. There is nothing like the flavor and lightness of fresh rice.

You must also choose the variety according to what is being needed in your recipe. You must also use a method that is appropriate to get the perfect outcome. All this will have to depend on how much knowledge you have about rice and how you choose the perfect bag. Doing some research would certainly do you good.