How to Make Perfect Rice

Rice is usually a part of almost all cuisines in the world. From making sushi, rice pudding to paella. Most of the cuisines requires rice as part of a meal. In fact in other countries especially the Philippines, a meal without a rice is not a meal. But not only that, rice is also consumed in a liquid form such as drinking sake or rice milk. There are different varieties of rice and each of the varieties have different ways of cooking it. In today’s post, let us talk about the different types of varies and how to make the perfect rice out of these varieties using different methods of cooking.

How to make perfect rice

As mentioned, there are different kinds of rice such as white rice, short grain rice, long grain white rice and brown rice and the different ways on how to cook the rice includes using a stove top, a rice cooker, microwave, oven and multi cooker such as an Instant pot.

Aside from the different varieties of rice, there are three basic kinds of rice and that includes:

Short grain rice

Short grain rice are round and plump rice. Its high starch content usually makes the grains stick to each other when it is cooked.

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Long grain rice

Long Grain rice are wider and longer. Since these kind of rice has low starch content, the cooked rice will result to a more separated, lighter and more dryer rice.

Medium Grain Rice

Medium Grain rice are in between the long grain and the short grain kind of rice.

Different Varieties of Rice

White Rice

White rice are milled rice that its bran germ and outer husk are removed. Although considered to be less nutritious than brown rice, it has a longer shelf life and easy to digest. White rice usually comes as long grain white rice, short grain white rice and medium grain white rice.

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Brown Rice

Brown rice is a whole grain rice where the outer husk is just removed, therefore the nutrients from bran and germ are retained. Considered to be more delicious than white rice.

As the name suggests, its color is brown. Similar to white rice, it also comes in short, long and medium grain variety.

For the sweet brown rice variety, the rice is short grain and starchy. When sweet brown rice are cooked, it becomes soft and sticky.

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Black rice

Black rice is another rice variety loaded with iron, vitamins, fiber and antioxidants. If you came across a rice that is purple in color, that is actually black rice. It turn purple when it is cooked.

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Arborio Rice

If you are familiar with Risotto, Arborio rice is the rice type used to make it. These type of rice is a medium short grain white rice. In making risotto, you have to stir continuously to thicken the rice dish. There are other risotto varieties and that includes Vialone Nano, Baldo and Carnaroli.

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Sticky Rice

A famous rice used in Asian dishes such as making a sushi. It is also known as glutinous rice. These are short-grained rice and considered to be a gluten-free rice variety.

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Instant rice or Quick Rice

A type of rice that is cooked even before the rice is being dehydrated and or packed. Although the texture and flavor is very different from that of a regular cooked rice.

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Aromatic Rice

There are also rice varieties with different aromas and that includes Basmati rice (India), Jasmine Rice (Thailand), Texmati (Texas) and Wehani and Pecan Wild rice (from Lousiana).

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How to Cook rice

As mentioned, there are different methods on how to cook rice that are listed below.

Cook White rice on the Stove

White rice is a refined type of rice. Although you do not need to was the rice before cooking, it is still advisable to do so. Washing and rinsing the rice before cooking helps remove and drain out rice impurities. You can do this by placing the rice in the strainer and washing under running water for a few seconds.

For cooking long-grain rice, follow these steps below:

1. To do this, you must follow the 2:1 ratio. This means that boiling 2 cups of water using a small saucepan. Make sure a tight fitting lid is included. Add 1 cup of rice. To break rice clumps, make sure to stir continuously.
2. Cover the pot with the tight fitting lid.
3. Reduce heat (lowest settings), this will help to evenly cook the rice on the pot because if on high heat temperature the bottom part of the pan tends to get scorch and the rice will be uncooked then.
4. The timer for cooking the rice is about 20 minutes. If you notice a steam will come out from the lid, it is actually normal and nothing to worry about. Do not attempt to open the lid before reaching the 20 minutes timer, you rice will become dry as opening the lid will allow the moisture to come out.
5. After 20 minutes, turn off stove and remove the cooking pan. Allow the rice to sit and wait for about 5 minutes. This step helps the steam to work on the rice.
6. After about 5 minutes, get the lid from the cooking pot and separate the grains of the rice using a fork.

Cook Short grain Rice on the Stove

1. To remove starch: Put rice in the pot then pour cold water. Swirl the rice using the fingers and rub. Pour the starchy water. Repeat these step at least once or twice, depends on the type of rice.
2. Add at least 1 1/2 to 2 cups of water. Water to rice ratio is 2:1 where 2 cups of water for every 1 cup rice.
3. Cover the pot and wait for it to boil. Change heat to the lowest settings and allow the rice to simmer for at least 20 minutes.
4. Remove the pot from the stove and allow the rice to continue steaming while the lid is still in place for 5 another 5 minutes.

Cook Brown Rice on the Stove

In cooking brown rice on the stove, you will be needing more water since brown rice still has bran and germ. Brown rice requires longer cooking time as compared to white rice.

1. In a strainer, place 1 cup of rice. While in the pot, pour in 2 cups of water.
2. Cover the pot and bring to boil. Lessen the heat and allow to simmer for about 45 minutes.
3. Remove the pot from the heat and allow to stand while still being covered to simmer for another 10 minutes.

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How to cook rice in the oven

When cooking for large batches of rice, you can use the oven for making that perfectly cooked rice.

1. In a casserole with a lid, pour in rice and boiling water.
2. Cover the casserole using the lid and bake for at least 35 minutes at 200°C or 390°F.
3. Remove the casserole from the oven and allow to stand still for about 10 minutes
4. Fluff rice with a fork.

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How to cook rice in the microwave

This method is very useful especially when you are in a hurry.

1. Pour 1 cup of rice and 2 cups of boiling water in a microwave safe container. Make sure the container is at least 4 times taller than the boiling water poured in.
2. Microwave on high temperature for 12 minutes. Container should be uncovered.
3. Remove the container from the microwave, then cover it. Allow to stand still for about 10 minutes
4. Serve Rice

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How to cook rice in a Rice cooker and Instant pot

Cooking rice using the rice cooker will make your cooking rice easier and faster. There is no need to stay and watch the cooking process as compared to cooking rice in stove top. There are different rice cookers that have different guidelines, make sure you to follow the guidelines of your rice cooker.

Here are some of the best rice cookers in the market:

• Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker, 5.5-Cup
• Cuckoo CRP-P1009SB 10 Cup Electric Heating Pressure Cooker & Warmer
• Toshiba TRCS01 Cooker 6 Cups Uncooked (3L) with Fuzzy Logic and One-Touch Cooking

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How do you store rice

If you happen to have leftover rice, there are important things to keep in mind when storing leftover rice.

• Do not leave leftover rice at room temperature. Leaving the cooked rice for an hour can cause dormant spores that is called Bacillus Cereus to accumulate and produce bacteria.
• Allow steam to escape after cooking the rice before storing it in a container and placing it inside the refrigerator.
• Once inside the refrigerator, cooked rice can only lasts a maximum of 6 days.

Rice to Water Ratio

Although the general rice to water ratio for cooking rice is 1:2 which means for every 1 cup of rice, use 2 cups of water. But there are different types of rice that have a different rice to water ratio or water to rice ratio when cooking rice and are follows:

• Brown rice: 1: 2 1/2 (1 cup rice, 2 1/2 cups of water)
• Basmati Rice or Jasmine Rice: 1: 1 1/2 (1 cup rice, 1 1/2 cups of water)
• Long grain rice: 1 :2 ( 1 cup rice, 2 cups of water)
• Sushi Rice: 1: 1 1/4 (1 cup of rice, 1 1/4 cups of water)
• Wild Rice: 1:3 (1 cup of rice, 3 cups of water)

If you prefer a drier and more firmer rice, you can lessen the water and lessen the cooking time as well. However, if you want a more softer and more wetter rice, you can increase the water. Wild rice and brown rice has a longer cooking time (40-45 minutes).

Tips in cooking the perfect rice

• Tight fitted lid should be use so that the steam and the moisture from the rice will not escape.
• Cook rice on low heat for that perfectly well cooked rice (not overcooked and not undercooked)
• Do not uncover the lid nor stir the rice while it is still cooking. Doing so will allow the steam to escape and the rice will be be properly cooked.
• Use a fork for that fluffy rice result.
• If you want to add some flavor to your cooked rice, you can either add a pinch of salt or at least 1 tbsp. of butter.

FAQs

Conclusion

Cooking rice is a simple process and cooking the perfect rice only requires you to follow the simple and easy steps mentioned above. Keep in mind the rice to water ratio and you’ll surely cook rice perfectly using the different methods of cooking rice.

With the above mentioned steps, you are able to make rice and for other recipes anytime and anywhere.

Which of the methods mentioned have you tried and which one is your favorite? Let us know what you think.