How to Cook Rice That’s Delicious Every Time
Have you always wanted to know how to cook rice that isn’t bland and boring and turns out just right? Rice can be delicious and easy to make when you know the tricks of the trade. Here are a few tried and true methods that will show you how to cook rice to perfection every time.
First, start with high quality rice. Long grain varieties are not only tastier, they also hold up well during the cooking process. Basmati rice, which you can easily find in any supermarket these days, is particularly aromatic delicious and good looking variety. Just about any kind of rice, however, will benefit from the following cooking method.
Measure out the grains of rice you intend to use for cooking and put them into your cooking pot. This can be a ceramic or glass casserole with a well-fitting lid for cooking in the microwave (if you have a microwave that has a rice setting) or a pot with a well-fitting lid for stove top cooking. Generally ¼ cup of rice per person is just about the right amount. Next rinse the rice several times with cold water until the rinse water is clear. Most of the time 5 to 7 rinses will do the job. When the rinse water finally runs clear, pour out all the water from the cooking pot and add the flowing ingredients to the rice and stir:
For every 1 cup of rice add:
1 tablespoon butter or olive oil
I teaspoon salt
1&1/2 cups water (For the best possible taste use only filtered water unless your area’s tap water is good to drink without filtration)
Next put your pot’s lid on and proceed to cook your rice using one of the following methods:
Microwave: Use your microwave’s rice setting. Microwaves with this setting have excellent directions generally found directly on the microwave itself. If not, consult your microwave’s owner’s manual.
Stove top: Bring the pot to a rolling boil over high. Wrap the lid of the pot securely in a clean dishtowel so that no part of the dish towel is anywhere near the heat source on your stove. Secure the ends of the dishtowel with a rubber band if necessary. Stir the pot and cover with your towel-wrapped lid. Reduce heat to the lowest possible setting and simmer for 25 minutes.
For flavored rice, simply add the flavorings of your choice to the pot along with water and proceed with the same cooking method.
After cooking using either method gently fluff the grains of rice apart with a fork before serving and enjoy!
If you would like to know how to cook rice with various flavorings, please check the Queen’s Blog for recipes.
