How to Cook Rice the Right Way

Rice is a beloved grain in many parts of the world, thanks to its health-giving benefits and low cost. Plus, it’s simple and straightforward to cook–perfect for many different dishes!

Cooking rice can seem intimidating if you’re unfamiliar with the process. Luckily, we’ve got you covered with these tips that’ll make the task a breeze!

Rinse

Rinsing rice before cooking helps remove dust, dirt and other particles from the grains. It also prevents starches from becoming sticky or clumped together during cooking.

Rinsing rice can also strip it of its water-soluble nutrients, which is why some health experts advise against it. Furthermore, rice contains heavy metals like arsenic, cadmium and lead that are toxic to human health.

Rinsing rice is the most efficient method for washing it. Place it in a fine mesh strainer and pour cool water through, agitating or shaking it to make sure each grain gets washed thoroughly.

Measure

When in doubt about how much rice you need for a recipe, it’s easiest to measure the uncooked amount. Similar to pasta, uncooked grains will be larger and heavier than their cooked counterparts.

This occurs because when you boil rice, all of its water drains away.

To avoid this mistake, measure your dry rice using either a standard measuring cup or food scale before adding water. Doing this will guarantee that you make the correct amount.

Add Water

Cooking rice correctly requires adding just the right amount of water; too little and it will be undercooked; too much and it becomes mushy.

Cooking ratios for different varieties of rice vary, but in general you should use a 1:1 ratio between rice and water. Some varieties require slightly more liquid such as brown or wild rice.

When measuring water, many chefs rely on the finger method. Place your finger in a pot of water and see where it reaches on your own finger (this works with both cup and finger methods).

Cover

When cooking rice, it’s best to always cover the pot. Doing so keeps the water at a simmer and helps ensure the grains cook evenly without overcooking them.

Additionally, it helps prevent bubbling or boiling over that can occur if the lid is left unattended.

The covered method is more involved than its uncovered counterpart, but the extra effort pays off with a silky-smooth end product.

You can test both methods with different varieties of rice to see which works best for your family’s preferences. Be sure to keep track of the ingredients used, their type and amount used when choosing which cooking technique to try next time. It also pays off to keep a record of results so you can refer back to it later for inspiration when cooking another batch.

Cook

Cooking rice is a breeze with this foolproof technique. The grain itself, which has an irresistibly nutty and chewy taste when cooked perfectly, will become even more delicious when your grains have reached their ideal texture.

To cook chicken breast properly, it should be cooked just below boiling point and covered until tender. Doing this prevents it from becoming gummy or underdone.

Mike Le, co-creator of I Am a Food Blog, recommends using a ratio of one cup rice to two cups water when cooking rice. For extra flavor and moisture, add salt to the cooking liquid before stirring in either butter or buttermilk. For an even more substantial meal, Mike suggests adding half a knob or tab of butter for extra richness and extra depth.

Most recipes neglect this crucial step, which calls for letting the rice sit and passively steam for about 10 minutes after it has finished simmering. This allows any residual steam to seep into the grains and make them fluffy.