Uncle Ben's Rice is being advertised on Mumsnet

well i am thrilled to report that my basmati rice was perfect using theyoungvisitor's method

DH's comment was that he never thought he'd eat rice that tasted so nice that I"d cooked! yup, my previous attempts really were atrocious!!

it is an old thread but so worth dragging out of the cupboard and dusting the cobwebs off!

Serves her right for leaving!

This is a hugely old thread- is it to be how we remember morningpaper?

I am sitting here laughing at 4 pages of posts on how to cook rice ...rice of all things..

I myslef by frozen yes frozen rice from tesco... bung it in microwave for 4 mins and its fab.. even had compliments on it

Cocnut rice is 2 of rice, 1 of water and 2 of coconut milk, add spoon of salt and spoon of sugar and cook as normal.

You lot is allweird.

2/3 method is the way to go, if it is cheapo value rice then soak it for a bit in some water and refresh until water is clear.
To keep it nice once all liquid is gone, get teatowell, fold and plac e over pan then put lid on top, remove from heat and leave, stays nice for good 20-30 mins,

theyoungvisitor... i'm trying your method for the first time!! i will report back in 10mins

I do the same as you, Noisy, but with the addition of a cinamon stick or a cassia stick.

Mmmmmmmmmmm.

You're a lost cause MP.

Fragrant rice is a good thing.

I put 2 cloves, a couple of cardamon pods, some tumeric and a bay leaf into my basmati last night. The curry was meh.. but we ate a full pot of rice.

mp - if you like it tasteless, buy that crappy long-ain white american rice. It is devoid of flavour imo.
Or stick with your Uncle Ben's. So long as you don't do any sieving....

Yep, 2/3 method is the RIGHT way to do it.
I am appalled at all the rice sievers out there.
I expected better of MN.

BitOfFun - oh I see, ooops

Soaking is the way forward. Always get compliments for my rice (honest!) and people ask how I do it.

Soak required quantity in a bowl of water for 30-45 minutes.

Drain, put into a saucepan of boiling water, boil for five minutes - done.

Sounds strange, but works.

Using it like a ovenglove IYSWIM to pick up a pan lid. I've got a gas hob, and it just went whoooooooosh

BitOfFun - dare I ask re tea-towel?

I usually put mine in a pan and boil the bejayzuz out of it, then rinse in a sieve with cold and then boiling water.

Have printed this thread and will try the 'bring to the boil, turn off the heat and leave for ten minutes' version later.

I am worried about the tea towel. I nearly burned the house down once with a tea towel.

Slubberdegullion - I take it the water is cold as you're pouring it over your finger

Have to admit I like the Uncle Bens that you just leave in the bag & boil ... is that hugely wrong?????

see my rice is fine without any washing or rinsing at any stage.

You should always wash the rice first and then soak for as long as possible. I also rinse my perfectly cooked rice with boiling water to take off any excess starch not removed by washing and soaking.

If cooking fried rice, rinse and soak as before. I soften finely chopped onion in a little olive oil then add slicedmushrooms, pine nuts, sweet corn, peas, sultanas (any or all if you want), add rice, fry for a few minutes, then cover rice with boiling water, LID ON, low to moderate heat and cook for 10 minutes. Perfect!

FGS, how am I let out in public.

your basmati rice, and 2x as much water.

Soak you basmati rice before cooking, then rinse it.
I cook it as per theyoungvisitor plus others, except I use slightly over x as much water as rice, becasue I always seem to start off with the hob on too high.

Leave the lid on the rice whilst you cook it (unless you have to check to see if you've burned it!) for 10-12 mins. Then leave it with the hob off but the lid on for another 10 mins.

Eat. Yum.

Sorry MP, I'm not an Uncle Ben's fan either, but for the same reasons you like it. (Nursery puddings, shudder....)

best way to do rice (basmati) is boil in loads of water until it's not quite cooked (think my rice is done after 8 minutes, so after 6 minutes). drain roughly and return to pan with lid on, leave for 5 minutes. will keep perfect and ready to eat for another 15-20 minutes.