WHY CAN'T I COOK RICE??

[catinb0oots]

In the past few years I've tried to improve on basics.

Now I can cook omelettes, steak, basic cakes, roast pork with proper crackling.

BUT I CAN'T COOK RICE

For those of you who have trouble with the absorption method, looks like you are all missing the oil bit!!

First measure your rice and rinse it with water using a colander/drainer. In the meantime, heat up a bit (like a tbsp) of oil, preferably olive oil, in the pot, and boil the kettle, you will need double the water volume (i. e. 2 cups of boiling water for every cup of rice).

You can add a whole clove if garlic to the oil while it warms upif you like (don't burn it). You don't eat the garlic, you discard it after cooking, but it is optional anyway.

When the oil is hot, add the drained rice and stirr it around for half a minute or so. Then add the correct (double) amount of BOILING water and a pinch of salt, put the lid on the pot and leave it on.
Leave the heat on high for the first couple of minutes, then turn in down to pretty low. (for most electric hobs, you can even turn it fully off and use tge residual heat). In around 10 to 15 minutes, depending on how much you are making, your lovely rice will be ready.

@TheHighestSardine

Fuck all that complexity.

Most important: Choose basmati rice, because it doesn't go soggy when you cook it like pasta.

Saucepan. 30-50g rice per person depending how hungry they are.
Pour in loads of boiling water.
Rolling boil for 11 minutes (White rice. 20 minutes for brown basmati).
Drain through a sieve, leave to sit for a couple of minutes.

That's it. Zero risk.

This is almost exactly what I do, only I rolling boil for 12 minutes and pour a kettle full of just boiled water over it when I drain it. It's foolproof and easy.

To the poster above who says you can't get fluffy rice with grain separation unless you use the absorption method, you get exactly that with the method above.

Rice in boiling water for 10 minutes. Drain and put lid on for 3 minutes. No measuring. Simple and easy.

Oops, I meantblid on after the first couple of minutes on high heat!

Try soaking the rice first (anything from 30mins to several hours). This will loosen the starch and makes it cook quicker. Then briefly move fingers round the bowl rinse under tap and get rid of milky residue. THEN cook. I hardly do this because I'm lazy but mum is Indian and taught me its how you get the best fluffy rice.

I never knew not being able to cook rice a thing. I'm shit at most things but I just put rice in a pan and boil the water?

Perfect basmati rice made in the microwave.

one cup of rice to two cups of water.

one level teaspoon of salt.

In a pyrex bowl - or similar, put into the microwave for 11 minutes.

Did I mention skimming off the scummy/frothy water when it’s cooking?

My basmati is always shit. Long grain easy cook rice is idiot proof though

Basmati (the good stuff) is a bit more delicate so you need to make sure you don’t overcook it - which is really easy. However long you think it will take - it will take less.

Any other Asians here who use the finger measuring method?? My rice is always cooked perfectly

Also in horror about how people cook rice like pasta 😱

Thinking about it, the 'best' rice I make is when I cook it in the microwave for 10mins
Although I use 3x water to rice.

I cook basmati. I measure a 1:2 ratio by volume of rice to water ( eg 1 mug of rice to 2 mugs of water). Add rice and a bit of salt to cold water in a pan. Put on a tight lid ( preferably a glass one so you can see the rice as otherwise it is difficult to hold your nerve).
Bring to the boil as quickly as possible, then turn it down to a low/medium heat so it is just bubbling a bit. DO NOT LIFT THE LID, DO NOT MIX IT. Let it bubble gently for 13 mins. Remove from heat and take off the lid and all the water will should have been absorbed. it is the Delia Smith method and is fool proof . My rice is almost always lovely and fluffy.

Brown rice is easy just put in loads of water and boil for 20-30 mins then drain.

I learned from hellofresh and it all suddenly seems so easy.

twice as much water as basmati rice, by volume, exactly. boil for 10 mins then leave it, with a lid on but no heat underneath. the residual heat will allow the rice to absorb the little remaining water to perfection over the next 10 mins without it cooling down much. you shouldn't need to drain it.

I also sometimes use the finger method of.measuring the water ( water should come to the first knuckle of your finger) but I don't find it as foolproof.

I agree people who are trying to get perfect rice without extra water are making life too complicated. Basmati. A kettle of boiling water. A level teaspoon of salt. 8 minutes from when it’s back to the boil. Drain. Never fails.

Forget all the other answers!

Google Delia Smith cookery school how to cook rice. There is a video and instructions. I followed this to the letter a few times and have gradually loosened up as I’ve got better. It’s as easy as anything and because the second half of the process is off heat, you can be v flexible with the timings. You’ll never look back!

I can make mille feuille but I'm crap at rice. I got an Instant Pot last year on Black Friday and that does amazing rice.

I don't much like.long grain rice . Not as much as basmati anyway. I agree that boiling in lots of water and draining is ok for.long grain rice and brown rice but basmati seems too wet and claggy when I do it like that

@StarScream22

I’m half chinese and I can’t cook rice either. I’m my mums least favourite child.

😂😂

Always turns into a mush when I cook it.
I stick with the microwave packets now!

Me too! I’ve discovered Iceland microwave frozen rice though - life changing

Wash the rice about 6 times until the starch is gone.
Add water until it covers the rice to about 2 - 3 cm over the rice normally about 2 parts water to 1 part rice
Bring to boil, put on lid and switch off.
Leave it for about 30 mins. Done

If you do the leaving it in a pan with a lid and no heat at the end, it all comes out easily and the washing up is really simple.

After reading all this I’ve decided I’m going to stick to cous cous!