Do you think you have mastered rice cooking? Think again ! We all make mistakes that should be avoided at all costs when cooking rice. Zoom in on six of them.
1. Do not rinse the rice
Do you usually put your rice directly in the pot? Well we must stop! Before being cooked, it is indeed preferable to rinse the rice in cold water in order to remove any dust and impurities, but also the excess starch which makes the rice sticky. Run it under cold water several times, until the rinse water is no longer white. On the other hand, it is not necessary to rinse the Arborio rice intended for the risotto.
2. Do not put the right amount of water
For perfect rice cooking, it is important to measure the amount of water. The absorption method is the best technique for cooking rice. During cooking, all the water will either evaporate or be absorbed by the rice. You must therefore follow the cooking instructions on the bag! In general, there are two volumes of water for one volume of white rice, three volumes of water for one volume of semi-whole rice, and four volumes of water for one volume of whole rice.
3. Add cold water in the middle of cooking
Once the water has come to a boil, you pour the rice. But small problem, you realize that there is not enough water and you therefore add cold water during cooking. This is a big mistake that must absolutely be avoided! By adding cold water, you drop the temperature and break the rice cooking cycle. Result, your rice will not swell as it should and will have a strange texture … Not great!
4. Do not use a cover
Do you never put a lid on when cooking rice? Well you should! To have a soft and tasty rice, this is the little trick that you should always keep in mind. The cover makes it possible to limit the evaporation of water as much as possible and thus keep the right amount of water depending on the dose of rice added. Finally, thanks to the lid, you will not need to add water during cooking.
5. Not respecting the cooking time
Overcooked rice is not necessarily pleasant to eat. So pay attention to the cooking time, and do not hesitate to use a timer so as not to miss the cooking of your rice! Overcooked rice will indeed be sticky and will also increase its glycemic index. Allow 10 minutes of cooking time for the white rice, 25 to 30 minutes for the semi-brown rice and 45 minutes for the brown rice.
6. Do not let the rice stand
When the rice is cooked, we tend to stir it directly, without even letting it rest. But by rumoring it, you risk making it sticky. Once the fire is out, we recommend that you leave the dish to rest with its lid on. The rice will then slowly continue to swell thanks to the heat and steam present in its container. In addition, the grains will come off more easily.
Otherwise, for perfectly controlled rice cooking, you can always invest in a rice cooker! It is the guarantee of a well-cooked, non-sticky and tasty rice.
Buy a rice cooker
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Helena Ergisi
Lifestyle journalist passionate about fashion, Helena keeps you informed of the latest trends that are buzzing on the Web and will be happy to share her many tips with you. Don’t miss its …