Rice - aagghh

[RufusA]

What is the *best* way to cook rice?

Everytime I try it always either ends up a big sticky heap, or soggy. Current attempts are 1 cup rice (American Long grain) washed until it runs clear, in a thick bottomed saucepan with a heavy pinch of salt and a dot of oil. Then 1.5 cups of water, close the lid.

Bring to the boil, then simmer for about 12 mins, stir (as it starts to stick to the bottom) and add a splash more water. Cook for another 6mins. Then half the time it comes out okay, and the other half a soggy messy or stuck to the bottom and still hard.

Am I using the wrong rice, cooking it wrong or should I just invest in an electric rice steamer and be done with it.

Rufus.

[Moby-Dick]

Everyone seems ot have their own way for cooking rice.

Personally I no longer measure the water and just boil for about 20 mins or so ( depending on the rice - can be as low as 10 ) then rince with boilng water to remove any extra starch.

[menthel]

Moby got it right. I never got the hang of the cook it until dry. Just wash it off well and it will be fine.

[joshwa]

I normally do:

1 cup of rice (does 2 people) + 2 cups of water
boil
rinse in seive with boiling water when ready (taste to make sure it's soft)

it should be around 10-12 minutes with white rice (basmati) but brown rice can take 20 minutes.

[trog]

well my personal preference is to use washed basmati rice, and for every cup of rice use 2 cups of ready boiled water. add salt to taste and a little oil to stop the rice from sticking to each other. boil then simmer for 10-20 mins (depending on your cooker and saucepans.. i learnt the hard way!)

[unknown_user]

same as joshwa, tend to heat till boil, then simmer until cooked. (norm 15-20mins)

u will find that it DOES stick to the bottom, just leave the pan in water and it will eaisly come off hope that helps !

[0iD]

1 cup of basmati rice
1 1/3 cup of water
whole spices (Safron/Cassia Bark/Cardamoms)
salt to taste

Put the water in saucepan and add salt and the whole spices if you're using them.

Bring to the boil while you do the following:

Put the rice in a sieve and wash under running cold water for several minutes.

Add to the boiling water then cover and allow it to return to the boil.

As soon as it begins to boil, turn the heat right down and allow it to simmer for approx 10 minutes or until the water is absorbed. DO NOT REMOVE LID at any point so its a great idea to have a see through lid.

Turn the heat off and leave for approx 5 minutes.

Remove lid and fluff up with a fork.

Replace lid and leave for a further 5 minutes.

Perfect Basmati.

[shelley bda]

What do you add to rice to make Pilau? I love Pilau rice

[herulach]

You can buy little pots of pilau seasoning which is pretty good, but its not as good as the real stuff which i believe (probably wrongly) has turmeric (for the colour) bay leaves, cloves and i think cardimon pods, but i might be wrong on that last one.

theres a few recipeshere

[Black Jack]

I cook rice using a cheat technique.

Get a bowl, put the rice in (add your spices and extras), cover it with water until there is roughly 1cm to an 1inch of water above it, normally use an inch. Then cover it with clingfilm piece it with a fork. Stick it in the microwave for 10mins, stir a bit, re-cover and then another 5 mins. Depends on your microwave, but play with those timings. Normally cook bastmati rice

[shelley bda]

Originally Posted by herulach

You can buy little pots of pilau seasoning which is pretty good, but its not as good as the real stuff which i believe (probably wrongly) has turmeric (for the colour) bay leaves, cloves and i think cardimon pods, but i might be wrong on that last one.

theres a few recipeshere

Thank you there's some nice sounding recipe's on there... have to give 'em a try out

[Clingy]

If you cook a lot of rice then get a proper rice cooker from a Chinese grocery store. The cheapest one you can find will do perfectly. Been using one for a couple of years now.

[Dav0s]

use non stick rice

[5lab]

i personally find doing rice in the oven gives a much better result. takes about 40 mins, but thats ok if you've got a casserole on

also use a 2:1 ratio of water:rice.

[oshta]

Originally Posted by 5lab

...use a 2:1 ratio of water:rice.

Yeah, thats the way.

Std cheap brown rice (from 25kg sack)
- Wash the rice though about 2/3 times.
- 1:2 Rice/Water into a nice medum size pan
- Whack on the gas, and get it upto boiling
- Then simmer till done. (ie, no longer chewy)

- Then plonk it on the table, job well done!

The important thing is donw do anythink else to it. Just leave it simmering till it tastes right. No stiring at all.

Or, if your feeling a little well off, some nice soft white basmati, cooked as per the packet (the blue one with a fancy looking satiny finish, from sainsburys)


Daniel

[mr_rizla]

I don't bother with the water ratio thing, I just stick loads in...

The secret (well, mine anyway) is to only stir ONCE. At the beginning. Then just leave it until its cooked...

Stirring will only make it clump together...