How to Cook Perfect, Fluffy White Rice Every Time
Mom of five beautiful children. Family and my children are my greatest passion! I love exploring and growing with them.
Perfect, fluffy white rice
The Rice Crisis
I think we have all been there . . . the rice crisis! Mushy, sticky, burnt, soggy, crunchy, or slimy—the perfect meal ruined by a failed pot of rice.
To be honest, I’m writing this article so that my husband can refer to it. I can’t tell you how many times I‘ve heard, “honey I made you dinner, but the rice didn’t turn out.” Don't get me wrong, hubby cooking dinner is absolutely amazing! He just needed a little help to get the rice right. So I have put together this tutorial so that he, and others like him, can learn. I hope you find it helpful and avoid the rice crisis in your house.
Cook Time
| Cook time | Ready in | Yields |
|---|---|---|
1 hour | 1 hour | 4 cups of cooked rice |
Necessary Tools
- Large pot with lid
- Measuring cup
- Sieve
- Fork
Ingredients
- 2 cups white rice of your choice (I used basmati)
- 3 3/4 cups water
- 1 tablespoon butter
Basmati rice
Before You Begin
It's really important that you don't skip any of the following steps, and I will explain why for each step.
Step 1: Rinse the Rice
Pour the rice into your sieve and rinse really well until the water runs clear. This takes 1-2 minutes. Shake the rice around or run your fingers through it as the water cleans the rice. You can place a cup underneath to be able to discern the water is clear.
This step is essential to wash the excess starch off the rice granules, preventing a mushy or sticky rice.
Step 2: Cook the Rice
Put the rice, water, and butter into a pot with a tight-fitting lid. Bring your rice to a boil on a medium heat. Once boiling, reduce heat to low, and let simmer for 18-20 minutes. Do not open lid!
The rice may look like it's done sooner, but it's imperative you allow it to cook the full 18 minutes on a low heat. Allow the rice to properly absorb and evaporate the water preventing slimy rice, and no longer than the 18-20 minutes to prevent crunchy rice.
Step 3: Let It Rest Before Serving
Turn off the burner and allow the rice to sit for at least 30 minutes in the pot. The longer the better. I prefer to let my rice sit for 1 hour. This is the ultimate secret to nice rice!
Once you’re ready to serve, use a fork to fluff your rice as you transfer it to your serving dish.
And there you have it! The perfect white rice.
Resting in the pot
Best of Luck!
Rice is such a staple food and can generally be paired with anything! My favorite rice is basmati. I love the nutty flavour and aroma it leaves in the air while cooking.
I hope you found this method of cooking white rice simple and enjoyable. Leave your questions or comments below. Hopefully this article will help end what I call ”the rice crisis” in your home.
Serve the rice with your favorite dish
What a Simple Method of Cooking White Rice
© 2020 Sarah Cook
Comments
MG Singh emge from Singapore on April 23, 2020:
Its a staple dish in the east and personally I like chicken curry with rice.
Clive Williams from Jamaica on April 23, 2020:
I cook rice everyday in Jamaica...love it with curry chicken. Nice write.
Liz Westwood from UK on April 23, 2020:
This looks like great rice. If you leave it to stand does it cool down? I have been using a mocrowave to cook rice for many years ever since we were without a hob for a few weeks, waiting for a new kitchen to be installed. Have you noticed any rice shortages since lockdown? In the UK, pasta was in short supply for a while. Now flour is hard to get.
Chitrangada Sharan from New Delhi, India on April 23, 2020:
Nicely written and illustrated article, about cooking white rice. I liked the way, you have explained it.
Basmati rice is a regular in our daily diet. Thanks for sharing.
