Mom of five beautiful children. Family and my children are my greatest passion! I love exploring and growing with them.

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

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

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.

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.

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.