Tuesday’s Tip- How to cook rice perfectly?, The Basics

Rice is cooked daily in most of the Indian kitchens. Even though it seems the most basic kitchen task I am sure that most of us end with sticky and mushy rice. Today’s tip will help you know the basics of cooking rice and if followed correctly, you will surely end up with perfect pot of fluffy white rice with each grain distinct.  There are few secrets which I have shared today on Tuesday’s Tip- How to cook rice perfectly?

Step 1-  It is very important to wash the rice properly. I usually rinse my rice in a few changes of cold water.  The rinsing removes loose starch, making the rice less sticky. Step 2- Soak the rice at least half an hour before you cook rice. Soaking makes grains less brittle and avoids breakage. Soaking is also traditional for basmati rice, as it helps the rice expand to maximum length. Either way, be sure to drain your rice thoroughly or you'll be using more water in cooking than you intended. Step 3-  Measuring water and rice quantity. Always remember to measure rice by volume and not by weight. The quantity of water you will need is double the volume of rice. For example if you use 1 cup of rice, then add 2 cups of water to it. If you are using brown rice than 1 cup of rice will need 2 ¼ cups of water. Step 4-  Choose the utensil. Now if you want to cook in microwave then deep glass bowl is the best choice. Always cover the rice with cling film and then cook in the microwave. If cooking on stove then choose the utensil that is deep like a fry pan and has thick bottom and a lid to cover. Also, cook on medium flame. Step 5-   What else to add while rice is cooking. Some people add salt but that is truly your choice. But there is one tip that always works- add 1 tsp of lime juice while the water and rice is boiling. This will help rice separate from each other and you will be left with beautiful grains of rice. Step 6-  Once the rice is cooked let it rest. Okay! This step may sound stupid, but it really works. Let the rice sit off the heat, undisturbed with the lid on, for at least 5 minutes and for as long as 30 minutes. This lets the moisture redistribute, resulting in a more uniform texture, with the bottom layers as fluffy as the top.

I hope this helps . I will be back with another tip next time. 

* Disclaimer :::: Not all the information mentioned above is my own and some of it are taken from various books and online sources like Google including the pics. My pics will have my logo on them , rest all are taken randomly from Google