Rice is a staple food in India. In fact, no meal is complete without this starchy grain. Whether you consume it raw, in pulao or biryani form, or just as a pudding, rice is extremely versatile and can make for some excellent dishes. However, as they say, cooking is an art, and not perfectly cooking this staple grain can taint your gastronomical experience. Now, whether you are a beginner or a Michelin-star chef, learning how to cook white rice the right way is essentially important. If you are having some doubts about the same or just want to refresh your skills, fret not. We have compiled 5 mistakes you are making while cooking rice, which will help you understand the nuances of this basic grain.
Also Read: Say Goodbye To Regular Pulao! Here's How To Make Chutney Pulao In Minutes
Not rinsing the rice properly can make it sticky and mushy.
Photo Credit: iStock
Here Are 5 Mistakes You Are Making While Cooking Rice
1. Not Rinsing Rice Grains
Are you washing the rice grains properly or using them directly? One of the most common mistakes that you can make while cooking rice is not rinsing the grains properly. Rice grains, when unrinsed, retain excess surface starch that can cause them to become too sticky while cooking. To avoid this, you should rinse the rice grains at least 3-4 times under cold water until the runoff is clear. This would result in a fluffier and lighter texture of the cooked rice.
2. Not Being Mindful Of The Ratio
Are you rinsing the rice properly but still not getting the desired results? This might be due to you not calculating the water-to-rice ratio. If you are putting the rinsed rice and water in the pan, thinking the excess water will cook off, then you are making a huge mistake. Different kinds of grains require specific water proportions to get perfectly cooked rice. For example, with long rice grains, a 2:1 water-to-rice ratio is needed to have fluffy white rice, while shorter grains require more water. If you ignore this step, then chances are you will get undercooked or mushy rice. So, if you want perfectly cooked rice, be mindful of the water-to-rice ratio.
3. Cooking White And Brown Rice The Same Way
Another common mistake that you could make while cooking rice is not differentiating between white and brown rice cooking methods. Brown rice, which is whole grain rice with the inedible outer hull removed, takes a longer time to cook than white rice. This is because the outer bran coat of the brown rice grains reduces the entry of water into its centre. When cooking brown rice, you should use ¼ to ½ more water than you do with white rice. While white rice can take 15 minutes to cook, brown rice can be on a burner for up to 50 minutes.
Cooking rice on high heat will not reduce its cooking time.
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4. Cooking Rice On High Heat
A very common mistake while cooking rice could be the burner flame that you choose to cook grains on. Like any good thing, cooking rice takes time, and putting it on high flame would not speed up the process but ruin your dish. Cooking rice on high flame may evaporate water before the rice is even cooked or burn it. The best way to cook rice is to boil the water first, lower the flame, and then add the rinsed rice. This would ensure evenly cooked grains.
5. Not Letting The Rice Sit
After the rice is cooked, don't take it out in a bowl immediately. Instead, let it rest for 5-10 minutes. Not letting the rice sit after it has been cooked can be another mistake that can compromise the final texture of the grains. Instead, cover the lid of the utensil and let the cooked rice sit undisturbed. This allows the leftover steam to continue cooking the rice gently, which will give you fluffiness and a more even texture.
Is there any other tip that you would like to add? Let us know in the comments below!
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