Rice is extensively used in Indian cooking. However, if it's not cooked properly, beloved dishes such as biryani, khichdi, pulao, etc., won't taste half as good as they usually do. While cooking, you might notice that sometimes the rice turns mushy and sticky, which can ruin the taste of your dish. What could have gone wrong when cooking something so easy to do? Well, there are certain things that we overlook during the cooking process that end up creating a sticky mess. Rice tastes best when the grains are soft, fluffy, and separated from each other. If you're someone who often faces this problem, we're going to help you fix it with these easy tips. But first, let's understand what makes rice mushy in the first place to prevent it in the future.
Why Does Rice Turn Out Mushy?
One of the possible reasons for your rice turning out mushy could be that you end up adding too much water. Different types of rice require different amounts of water to cook; therefore, it's important to modify the quantity as per the recipe. Not washing the rice properly is another reason why your rice may end up becoming soggy. This is because excess starch is not removed from it. If you end up overcooking the rice, it will make them mushy as well, as the rice grains tend to split.
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How To Fix Mushy Rice? Here Are 5 Easy Tips To Fix Mushy Rice:
1. Drain the excess water:
Cooking rice in a pot or rice cooker doesn't always guarantee that it won't turn out mushy. The easiest way to fix it is by draining all the excess water. Use a sieve or a colander to do this. This will help remove any excess starch from the rice. Now simply put it back in the pot and reheat it again for a few minutes to allow the moisture to evaporate.
2. Pop it in the refrigerator:
Instead of heating the rice to evaporate moisture, cooling works equally well. If your rice still feels sticky after draining out the excess water, spread it evenly on a plate and place it in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes. Make sure the water has fully dried out before taking it out. Once done, just heat the rice enough to eat.
3. Heat it in the oven:
If your rice is extremely wet and mushy, an oven will be your best saviour. For this, you must drain all the water first. Now, line the oven tray with baking paper and spread the rice evenly on it in a single layer. Bake at 180 degrees C for 4-5 minutes, or until the water dries out. Keep an eye on the rice while it's in the oven and cook for a few more minutes if required.
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4. Heat it in the microwave:
Microwaves are equally effective at drying out moisture from the rice. Transfer the rice to a microwave-safe container and microwave it at a high temperature for a minute or two. Make sure not to cover the container with a lid while doing so, as the moisture won't evaporate properly. Remember to drain the water before heating it in the microwave.
5. Use bread slices:
Did you know bread slices could be used to fix mushy rice as well? After draining the water, transfer the rice back to the pot. Now cover it with 2-3 bread slices and cook on low heat for a few minutes. After a while, you'll notice that the bread has absorbed all the water from the rice. Leave it for some more time, and then remove the bread slices before serving.
Try out these easy tips to turn around mushy rice in no time, and let us know how they worked for you in the comments below.