How to Boil White Rice in an Ordinary Cooking Pot

Rice is a staple food item in Asian countries and has become a popular foodstuff all over the world because it is easy to cook, easy to store and inexpensive. It is very digestible and according to one study, is considered to be a foundation of a healthy diet. This cereal is high in complex carbohydrates, contains almost no fat, is cholesterol free, low in sodium, and a good source of vitamins and minerals. There are different ways to cook it. You can steam, boil, bake, microwave it, etc. depending on the preference of the cook and the rice eater. Rice comes in different varieties but the most popular is the white rice. The following are the steps how to boil white rice the old way without using an electric rice cooker:

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Cooking pot
• Rice grains
• Water
• Stove

1. Scoop handfuls of rice (depending on how much you want to cook) and pour it into a medium-sized cooking pot.
2. Wash the grains lightly under running water to remove dust and other particles. Do not scrub too hard or wash more than once. Drain excess water after washing.
3. Add water to the pot. To measure the amount of water to use for cooking/boiling the rice, place the palm of your hand in the center of the pot. With the tip of your middle finger touching the top layer of the rice grains, check the water level and make sure it touches the line on the first joint of the finger.
4. Cover the pot, place it on the stovetop and start cooking over medium-high heat.
5. When the rice starts to boil, uncover the pot to prevent the broth from overflowing. Let it boil for few more minutes until the rice grains expand.
6. When the water bubbles are almost gone, lower the heat to the minimum setting on your stove. Do this for another minute or until the rice is slightly moist but not dry.
7. Turn off the stove. Cover the pot and let it stand for few more minutes. The steam inside the pot will dry up that excess water to give you that perfectly cooked rice.
8. Serve the rice hot.

Tips & Warnings

• Wash rice only once to preserve the nutrients in the grains.
• Do not soak the rice before cooking because it will turn mushy.
• Rice is served best when it’s hot.
• Rice broth is best for drinking when you have an upset stomach. If you decide to drink it, scoop about one cup from the pot while the rice is boiling and mix it with salt. Replace the same amount of water to the pot right away.
• When the rice starts boiling, pay attention to the occasional water bubbles spraying out from the pot. It can burn your skin.