How to Make Perfect Rice

Rice should never be boiled in more water than it can absorb. Here is a simple method to make perfect rice every time.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 cup long grain white rice
• 1 quart pot with lid
• Salt (optional)
• Strainer
• Cold water

1. Actually, you do not have to have exactly 1 cup of rice, you can just pour any amount into an appropriate sized pot. But, to make things simple, measure one cup of rice into a bowl. Wash Rice by rubbing between palms and letting rice fall back into the water. Drain the water, add more and repeat until water is almost clear. If you are in a hurry, just do it once.

2. Drain rice by letting it fall into a strainer. If you do not have one, just carefully drain off water with your hand as a guard to keep rice from falling out of bowl.

3. Return rice to bowl and cover with 1/2 inch of water. You can easily measure by inserting your index finger into bowl until the tip of it touches the top of the rice. 1/2 of the first joint in your index finger is 1/2 inch. Let the rice sit in the clean water for one hour.

4. After an hour, drain the water from the rice. Put rice in the quart pot and add 1/2 inch of clean water. You can add a pinch of salt, if you prefer. Put the pot on the stove over medium heat (flames should not be beyond the bottom of the pot). Let the rice cook until only large bubbles show. Immediately, put lid on pot and turn flame to the lowest point. Let rice cook until it is done.

5. You can tell rice is done when all water is absorbed and it looks fluffy. If it is soggy, there was too much water added. At this point, just put it in the microwave on a plate to get rid of the excess. It will be sticky but not mushy.

6. Rice soup: With leftover rice and rice that is stuck to the pot, add 1 bouillon cube, 1 green onion stalk and enough water to fill pot almost 3/4 full. Bring to a boil. Beat 1 egg and drizzle it into the boiling stock. The egg will separate into small ribbons. Add shrimp for an extra treat. This soup is similar to Chinese Egg Drop Soup. Soup is done when rice is not long stuck to the pot.

Tips & Warnings

• This is an excellent rice to make stir fried.
• If you do not have time to wait the hour for the rice to soak, add 1 inch of water to the rice instead of the 1/2 inch. Cook in the same way as above.
• To clean the pot after removing rice, make Chines Egg Drop Sour or simply soak the pot in cold water. The rice will expand and loosen. Do this after cooking any grains like oatmeal and other cereals and grains.
• Keep an eye on the rice when it is first put on to cook. You don't want all of the water to cook out before you put on the lids.

[pearlyvictoria]

on 4/8/2009 You go right ahead and write your article, Unclet53 and don't forget the gravy! There are a great many ways to cook perfect rice and we southerners know every which way it can be done!

[unclet53]

on 4/6/2009 You just wrote my next article idea, but I'm glad you did. You said it much better than I ever could have. You know us Southern boys luvz us some rice! GREAT JOB! Maybe I'll write a gravy article to go with it.

[chenderson00]

on 4/3/2009 Yummy! Love this! Quick and tasty! 5*s

[georgelarson]

on 4/3/2009 Good tips for cooking rice. Thanks.

[derbyka]

on 3/5/2009 I've been trying to make perfect rice forever. I'll have to give this method a try.