Different Ways of Cooking Brown Rice

Serve brown rice as a hearty grain.

Brown rice has its bran intact, making it a whole grain with more fiber than white rice. The bran gives brown rice a slightly nutty flavor. Because brown rice is heavier than white rice, it takes longer to cook. Cooks have developed a number of techniques for preparing brown rice, which makes a healthy side dish. Use leftover brown rice in skillet recipes such as stir-fried rice or Spanish rice dishes.

Stove Top

The best way to cook brown rice is to boil it on the stove top, drain the rice like pasta and then steam the rice with the liquid that remains in the pot. Place 1 cup of brown rice in a strainer. Rinse under cold water. Boil 12 cups of water in a large pot with a tight-fitting lid. Pour the rice into the pot and boil uncovered for 30 minutes. Drain the rice and return it to the pot. Place the lid on the pot, and set aside from the heat. Allow the rice to steam in the pot for 10 minutes.

Microwave

You can also cook brown rice in your microwave. In a large microwave baking dish, combine 1 cup rice, 2 ½ cups water and 1 tablespoon butter. Cover the dish and cook on high for 5 minutes or until the rice boils. Reduce the microwave setting to medium and cook for another 30 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.

Rice Cooker

A rice cooker has a inner pan that rests above an electrically powered heating element. Rice steams in the rice cooker. To make rice in the rice cooker, rinse the rice. Place in 1 cup of rice cooker along with 2 cups of water. Cover the pot and turn the rice cooker on. Keep the lid on during the entire cooking time and avoid stirring while the rice cooks.

Baked

Brown rice can be baked in the oven for tender and fluffy rice. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Measure 1 ½ cups brown rice and place in a square glass baking dish. Bring ½ cup water to a boil in a kettle or sauce pan. Pour the boiling water over the rice and add 1 tablespoon butter and 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Cover the dish tightly with the baking lid or aluminum foil. Place in the oven and bake for 1 hour. Remove from the oven and fluff the rice with a fork.

References

• Saveur: Perfect Brown Rice
• University of Nebraska: Now, You're Cooking with Brown Rice!
• Food Network: Baked Brown Rice, Alton Brown