How do you cook perfect rice?

specialK

I think there is something in the air.

For about 6 weeks, my rice has been sticky (rinsed then cooked as I have done for years)

OH thinks I have now learnt how to make proper rice? (the mind boggles)

He loves it and I can't for the life of me get it back to nice and fluffy.

How can something you have done zillions of times all of a sudden go wrong.

I blame the rice................

Linda32

Well, this is what I do.

Put rice in pan and cover with boiling water.
Stir once and once only.
Keep at a fast simmer.
Keep topping up wiht boiling water for about half an hour
I read that its done when holes start to appear over the surface of the rice - abit like holely (sp?) cheese.
Strain into seive and pour boiling water over

[Deleted User]

I used to get the sticky rice problem when I used tesco cheap basmati rice. I switched to tilda basmati and my rice is now perfect

That tesco stuff turned out like mush. Horrible

showtunesgirl

I'm afraid that it IS true that the more you spend on the rice, the better quality it is. When I want a treat I get Tilda as for some reason, it always turns out better than other rice. However, it's a bit pricey and I've recently tried the Sainsbury's Finest Basmati Rice and that is very similar indeed.

If you DO eat a lot of rice, it's much better to go and buy yourself a very big bag from a Chinese / Oriental supermarket. It works out much cheaper in the end!

black-saturn

I rinse it under the tap before I cook it and again after it's cooked.

lil_me

I always rinse mine, have learned the lesson to 'leave it alone' as a chinese friend of mine put it, I used to stir it too much which breaks up the rice and it ends up mushy.

savingsara_2

Like the others say, give rice a good rinse in cold water before cooking.

Basmati Rice I measure exactly twice the amount of water to rice. Place together in a saucepan, bring to the boil then put on the lid and cook (not too fast) for 15 minutes. Tip it into a seive (there will be very little water left) then rinse with plenty of boiling water and serve. Voila!

Brown Rice Bring panful of water to the boil, put in the quantity of rice you want to cook. Bring back to the boil and give it a good stir before almost covering with a lid. Simmer for 20 minutes. Drain and rinse as with basmati.

Pleased to say, if I do this my rice never sticky......you watch, it will be now! :rotfl:

jenquack84

It seems strange that my first ever post on MSE is this thread, but oh well! Gotta start somewhere I suppose!

I've never managed to cook rice properly in a saucepan, it always come out a mushy mess, so I do it in the microwave. I use a glass pyrex dish with a lid. 1 cup of rice (rinsed first) and a cup + 1/2 of boiling water. I add a little bit of butter and salt but you dont have to use this. 5 mins on the highest setting, then 5 mins on medium, stir and 5 mins again on medium depending if it needs it or not. Very quick and perfect rice every time! Plus you can leave the lid on and it keeps warm for ages, so you can finish it a little bit earlier and not end up cooking several things at the same time!:T

kippers

My brother-in-law is a chef and he told me the secret is to rinse the rice then leave it in soak for 20 mins before adding it to boiling water...works a treat.

Stephen_Leak

I think everyone is missing the obvious answer here. If your rice is sticky, just serve it with a red or green Thai fish curry. I'll get my coat ...