my rice was too sticky

wizzkid_3

We were watching Ready Steady Cook once and Ainsley was talking about 'sticky rice', now my kids cheer when it is sticky as they think I am so clever to have managed it again!

Kentish

kittie wrote:

I wondered if there are different types of basmati

From my experience, there are different qualities of basmati (and other kinds of rice) and the supermarket own-brand ones are generally disappointing. They're either slightly starchy/hard or too soft and sticky - it's almost impossible to get it just right.

I would personally stick to the premium brands like Tilda - comes up perfect everytime. Rinsing beforehand, adding the right amount of water, and using a rice cooker helps!

Essex-girl_2

I agree with Kentish, I had the same problem with Tesco Basmati - then I bought Tilda and it is perfect now and I dont even soak it, one thing I do do though is when its finished cooking I drain it and return to the saucepan and put a fresh tea towel over the top for about 5 mins it helps soak up any excess moisture.

nick_b

If your rice is all gloopy you are definitely using too much water. My Nepalese wife finds it so odd that people in the country boil rice for ages and then throw away all that lovely water which contains important minerals from the rice. You'll have much healthier rice if you just use enough water that is absorbed by the rice while cooking. The rule of thumb (literally!) is to have just enough water above the rice that reaches up to your first thumb joint. Boil rice uncovered until pock marks start to appear. turn the heat right down and put on the lid. Another 10 mins and it should be done. If you take it off the heat and them just leave it to stand the rice should come away much more easily from the side of the pan. No oil needed!

Alternatively, you could use a rice cooker like we do (We eat a lot of rice in our house!)

PS. My wife doesn't like to wash the rice, as she says you are washing away minerals then too.

maxiscot

I use a variation of jennifer's method - I dry fry 1 cup of rice for a few minutes while the kettle is boiling - pour 2 cups boiling water on top - boil hard for 5 mins. Turn off heat and leave with a tight fitting lid on ( no stirring, no looking) for at least 15 mins. Done this with every type of rice and never had a problem. HTH

Kentish

Essex-girl wrote:

...put a fresh tea towel over the top for about 5 mins it helps soak up any excess moisture.

Essex-girl's spot on - taking the pan off the heat and covering it also ensures that the rice doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan

BJL

My Basmati rice used to go sticky, then someone told me i was stirring it too much. So now i just bring it to the boil, stir it once and then put the lid on to leave it to simmer until all the water is absorbed, and it is so much better. I use Tesco rice too.

B52

nick_b wrote:

The rule of thumb (literally!) is to have just enough water above the rice that reaches up to your first thumb joint.

Yes, rice taste so much better if you just cook it in enough water. Washing rice after it's cooked made the rice taste very bland.

We bought a plastic rice cooker for microwave and it's so much more easier than cooking on stove and the rice made is lovely!

krishna

Basmati rice normally absorbs more water than other long grain rice.
The amount of water needed varies according to the age of the rice. The older the rice the more water it needs. So some variation will exist even between to packets of the same brand/variety.
Cooking times (and the amount of water) vary according to individual preference. Europeans seem to eat harder (less cooked) rice than Indians.
Rinsing the rice before or after cooking will wash away many of the nutrients. A single wash before cooking is sufficient.

sarahlouise210

If you buy `Easy cook` Basmati you should not have a problem ..I think all easy cook rice has been rinsed prior to packaging. I have never has a problem with Easy cook and always buy stores own brand (unless the others areon special offer!)