Do you also make these 6 mistakes when cooking rice?

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We’ve made a list of the most common mistakes when it comes to cooking rice.

Rice is without a doubt one of the tastiest and most versatile foods out there. Plus, it’s really easy to make! But have we been doing it right? Of course, we know we shouldn’t use Minute Rice if we want to put a delicious dish on the table, but there are still a couple of other things we’re doing wrong. We’ve made a list of the most common mistakes when it comes to cooking rice.

 

Are you cooking rice the right way?

6. You’re cooking the rice in the wrong pot

Always cook your rice in a heavy-bottomed pot. A pot with a heavy bottom retains heat much better and can also divide the heat much better. A pot with a thin bottom won’t proportionally divide the heat, which means the middle, which is directly above the flame of your stove, will become much hotter than the outsides. So, it’d be a good idea to invest in a good, thick-bottomed pot. You can use it for more than just cooking rice!

5. You’re not using the right proportions

The packaging might sound convincing in telling you what to do, but following those instructions won’t always provide the desired result. Using a rice brand you’re not familiar with? Then stick to these proportions: use 240 millilitres of water per 175 to 185 grams of rice. Are you cooking brown rice? Then stick to the following: use 300 millilitres water per 175 to 185 grams of rice.

4. You’re not washing the rice

So, what’s the deal; are you supposed to wash your rice or aren’t you? Back in the day, people always used to wash rice because there could be tiny rocks in there. These days, that’s not the case anymore. But your cooking water can start to foam terribly when you’re cooking unwashed rice. This often means you’re going to have to clean your countertops or stove, but it also means the rice will clump together. Rice often contains a ton of starch and that’s why it can start to foam so much when you’re cooking it. Want to prevent the foaming and the clumping? Wash your rice before cooking it so you get rid of the excess starch.

Want to know what else you might be doing wrong and how to start doing it right?

3. You don’t let the rice steam

Unfortunately, not everyone is blessed with a good steamer, but that doesn’t mean you can’t steam rice at all. When your rice is done cooking, turn off the heat and leave the rice in the pot on the stove with the lid on. If the water hasn’t completely boiled down, first drain the water from the pot before letting the rice steam. After the steaming, loosen up the rice with a fork. This will cause a nice, dry grain that’ll taste much better than the soggy rice you’ll have otherwise.

2. You stir the rice

Never stir the rice when it’s still cooking! By stirring the rice, you activate the starch, which will cause the rice to become soggy. This is exactly the reason why risotto does need to be stirred so much: to make sure it becomes nice and creamy. Risotto rice is the exception here, though. It’s best to touch rice as little as possible when it’s in the pot.

1. You’re not adding salt

Just like with pasta, you have to add salt when you’re cooking rice. This will prevent the rice from being bland. Just a pinch per 180 grams of uncooked rice is enough. This little bit of salt can make the difference when it comes to the taste of your food.

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