How to make rice delicious and simple

The key to cooking delicious and simple rice lies in the ratio of rice to water, soaking time, and heat control. There are mainly five core steps: selecting rice, washing rice, soaking, watering, and stewing rice.

I. Selecting Rice

Choose fresh japonica rice or indica rice. Japonica rice has moderate viscosity and is suitable for daily cooking, while indica rice has clear grains and is suitable for Fried Rice. Aged rice is prone to yellowing, which affects its taste. Please pay attention to the production date when purchasing. Special varieties such as Wuchang rice and Thai fragrant rice can be selected according to personal preferences.

2. Wash the rice 2-3 times to remove surface impurities, excessive scrubbing will result in loss of nutrients. Suggest gently stirring with cold water, the first coat of rice washing water can be quickly poured out. If you pursue a fresher taste, you can add a wash, but water-soluble nutrients such as vitamin B1 will correspondingly decrease.

3. Soaking

Soak the rice grains for 20 minutes in summer and 30 minutes in winter to allow them to fully absorb water. Using warm water can shorten the soaking time, but the water temperature should not exceed 40 degrees Celsius. After soaking, the rice grains become semi transparent, which can shorten the cooking time and make the rice softer. Soak for at least 10 minutes when time is tight.

4. Water Quantity

A conventional rice cooker can reduce the amount of water added to the surface of the rice by half a centimeter when new rice is added. Finger measurement method: The water surface is below the first phalanx of the back of the hand. If you like soft rice, you can add half a cup of water, while for hard rice, reduce the amount of water. Different varieties of rice have significant differences in water absorption. It is recommended to try cooking a small amount of new rice varieties for the first time.

5. Stewed rice

After cooking, continue to simmer for 10-15 minutes to evenly distribute the moisture. Use a rice spoon to loosen the rice along the edge of the pot to help dissipate heat and avoid clumping at the bottom. The insulation state should not exceed 2 hours, otherwise the rice will become dry and hard. If you need to keep warm for a long time, you can put half a cup of water in the pot to maintain humidity. When cooking rice, you can add a small amount of cooking oil to make the rice more oily and shiny, or drip lemon juice to keep it white. Overnight rice should be refrigerated and stored for no more than 2 days. When reheating, sprinkle a little water and cover with plastic wrap. When pairing with miscellaneous grains such as millet and quinoa, it is necessary to soak them in advance and adjust the amount of water. Pay attention to adjusting cooking time and pressure in different altitude areas, and it is recommended to use a pressure rice cooker in high-altitude areas. By controlling these variables, even novice chefs can consistently cook sweet and delicious rice.