Rice can be cooked after steaming for a few minutes

Generally, rice can be cooked by steaming for 20-30 minutes, and the specific time is affected by factors such as rice variety, soaking time, firepower, steaming equipment type, and water volume.

1. differences in Rice Species

Indica rice has a loose structure and absorbs water quickly. It usually matures after steaming for 20 minutes; The tight texture of japonica rice needs to be extended to 25 minutes; Glutinous rice, due to its high content of amylopectin, takes more than 30 minutes to fully gelatinize. Aged rice is more difficult to soften than new rice, and the steaming time should be increased accordingly.

2. Soaking treatment

Rice grains soaked for 30 minutes in advance can absorb enough water, which can shorten the steaming time by 5-8 minutes. Soaking in cold water can prolong the expansion process of rice grains, while soaking in warm water can accelerate starch gelatinization. Directly steaming rice that has not been soaked can easily lead to undercooked rice.

3. Firepower Control

It is most ideal to switch from high to medium heat after boiling, and maintain continuous steam. High heat throughout the process can easily cause water to evaporate too quickly and become burnt, while low heat can prolong the steaming time. It is more suitable to control the power of the induction cooker at around 1600W.

4. The influence of steaming equipment

traditional bamboo steaming baskets have good breathability and can usually be cooked in 25 minutes; Stainless steel steamer takes about 28 minutes; The standard cooking procedure for an electric rice cooker takes about 30 minutes. Thick bottomed containers require longer heat transfer time.

5. Water ratio

When the ratio of rice to water is 1:1.2, the cooking is fastest, and too much water will prolong the boiling time. It is not advisable to frequently open the lid for inspection during the steaming process, as each opening will result in loss of steam and prolong the time by 3-5 minutes.

It is recommended to choose new rice of the current season and soak it in advance, use a steaming tool with good breathability, and control the rice water ratio to about 1:1.2. During the steaming process, maintain stable heating over medium heat. After steaming, let it simmer for 5 minutes to evenly distribute the moisture. When cooking different varieties of rice, the cooking time should be determined based on the most durable rice variety. The elderly and children can appropriately extend the steaming time to ensure soft and rotten, and diabetes patients can choose indica rice to reduce the degree of gelatinization. Overnight rice needs to be re steamed with a small amount of water to prevent it from drying out.