What is the best way to cook rice

Adding a small amount of salt or cooking oil to rice makes it taste better, and it can also be paired with miscellaneous grains and beans to enhance nutrition. Common combinations include brown rice, red beans, millet, purple sweet potatoes, pumpkin and other ingredients, which can improve flavor and increase dietary fiber and vitamin intake.

1. Brown rice

Brown rice retains the rice bran layer and germ, and is rich in B vitamins and dietary fiber. Mixing and cooking with white rice in a ratio of 1:3 can give the rice a nutty aroma and a more pronounced chewing sensation. Brown rice should be soaked for at least 1 hour in advance to avoid a hard texture. Long term consumption can help stabilize blood sugar, which is suitable for diabetes patients as a staple alternative.

2. Red beans

Red beans contain high-quality plant protein and iron elements, and can be cooked with rice to form a classic red bean rice. Red beans need to be soaked for 4 hours in advance or subjected to high-pressure pretreatment. When cooked together with rice grains, the amount of water should be increased by 20%. The anthocyanins in red beans turn red when exposed to alkali. Adding a small amount of baking soda can present a bright color, but it may damage some vitamins.

3. Xiaomi

Xiaomi particles are small and easy to cook, and mixing them with rice can shorten cooking time. It is recommended that Xiaomi accounts for no more than 30% of the golden ratio, as too much can cause loose rice. Xiaomi is rich in tryptophan and magnesium elements, and the cooked rice has a natural sweetness that helps improve sleep quality. Be careful not to rub excessively during washing, which may cause nutrient loss.

4. Purple Potato

When sliced and cooked with rice, it releases natural anthocyanins, giving the rice a light purple color. Purple sweet potatoes are rich in selenium and pectin, which can increase the viscosity of rice. It is recommended to choose purple sweet potato varieties with high moisture content, peel and cut them into small pieces, and put them in the pot together with the rice grains. After cooking, let them simmer for a while for a better flavor. Diabetes patients need to control the dosage.

5. Pumpkin

Cut old pumpkin into pieces, steam until soft, and mix with rice to give it a natural sweetness and carotenoids. The pectin component in pumpkin can slow down starch digestion and is suitable for people who want to lose weight. It is recommended to choose powdery varieties such as chestnuts and pumpkins, and maintain a ratio of 1:5 with rice to avoid excessive moisture affecting the taste. Pumpkin is easy to cook and can be added when rice is cooked to 70%.

It is recommended to use mineral water or filtered water when cooking rice, and the rice water ratio should be controlled at around 1:1.2. New rice can reduce the amount of water appropriately, while old rice needs more water. After cooking, let it simmer for 10 minutes before opening the lid. Use a rice spoon to loosen and dissipate heat along the edge of the pot. Special groups such as diabetes patients can choose the combination of coarse cereals with low glycemic index, and the proportion of beans should be reduced for those with weak gastrointestinal function. The combination can be adjusted in different seasons. In summer, it is suitable for heat clearing ingredients such as mung beans and lilies. In winter, it can be added as a warming supplement with longan and red dates.