We’ve already discussed how to cook white rice and how to cook brown rice to fluffy perfection. Even still, rice is one of those stubborn foods that can come out wrong even when done with the best intentions. Luckily there are other ways to cook rice – namely, steaming it.
How to Steam Rice: The Prep
Like all things, some of the most important aspects of steaming rice start with the prep. If you don’t prep the rice correctly, it can affect the taste and consistency once it’s cooked. You should always start by washing the grains of rice before you cook them. this helps remove the starch before cooking.
To start, run 2 cups of uncooked rice under cold water in a strainer. Shake the rice around or move it around with your hands to make sure that all of the rice gets washed. The water should look cloudy or milky at first, and the goal is to have the water run clear by the time you add the uncooked rice to the stove.
Once the rice is thoroughly washed and the water that drains from the strainer is clear, you’re ready to move on to the next step.
How to Steam Rice: The Cooking
Take the 2 cups of rice and add to a medium saucepan. Add 2 1/2 cups of cool water. Turn on heat to high and wait until the water is boiling around the edge of the saucepan. Turn the heat down to low, cover the rice with an airtight lid, and cook for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, take the saucepan off of the heat, keeping the lid on tight, and let the rice steam for an addition 5-7 minutes. Finish by fluffing with a fork.
While this method sounds easy enough, it might take you a few tries to get perfect rice. Different stovetops with varying degrees of heat can require a few more or a few less minutes of simmering. Just tweak the cook time until you find the perfect combination of cooking and steaming that works for you.
How Do You Prepare Your Rice?
The great thing about rice is that once you master it, you’ll never run out of dishes to create with it or around it. Chicken fried rice, Cajun style dirty rice, creamy risottos, rice pilaf – the list is almost unending.
What’s your absolute favorite rice dish? Let us know in the comments!
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