Steamed RICE (Using Cooker)
Ingredients:
- 1 cup long-grain white rice (basmati or jasmine rice work well)
- 1 and 3/4 cups water
- Optional: a pinch of salt
Instructions:
- Rinse the Rice: Measure out the desired amount of rice and rinse it in a fine-mesh strainer with cold water. While rinsing, gently toss the rice with your fingers to eliminate extra starch. Rinse again until the water flows clear.
- Add Rice and Water to the Rice Cooker: Place the rinsed rice in the inner pot of the rice cooker. 1 3/4 cups of water in the pot. You can alter the amount of water depending on whether you prefer softer or tougher rice.
- If desired, season the rice and water in the rice cooker with a pinch of salt. This is an optional step that can improve the flavor of the rice.
- Turn on the rice cooker: Replace the inner pot in the rice cooker and fasten the lid. Start the rice cooker by following the instructions for your individual model.
- Cooking Cycle: When the rice cooker senses the right water level, it will automatically switch to the cooking mode. Allow the rice to cook for the time provided in the rice cooker’s instruction manual. Depending on the model and quantity of rice, it usually takes about 15-20 minutes.
- Allow It to Rest: After the cooking cycle has finished, allow the rice to rest in the rice cooker for a few minutes. During this resting period, any surplus moisture is absorbed, resulting in fluffier rice.
- Fluff the Rice: After the resting period, gently fluff the rice with a rice paddle or fork, separating the grains.
- Serve: At this point, your properly cooked steamed rice is ready to be served as a side dish or with your favorite recipes.
Take advantage of the ease of a rice cooker to enjoy deliciously cooked rice!
Expert Tips for Success!
- Rinse the Rice: Before cooking, always thoroughly rinse the rice under cold water. This process eliminates extra starch from the rice and keeps it from getting too sticky.
- Proper Water Ratio: Use the water-to-rice ratio indicated for your rice type. As a general rule, for every cup of long-grain rice, use 1.5 to 2 cups of water.
- Soak the Rice (Optional): Soak the rice in water for 15-30 minutes before cooking for even better results. Soaking the rice allows it to cook more uniformly and produces fluffier grains.
- Seasonings & Salt: To enhance the flavor of the rice, add a pinch of salt or any desired seasonings.
- resist Opening the Lid: Once the cooking process begins, resist opening the lid until the rice is completely cooked. Opening the cover might cause a disruption in the cooking process and impact the final texture of the rice.
- Allow It to Rest: After the cooking cycle is over, leave the rice in the cooker for a few minutes with the lid on. This period of resting allows the rice to absorb any extra moisture, resulting in delightfully fluffy rice.
- Fluff the Rice lightly: When the resting time is finished, fluff the rice lightly with a fork. Stirring or pounding the rice can turn the grains mushy.
- Clean the Cooker properly: After each usage, properly clean the rice cooker to eliminate residue buildup that could compromise the quality of future batches.
- Experiment with Cooking Time: If you are unhappy with the texture of the rice, try modifying the cooking time slightly and making notes for future reference.
- Invest in Good-Quality Rice: Good-quality rice can have a major impact on the taste and texture of the finished dish.
You can produce perfectly cooked steamed rice every time if you follow these professional tips. Good luck in the kitchen!