There are many ways to cook rice in the world. For todays purposes, were tackling steaming rice in a pot on the stovetop—and all the pitfalls that can come with it.
As simple as it may seem, theres a delicate dance to getting steamed rice just right. You have to figure out the proper ratio of water for the type of rice youre cooking, You have to decide whether or not to rinse (if youre aiming for fluffy, steamed rice, always rinse). Theres the totally individual task of adjusting the heat on your stove to keep the rice at a steady simmer.
Mistakes will be made: burned rice, mushy rice, salty rice. Our favorite rice cooker adjusts for some of these human errors, but not everyone has the space or money for new appliances. However, there are easy fixes for almost any rice problem. Here’s what to do when steamed rice turns against you.
If the heat is too high, the water evaporates before the rice has a chance to fully cook. If you don’t add enough water, the rice ends up dry and crunchy. And if you don’t cook the rice long enough, it gets soft on the outside but doesn’t cook through.
How to fix undercooked rice
Maybe you cooked it at too high of a temperature, evaporating the water long before the rice actually cooked. Maybe you took the lid off of the pot too early, letting the steam escape. Maybe you didnt add enough liquid to begin with. Whatever the case, if your rice is looking dried out, or the texture is still hard or crunchy when all the liquid has been absorbed, add up to ½ cup water and return to a simmer with the lid on. Be patient. Dont raise the temperature to rush the rice—thatll just put you right back where you started.
How to fix mushy rice
If your rice has absorbed too much liquid, the grains may have split and the starches may have given the rice a soft, gluey consistency. One way to fix that? Add even more liquid. Pour in some milk, a dash of vanilla, and spoonful of sugar, and suddenly your mushy rice is a rich rice pudding.
Can You Cook Rice in 20 Seconds Without Water?
FAQ
What to do if rice is still hard after cooking?
Is it OK to eat slightly undercooked rice?
Can you fix mushy rice?
What happens if you don’t add water to rice?
Once you have your water and rice ratios down, you need to cook the rice for the appropriate amount of time at the right temperature. If the heat is too high, the water evaporates before the rice has a chance to fully cook. If you don’t add enough water, the rice ends up dry and crunchy.
What are the disadvantages of eating rice?
There are many varieties of rice and all of them can be part of a healthy diet. The healthfulness of rice is associated with how much it is refined or processed. Short grain polished white rice will have fewer nutrients overall, particularly fiber, and be more likely to increase blood sugar compared to brown rice or wild rice. This effect may be troublesome for those with pre-diabetes, diabetes, or metabolic syndrome, especially if over-consumed consistently. The effect rice has on blood sugar can be influenced by the total amount consumed and the other foods it is consumed with. A reasonable amount of rice to consume daily will vary across individuals and cultures. One recent study suggested that less than 1.5 cups a day was not associated with an increase type 2 diabetes.
What happens if rice is not cooked properly?
If rice is not cooked adequately, these bacteria can survive and proliferate, resulting in food poisoning. Symptoms typically manifest within six hours of consuming contaminated food and can last up to 24 hours. Adopting safe cooking practices for rice is essential, which involves using the correct water-to-rice ratio and cooking time.
What happens if you cook rice in hot water?
When you use hot water, the rice grains on the surface can start cooking faster than the grains in the center, resulting in unevenly cooked rice. Cold water: Using cold water may result in longer cooking times, but it can produce rice that is softer and more tender.