Rice Revitalizers - Tips on cooking rice that is fluffy
and won't stick to the bottom of the pan.
1. Use long grain white rice when cooking Chinese food. Medium
grain rice is also acceptable, but the Chinese use short grain rice
mainly for dishes such as congee.
2. Don't use instant or precooked rice. Large bags of long grain
white rice are available in Asian markets and most supermarkets -
Dragon King is a good brand.
3. Opinions vary on converted rice - rice that has been parboiled
with the husks on. While it is more nutritious than white rice, I
find it tastes rather bland. It takes longer to cook than regular
rice so if you do use it, follow the instructions on the box
carefully.
4. For fluffier, faster cooking rice, try soaking it in cold water
for about thirty to sixty minutes prior to cooking.
5. Before cooking, rinse the rice several times, until the water
comes out clear. This removes any starch and residue - otherwise
the rice may be sticky.
6. When cooking rice in a saucepan, be sure to use a pot with a
heavy bottom - copper is best. This will give the rice a thinner
crust.
7. Don't use salt or butter when cooking plain rice - this kills
its natural sweet flavor.
8. Another tip if your rice is taking a long time to cook - do you
know how long the bag has been sitting in the cupboard? Older rice
can lose some of its moisture, requiring more water and a longer
cooking time than fresh rice.
9. Leftover rice will keep for days, and it's perfect for making
fried rice. Just be sure to wait until the rice is perfectly cold
before storing it in the refrigerator. For the best results, wait a
couple of days before making the fried rice - this gives the
ingredients more time to blend together.
10. If the cold rice is a bit lumpy, try sprinkling a bit of cold
water on it.
For a bit of variety, try one of the scented rices such as jasmine
or basmati. Just remember that the amount of water required and the
cooking time will be less than for other types of long grain white
rice