In this guide, I will show you how to cook rice on the stove and take you through some vital steps that are required in making delicious white rice that you would expect to find at a restaurant.
Rice is the perfect addition to many meals and while basic it can be quite challenging to get right. If you have ever ended up with mushy rice or undercooked rice, then you’re not alone.
Cooking rice on the stove is a bit daunting at first, but once you’re used to it, it is just as easy as using a rice cooker. Whichever method you choose, rice is the perfect accompaniment with any easy recipe.
Rice Varieties
There are a massive amount of different types of rice that you’re able to buy. Each has its unique texture, flavor and cooking technique. I will just cover a few of the most popular varieties.
Arborio Rice: This rice is short grain and is used typically for puddings and risotto. It was primarily grown in Italy but is now grown all around the world.
Basmati Rice: This rice is long grain and is typically used in main or side dishes. It was primarily grown in India but is now being farmed in many different areas.
Jasmine Rice: Again this rice is long grain and is usually used in main or side dishes. It is grown throughout Asia but mainly in just Thailand.
Long Grain White Rice: Clearly, this one is long grain and a is very popular variety at the supermarket. It is grown globally but originated out of Asia.
Medium Grain White Rice: Again, this one is clearly medium grain and is mainly used in desserts, sushi, and casseroles. It is grown in Asia but can also be found globally.
Rinse your Rice
It is important to rinse your rice before cooking it, and you will be surprised at the difference by doing so.
It is a simple step but a very important one that most people will just skip.
How to Rinse Rice
To rinse rice, simply get a sieve, place the measurement of rice you will be cooking in it and run under water for a few minutes.
Make sure you rinse all of the rice, the water should be clear when you have rinsed the rice enough.
Why Rinse Rice?
Rice often has talc on it as it is used as a milling aid in many of the mills around the world. It is important to wash this off as it does have some health risks associated with it.
Secondly rinsing will remove that loose starch that means you will have much less sticky rice once it has finished cooking.
How to Cook Rice on the Stove
This is the most important part of this guide and will talk about how to cook rice on the stove. While cooking rice on a stove is relatively simple it can be tricky to get it perfect.
Follow the steps below and find out how you can cook rice correctly.
- Place the rinsed rice into a deep pot.
- Add the amount of water required to cook the rice correctly. A good amount typically is 1 & 1/2 cups of water to 1 cup of rice. You may need to adjust this depending on the rice you use.
- Cover and bring to the boil.
- Once at the boil lower the temperature, so a light boil is maintained.
- Cook for about 10-15 minutes. You may need to lengthen the cooking time for some types of rice.
- Once water is absorbed, allow to sit for 10 minutes before lifting the lid.
- Using a fork or spoon “fluff” the rice up.
- Serve & Enjoy.
If you’re looking for an easy recipe to enjoy with your lovely cooked rice, then be sure to check out the satay chicken curry. This is super easy to cook up and tastes absolutely amazing.
Alternatives to Cooking Rice on the Stove
Cooking rice on a stove is certainly not for everyone and life can be made much easier by using one of the many rice cooking products available.
The most common way to cook rice that is used by a lot of people is the rice cooker. These range in prices varying from twenty dollars to some that cost you over a hundred.
These are super simple to use, simply add the amount of rice you would like and then fill the cooker up to the line that represents the number of cups of rice you put in. This process may vary depending on the brand of rice cooker.
After preparing the rice, you switch the machine to cook and then it’s just a matter of waiting until your rice is ready.
You can find rice cookers at online marketplaces such as Amazon. Alternatively, you can find them at most local supermarkets.
There are many other methods of cooking rice with each having their pros and cons. However, I do find the absorption method the easiest and produces great results.
I hope that this guide on how to cook rice on the stove has helped you be able to perfect the method. If you’re still struggling just remember practice makes perfect.
