Rice tutorial please

[MsLeFever]

Pampered Chef's microwave rice cooker rocks - I just used it for the first time tonight!

 

[jcgonczi]

I can't help, but i just want to say that I am so glad I am not the only one who has trouble cooking rice! It is either a sticky mess or still crunchy.

 

[soccerchick]

Haha - look at my tag! I do much better with "real" rice and just follow the directions on the bag - 1 cup rice to 2 cups water, cook for about 20 minutes. I could never make the instant/quick stuff edible!

 

[hsmamato2]

I have a fancy rice cooker I got at Goodwill,,,am using while I renovate my kitchen...but here's a tried and true, never fail rice recipe...it works on any kind of rice I've tried-sticky,short,long,brown,jasmine,plain white....
put 2 cups rice + 3.5 cups water into a pot, cover tightly,put on high on stove, as soon as it comes to a boil,turn it down to low(like 2 on an electric stove)
*here's the important part*
remove lid and quickly place a paper towel across the top,replace lid tightly. cook for recommended amount of time for that type of rice (brown rice takes about 45 min.,white takes about 15)
DON'T stir,or otherwise open the pot till the time's up!
when it's up, open pot,stir gently,I leave the paper towel on rice while we get dinner on the table,it absorbs just enough moisture to keep it perfect every time....
when my kitchen is done,I'm giving the rice cooker away....

 

[snarlingcoyote]

I'm giving another reccomendation for a good rice cooker. I don't have a stand blender, a food processor, a sandwich grill or even (the horror) a fry daddy.

But I have a rice cooker that lives on the counter top because it gets used so often.

It's partially cultural; I'm a coonass, and we cook a LOT of rice; but the rice cooker is so easy. Still. Rice itselt is pretty easy. Just follow the directions, use a timer (almost every microwave has one and most stoves do as well), and don't mess with it once the lid is on the pot!

 

[Nicolepa]

Thank you everyone! Seems easy enough. Hopefully next batch won't be another fail. I'll try the stovetop method. I'm decluttering & don't want to add another small kitchen appliance.

Are you cooking on gas or electric? When I switched to gas I was no longer able to cook rise, not matter what I tried. The heat just doesn't get low enough. That was when I swiped my dad's rice cooker. Love that thing. You can also use it to steam veggies!

 

[Nicolepa]

I wouldn't recommend freezing rice.

I have frozen rice for years. Works just fine. I reheat in the microwave. I have a child who lives on rice and even w/a rice cooker I got tired of cooking it so much!

 

[Leshaface]

I found this out during the summer...to keep bags of rice in the freezer to kill potential weevils!!

I came home one day to make some mexican rice, went to grab my rice and found these things flying around inside the tupperware!!!! I wanted to die! So nasty!

So now all I ever do is keep my brown and white rice (uncooked) in the freezer...don't want risk getting some of those gnarly things again!!!

Anyways, I make Mexican rice probably once a week (sometimes twice a week) and it's suuuuuper easy.

Add a little oil/butter to the bottom of the pot. Take one cup white rice and brown in the heated oil/butter. Put a few teaspoons of cumin, half teaspoon of chili powder with salt and pepper and brown a little more. Add one cup water and one cup chicken broth (or use all water or all broth however you prefer) and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to low and cook for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes check and all liquid should be gone; fluff with a fork!!

 

[Rantybaby]

I like Mahatma rice. I buy the 2lb bag. And follow directions for microwave cooking (use chicken broth instead of water). When I'm having soup or chili, I will double the recipe so I can have it daily.

 

[tonilea]

Pampered Chef's microwave rice cooker rocks - I just used it for the first time tonight!

The black steamer one? I love mine! I use it for steaming veggies too. I liked it so much I bought a second one!

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

I buy the store-brand plain rice. I use a 2-to-1 ratio water-to-rice (so 1 cup water to 1/2 cup rice, or 2 cups water to 1 cup rice). I put the water and rice in a saucepan with some salt and bring it to a boil over high heat, turning it down to low/2 immediately after it boils, so it keeps boiling, but barely. Never take the lid off (unless it's boiling over to release some steam). Simmer until all the water is gone, about 20 minutes.

 

[crazelion]

Thank you thank you for posting this. I learning several different methods. I am try. I love the oven rice version.

 

[smokeyblue]

I have such a hard time eating rice due to stomach issues. I substitute different grains for rice,which are far easier to cook in my opion, plus they offer more nutrients for the most part. I like quinoa, barley, couscous and bulger.

 

[Robindianne]

I have such a hard time eating rice due to stomach issues. I substitute different grains for rice,which are far easier to cook in my opion, plus they offer more nutrients for the most part. I like quinoa, barley, couscous and bulger.

OK can I threadjack just a bit? Do you cook these grains the same way as rice? Could I use my rice cooker?

 

[MistressMerryweather]

I have such a hard time eating rice due to stomach issues. I substitute different grains for rice,which are far easier to cook in my opion, plus they offer more nutrients for the most part. I like quinoa, barley, couscous and bulger.

Have you tried soaking your grains in keifer, etc.? I know that makes it much easier to digest and good for tummies.

 

[cpdrn7]

I am so in the same boat with you. Rice can be a good thing for us, but I can't find any that I like. I visit the local mexican place just for the rice...does anyone have a good recipe for that ...and one that can be used in a rice cooker? I am willing to buy one if that will stop that weekly visit !LOL

 

[squirrel]

I am so in the same boat with you. Rice can be a good thing for us, but I can't find any that I like. I visit the local mexican place just for the rice...does anyone have a good recipe for that ...and one that can be used in a rice cooker? I am willing to buy one if that will stop that weekly visit !LOL

Next time you're there ask them what kind of rice they use. Then see if you can get it at the grocery store.

 

[squirrel]

I usually buy a mixed variety of wild rice and brown or white rice. Sometimes I buy just brown rice.

I make mine by adding double the amount of water to rice. You can rince the rice (sometimes I do, other times I don't) before cooking.

I add a bit of salt and some olive oil/butter to the pot. I leave it uncovered until it comes to a boil and then turn it down to the lowest temperature and cover. I let it cook for about 25 minutes. Then I lift the lid and check to see if there is much water left, usually it's fine and I don't need to let it cook longer.

I'd rather disturb the rice than over cook it and have it burn to the bottom of the pot.

 

[smokeyblue]

OK can I threadjack just a bit? Do you cook these grains the same way as rice? Could I use my rice cooker?

Depends on the grain, but most are prepared in a similar manner to rice. Trader Joes has an awesome blend called "Harvest Grains" and it is so easy to cook and can be substituted for any rice recipe, I would think that this would easily cook in a rice cooker as I've used it in my crockpot and a pressure cooker. I don't live anywhere near a TJ's so when I get near one I buy a large supply. I just made "Butternut Squash Risotto"(from the pressure cooker thread) with it tonight and my boyfriend said he prefered the grain mix to rice.

 

[SookieStackhouse]

I got a rice maker at Walmart, for under 20, and I use it quite a bit. Somebody mentioned that Basmati (not sure of the spelling) rice, that is pretty good stuff. I also sometimes just buy the Walmart rice. I guess it depends on how much you eat, but out of one bag of the Basmati rice I can make 10 lunches.

I got some of those Rubbermaid containers, I think they are called Take A Longs. I j ust put them out on the counter and started dividing up the rice as evenly as I could. I got a bag of the stir fry vegetables (costs like $2), divided it up as evenly as I could. Then I stuck all of that in the freezer. It would be better fresh, but freezing it won't hurt you, I have been doing this for years.

Stick it in the microwave for 3 minutes at a time. It is not exactly a gourmet meal, but it is something to eat... it's cheap and probably pretty good for you (brown rice would be better for you), and shouldn't make you gain weight.