Rice tutorial please

[Owlpost23]

Easiest way to cook rice is to cook it like pasta-lots of water,cook to your preference(put a little under cold water to test),then strain and shock with cold water if you aren't using it right away.Easy peasy.Also,if you ever make fried rice,make sure that rice is COLD,or it will turn to mush.

 

[lucyem]

1 day, I decided to cook my rice in the oven and it came out perfect!!

My kids dont like mixed dishes so I separated my chicken and rice in the oven.

I was baking chicken, oven already on, so I used a pyrex casserole dish with lid, (can also cover dish with foil) added equal parts rice and water, covered and baked for 40 min. It takes a little longer, but it is hands free method, I can set the oven timer and go do something else and not worry about a pot on the stovetop. Brown rice comes out great too.

This is how we cook rice. We have a different type of cookstove where you cook more in the oven then on top. We start the rice on top, get it to a simmer and then put it in the oven. Saves having to watch it as closely which I prefer. But my cook top is not adjustable and rice left on top has to be watched very very closely.

Jasmine rice has become our favorite and is what I cook most of the time.

 

[LisaNJ25]

I have one of these pots:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B00164SID0/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=284507&s=kitchen

Just got a bigger one for christmas since out family out grew the one we have.

I do one cup or water for one cup of rice. We use Goya white rice. I add a little oil and salt to the water when its boiling.

 

[Mrs.Malone]

I couldn't do without my rice cooker! It never fails and it frees up the cooking pots/stove for other uses. Also it never boils all over the place like my rice always does if I cook it on the stove.
My family likes jasmine rice best, but it can be expensive. I always try to get either brown rice or a rice that is at least enriched.

 

[CTdiznymom]

Uncle Bens, and I follow the directions on the box for cooking it in the microwave. Easy Easy Easy. No boiling water, no watching the pot, and you can serve it in the bowl you cook it in. Perfect everytime.

 

[Ava]

I figured out my rice cooking method kind of by trial and error, following the package directions & then adjusting until it turned out well. We don't have a rice cooker, I just cook it on the stove top.

We usually use Nature's Promise (Stop & Shop organic store brand) brown rice. The package calls for 2 cups of water per 1 cup of rice, but I found that wasn't enough water. I don't know if its because we have a gas stove so it burns off faster or what. I use about 3&1/2 cups of water for 1 cup of rice. Boil the water, then add 1 Tbsp of oil (I use olive oil) & the rice. Reduce heat, cover & simmer. I'm not sure of the exact amount of time it takes, I just watch it. If I'm remembering right the bag says 35-40 mins, but it cooks faster for me, probably around 25-30.

ETA: We don't really eat rice as a side dish, just as part of a recipe like stir fry or rice & beans, so the plain brown rice is fine for us. If you are making just a rice dish you may want to use a different type.

 

[disney4us2002]

Do the rice steamers make the rice sticky? I prefer my rice to be sticky. Someone told me not to rinse before or after cooking but I must still not be buying the right type of rice because it is never sticky - enough so that I could use chopsticks. I don't want individual specks of rice! Help! I asked my favorite chinese takeout cashier and she said the US doesn't sell the right type of rice - they import 100 lb bags from China so they're no help to me.

 

[jensen]

I really believe at this age I should know how to cook better than I do. My mother used lots of boxed products. Minute Rice being one of them. I sort of like Minute Rice when used in recipes, but I know there are much healthier versions for you. I found the brown Minute Rice to be gross and like cardboard. ick. I also like rice pilaf from a box. I don't like Rice-a-Roni at all.

I've only tried cooking rice from scratch once and it was a major fail.

I want to cook up some plain rice and freeze into portions for myself while DH is gone for a lot of this year. He's not a fan of rice, so I don't make it often.

Educate me please. Start from the beginning.

What kind of rice do I buy? There are so many. I don't need a huge bag just for myself either.

How do I cook it? Last time I tried a crockpot recipe and it was a huge sticky mess.

Ok to freeze into portions?

When a recipe calls for Minute Rice, are you able to substitute cooked non-minute rice somehow? Or do you still just use Minute Rice?

And please tell me I'm not alone in not knowing this info. Some cultures use more rice in their cooking and diet than others. My mom did not use it a lot and therefore settled on Minute Rice I guess.

I see you have lots of answers already, and I haven't read them all, but I figured I throw my technique out there.

I use long grain white rice

2 C Rice
4 C Water

Place into microwave safe bowl with lid. Microwave for 5 minutes. After it beeps, microwave again for 15 minutes at 50% power. When it beeps, allow it to sit for a few minutes before you take it out, so you don't get steam burns.

I make rice like this about once a week. You can freeze individual portions in sandwich bags and then reheat them in the microwave for 40-60 seconds.

Super Simple!!

If I'm going to use rice in a hotdish, I'll cook it this way first and then add it to the other hotdish ingredients. I never cook rice on the stovetop.