What's the secret to cooking brown rice??

[DisneyBeagle]

I LOVE the brown rice from PF Changs, but anytime I attempt to cook brown rice at home it tastes like cardboard.

What am I doing wrong? Is there a specific type of brown rice that I need to purchase?

 

[SwedishMeatball]

I use Minute Rice.

 

[Zandy595]

I've never had their brown rice, but I'm sure they must put some kind of seasoning in it. Or maybe it's cooked in chicken broth instead of water.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

I LOVE the brown rice from PF Changs, but anytime I attempt to cook brown rice at home it tastes like cardboard.

What am I doing wrong? Is there a specific type of brown rice that I need to purchase?

I would think that it would have to be a long grain rice. I can't cook brown rice at home either.

 

[Ms Marigny]

How long are you cooking it? Brown rice takes about one hour to cook. I cook mine in an electric steamer.

 

[Imzadi]

You need more water and a longer cooking time than white rice.

And if it turns out you really want long grain rice instead of brown rice, get Uncle Ben's brand.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

If convienant I would buy it at an asian market...also using chicken or vegetable both instead of water makes a really big difference.

 

[MareQ]

No clue about PF Chang - never heard of the place- but I cook all of my rice in chicken broth. I start out with about 2 tb of butter in the pan - then sautee some diced onions (you can even brown them for a bit more color and flavor or just sautee till they're clear) then add the rice - stir around in the butter a bit - maybe a minute at best - season with salt and pepper - then add the appropriate amount of broth (I do the typical ratio - 1 part rice to 2 parts liquid). It comes out very nice

 

[UrsulasShadow]

I love brown basmati rice, cooked in chicken broth...more liquid for brown rice, though- 2.5 liquid to 1 part rice.

 

[Soubrette]

I do my brown rice in a rice steamer, and it comes out pretty good. Might try it with chicken broth next time.

 

[shortbun]

I make great brown rice. I have not had PFChangs but everything there is aromatic so they use probably ginger/teriyaki/garlic and who knows what else in their liquid. I cook my rice 2 parts liquid to 1 part rice. I bring it to a boil in a pot together. Once boiling, I turn it to low and simmer without disturbing the rice(a chef taught me that long ago) until it's absorbed all the liquid. No stirring, only tilt the pot to see if liquid shows on the side. Why not ask Changs what aromatic spices they use? I would.

 

[mjkacmom]

Just made it tonight - carolina brown rice - 1 cup rice, 3 1/2 cups hot water, microwave uncovered on high for 35 minutes, let stand 10 minutes.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Use chicken broth instead of water.

 

[Mrs. T-i-double-g-er]

I find that a brown Basmati rice is better than other brown rices.

 

[cryssi]

I'm pretty sure that PF Chang's uses a short grain brown rice. I'm also pretty sure that they cook it plain with water. I love it, too.

Go to the asian section of your grocery store and look for the brand Nishiki. I think they make a quick cooking brown rice which will probably be better. I cook it in the rice cooker, but don't really like to because it leaves a brown ring around the inside. If you cook it on the stove, make sure you don't add too much water or it will be mushy. You do have to add more water than regular white rice, though. You can buy a rice cooker that has markings on the inside for brown rice as well as white rice, that would be the easiest b/c then you can't mess it up!

Good luck!