Food & Receipts

Upgrade your meals with this secret ingredient to make them more delicious and satisfying

With this cooking method, you won't need to spend too much time and still have a pot of hot, delicious and fluffy rice.

10 March, 2024

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Although many people cook rice every day, not everyone knows how to make it fragrant and appealing. To ensure that the rice is always delicious and neither too sticky nor too dry, you can follow some of these tips.

Choosing good quality rice

Choosing good quality rice is one of the most important “secrets” to cooking hot, fragrant, and sticky rice. Typically, new rice has a better taste and retains its natural sweetness and nutrients.

You should buy evenly shaped, shiny grains of rice that are not broken or discolored. To choose good quality rice, you can take a few grains and chew on them. Good rice is usually fragrant and slightly sweet.

In particular, you should avoid buying rice that is too white, shiny, or has a strange smell, as it may have been treated with chemicals to create the smell or bleach.

To cook delicious rice, you need to choose new rice.

Properly rinsing the rice

Not everyone knows that rinsing the rice properly not only helps to clean the rice and make it whiter, but also preserves the outer bran layer, which contains many beneficial nutrients. Therefore, when rinsing the rice, you should gently rub it and not rinse it too many times to avoid losing nutrients.

Measuring the water accurately

When cooking rice, using too little water will make the rice undercooked or dry, while using too much water will make the rice mushy and unappetizing.

Therefore, you can use the “traditional method”: Use your index finger to touch the rice in the pot. Your finger should just touch the rice and not sink deep into the bottom of the pot. If the water reaches the first joint of your finger, the rice will not be too sticky or dry.

In addition, you can also put your whole hand into the pot and pour water until it covers your hand.

You can enjoy hot rice with various dishes such as meat, vegetables, fish, etc.

Soaking the rice before cooking

Before cooking rice, you should soak it for 15 to 20 minutes to make the grains soft. This will make the rice more tender and fragrant when cooked.

After soaking the rice, you can put two or three small ice cubes into the rice cooker and let it sit for about 15 minutes before cooking. The cold ice slows down the water absorption process of the rice grains, resulting in softer rice.

In addition, the cold ice also increases the amino acid content and prevents the enzymatic breakdown of the rice’s sweetness, resulting in rice that is both sweet and fragrant.

Adding “special ingredients” to the cooking water

According to experienced cooks, you can add a pinch of salt, cooking oil, or white vinegar to the cooking water to enhance the aroma and tenderness of the rice grains. Additionally, vinegar or salt helps prevent the rice from spoiling, and cooking oil makes the rice soft, shiny, and beautiful.

However, you should not add oil after the rice is cooked, as it can make the rice oily and give it an unpleasant taste.

Salt, cooking oil… make the rice shiny and tender.

Fluffing the rice properly

Wait until the rice is fully cooked, then use a rice paddle to gently fluff the rice so that the grains are not crushed and the excess moisture can escape easily. This helps prevent the rice from clumping together and keeps the grains tender and plump.

Frequently asked questions

Avoid rice that is too white or shiny, and be wary of any strange smells, as this may indicate chemical treatment.

Rinsing rice removes excess starch, making it less sticky and preserving the outer bran layer, which contains beneficial nutrients.

Use the “traditional method”: The water level should reach the first joint of your index finger when touching the rice in the pot. Alternatively, fill the pot with water until it covers your hand when placed inside.

Yes, soaking rice for 15-20 minutes before cooking makes the grains softer and more fragrant. You can also add ice cubes to the rice cooker afterward to slow down water absorption and increase amino acid content, resulting in sweeter, more fragrant rice.

Yes, a pinch of salt, cooking oil, or white vinegar can enhance the aroma and tenderness of the rice grains. However, do not add oil after the rice is cooked, as it can make it oily and unpleasant.

Use a rice paddle to gently fluff the rice once it’s cooked. This prevents the grains from being crushed and allows excess moisture to escape, keeping the rice tender and separate.