The Ultimate Guide to Perfect Rice: A Simple Trick for Fluffy, Delicious Grains

I still remember from my childhood that cooking rice daily was quite a tedious task. First, I had to light the stove, then add an appropriate amount of water to the pot. Only when the water boiled could I add the rice. Midway through the cooking process, I had to scoop out some of the water. Finally, I’d cover the pot and simmer the rice over low heat to let it steam cook.

Nowadays, with the advancement of science and technology, cooking rice has become much easier. All you need to do is rinse the rice, put it in an electric rice cooker, press a button, and in less than half an hour, the rice is ready. While cooking rice in an electric rice cooker is simple, not everyone knows the secret to making it fragrant and fluffy.

Most people just add water to the rice and start cooking. However, just adding water is not enough! To make rice that is fragrant, fluffy, and distinct, we only need to add two ingredients to the water while cooking. Over the years, whenever friends asked me, “Why is your rice so delicious?” I always shared this method with them. After trying it out, they all praised this secret technique.

Step 1: Rinsing the Rice Many people, when rinsing rice, tend to put the rice in water, rub it quickly, then change the water and continue until the water clears. However, this can wash away much of the vitamin C and aroma on the rice’s surface, resulting in less tasty rice. The correct way to rinse rice is to put it in water, gently rub it once, and then rinse it with tap water.

Step 2: Soaking the Rice After rinsing the rice, it’s essential to soak it in water for about 15-20 minutes. Soaking helps the rice grains swell evenly, making the cooked rice softer. Moreover, the aroma of the rice blends better with the water, giving the rice a delicious flavor. However, do not soak the rice for too long; if soaked for more than half an hour, the rice will lose its texture.

Step 3: Water to Rice Ratio The ratio of water to rice is also crucial. For fluffy rice that isn’t mushy, the ratio of rice to water should be 1:1.2.

Step 4: Add Two Ingredients To make fragrant, fluffy, and glossy rice, add 3 drops of white vinegar and half a teaspoon of peanut oil. Vinegar is acidic, which helps modify the starch, making the cooked rice softer. Most oils have a pleasant aroma; adding a small amount not only makes the rice fragrant but also improves its color.

Note: Avoid using soybean oil, rapeseed oil, or oils with a distinctive flavor. If possible, add a teaspoon of coconut oil to enhance the rice’s flavor.

Step 5: Cook the Rice

Electric rice cookers usually have preset programs for cooking rice. Simply follow the instructions to adjust the settings. After the rice is cooked, do not open the lid immediately; let it rest for 5-10 minutes before opening. This allows the aroma to infuse deeply into each grain of rice.