Cooking brown rice?

5 responses so far ↓

• 1 fast and easy // Jul 5, 2008

  I heard somewhere that it's better to soak the rice in cold water for a while, before cooking. Is that true? yes

  I'm going to be cooking Brown Basmati Rice. Would that benefit my cooking at all. yes

  It said per 1 cup to use 2 1/2 cups of water.
  2 cups of water- 1 cup of rice

  Any tips for cooking rice? I'm not that great.. even if I follow the directions.. It's usually too soggy.. rice cooker

• 2 Wynnie // Jul 5, 2008

  Brown Basmati takes almost twice as long to cook than white. Soaking in cold water doesn't really help, in my experience (but I DO do that with couscous).

  My trick for rice is to put a little more water than they say - that way I can check up on it a few times while cooking and the escaped steam is no problem. And if it's almost done and still too watery, I just drain some and leave the lid off and monitor it. A teaspoon of olive oil from the start can help avoid sticking, too, as well as using a good pan.

  Good luck!

• 3 Andcatz // Jul 5, 2008

  follow the directions and use a timer. i feel that brown rice will not let me down like white rice. i Waite for the water to boil and add the rice and cover it with a lid. turn down to low medium heat. I have stacked a few pots over the lid to the lid seals tight. do not open the lid and stir the rice within the 45 minuets.

• 4 Snackie // Jul 5, 2008

  I always wash rice beacuse it's harvested in unsanitary conditions, like dried beans, and might have mouse poo or insects in it. Brown rice takes longer to cook than white rice - like 45 minutes and everybody's for their own technique for cooking rice; it's different on a gas stove versus electric.

  The first link says soak the rice, the second one doesn't.

• 5 violet // Jul 5, 2008

  Perfect basmati rice every time.

  I cook it in a non-stick pot on the stove, not in a rice cooker:

  First, be sure to rinse the rice with cold water until most of the starch is removed and the water pours off pretty clear.

  Then, add enough water to cover the rice and boil for about 7 minutes.

  Test the rice by biting into a few grains…it should be firm, but not crunchy. Be sure not to over-cook the rice at this stage (it's better to have it a little under-cooked).

  Drain in a colander and rinse the rice with about 2-3 cups fresh water.

  Put the rice back in the pot and steam with the lid on for 30-40 mins. over low heat.

  The rice will develop a nice crunchy bottom that's delicious (eat this first so it doesn't get soggy!)