The mistake everyone makes when cooking rice
Ah, rice... That staple of our plates, that faithful ally for lazy days or gourmet meals. It seems so simple to cook: a little water, some rice, and off you go.
And yet, how many times have you found yourself with sticky, mushy or completely dried-out rice?
Spoiler: there's a very simple mistake that many people make without realizing it, and that changes everything in the result. We'll explain it to you, and give you the little things that make all the difference!
The classic mistake: not rinsing rice before cooking
It's THE trap that almost all of us fall into at first: pouring rice directly into the pan or rice cooker without rinsing.
Why is this a problem? Because rice is naturally covered in starch. If left unrinsed, this starch is released during cooking, forming a sort of viscous film around the grains. The result :
- Rice sticks
- It becomes mushy
- And it often cooks unevenly...
What exactly is the purpose of rinsing rice?
Rinsing your rice under cold water removes excess surface starch.
The result is rice that's :
- Airier
- Lighter in weight
- More distinct (and more appetizing) grains
This works just as well for basmati rice as for Thai rice, sushi rice or even classic long-grain rice.
How to rinse rice properly?
Nothing could be simpler:
- Place the rice in a bowl or directly in the saucepan.
- Cover with cold water.
- Stir gently with your hand (as if you were awakening sleeping grains).
- Drain.
- Repeat 2 or 3 times, until the water is much less cloudy.
There's no need to be ultra-maniacal either: the aim is not to remove all the starch (which also adds softness), but to remove the excess.
And then, how do you cook your rice properly?
A few easy guidelines:
- Classic ratio: 1 part rice to 1.5 to 2 parts water (depending on the type of rice and your preferred texture).
- Do not lift the lid during cooking (otherwise, bye bye steam!).
- Leave off the heat for 5 minutes, with the lid closed, to allow the rice to finish cooking gently and blossom.
In short: a little rinse, a big change
It's a simple gesture, but it changes everything on your plate.
Rinsing rice before cooking gives every grain a chance to become moist, fragrant and worthy of the best home-cooked meals.
And frankly, given how little effort it takes, why deprive yourself? Your next batch of rice will be that much better - and so will your future homemade curries, woks and bowls!
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Adèle Peyches
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