How to Boil Rice Perfectly: 5 Easy Steps

Rice has been a documented part of many cultures since 2500 BC. Roughly one half of the world’s population still depends on rice as a staple, and 95% of the world’s rice is eaten by humans. And for a good reason. Before we take a look at how to boil rice, it is important to pay attention to nutritional benefits.

The Nutritional Benefits of Rice               

There are several benefits to eating rice, and it carries several vitamins and minerals. What follows is a short list of some of those benefits and nutrients:

• Rice is a good source of energy. Since it’s rich in carbohydrates, it’s a good source of energy. Because these are complex carbohydrates, it takes longer for them to break down in our body which becomes a sustained source of energy, lasting longer than simple carbohydrates,
• Rice is high in calcium and iron,
• Rice is rich with Vitamin D, and Vitamins B1, B2 and While calcium and iron are good for your bones, Vitamins D, B1 and B2 are good in helping to absorb other nutrients and assisting with your metabolism, among other things,
• Rice carries antioxidant properties, and
• And rice is naturally gluten-free.

Your guide for How to Boil Rice

There are no secrets in how to boil rice, it’s just a matter of the correct ratio of rice to liquid and consistency. Follow along below for a step-by-step guide on “How to Boil Rice”, ensuring success every time.

Step 1: Melt 100 grams of butter

To start, slowly melt 100 grams of butter in your saucepan. Working with a medium/low heat ensures you melt but don’t burn or scorch your butter.

Step 2: Add washed and dried rice and fry for 2-3 minutes

Once the butter is melted, add 500 gr. of washed and dried rice and fry for 2-3 minutes, occasionally stirring to ensure even cooking.

Washing the rice helps to remove the starch. This process helps the rice to not become so sticky. And, doing this ensures that when you pour sauce on your rice, it’s able to coat each individual grain much easier, creating a better and more uniform tasting rice, much like you would find in a restaurant.

Step 3: Add 1 tsp salt and stir to mix well and distribute evenly

There are two reasons for the salt. The first, of course, is flavor. A little bit of salt always adds a touch of flavor. The second reason is that adding salt helps keep the starches that remain in the rice after rinsing, from linking and forming a gelatin type texture. Therefore, helping to prevent rice that is too sticky.

Step 4: Finally, add 750 ml of boiling water to your saucepan and cover

Simmer on low heat for approximately 30 minutes without opening the lid.

So many people open the lid when cooking rice and then stir it. After you bring your rice to a boil and reduce to a simmer, cover it with a tight-fitting lid. This will create steam from the liquid in the pan. This steam actually cooks the rice. So, when you lift the lid you release all of that steam, you effectively stop the cooking process for an instant. And, in the process, lose all that heat, therefore, having to rebuild all that steam inside your pot. Never open the lid while you are simmering your rice, making less sticky and much fluffier rice.

Step 5: Serve your dish

Serve hot with your favorite dishes or mix it with other ingredients to create a unique side dish. This would be perfect for a fried rice dish, or maybe a breakfast dish or even as part of the main dish.

5 Tips for How to Stop Your Rice from Boiling Over

There’s nothing worse than your rice boiling over on the top of your stove. It’s usually a sticky mess that if you don’t get cleaned up quickly can become like glue. Here are a few tips to prevent that from happening:

1. Use an inexpensive oil and brush it around the inside top of your pot.
2. When you see a sign of foam, lower your heat and remove the pot from the burner, without removing the lid.
3. Washing your rice helps remove the starch, which causes the foam to begin with.
4. Slightly toasting the rice in oil or butter also helps to reduce the foam.
5. Once you mix your rice and water, give a stir, maybe 2 and then leave it alone. Don’t stir again. Stirring damages grains, and you must lift the lid to stir, so never lift the lid while cooking your rice.

How Long to Boil Rice?

The recipe above is the perfect way to boil long grain white rice. But, there is more than one kind of rice.

So, what about brown rice? Brown rice is higher in fiber. It still has the outer bran coating. Therefore, it must cook for a longer period of time and will need a little more water, anywhere from a quarter to half again more water.

The Different Flavors of Rice

There are several types of rice, each with their own characteristics and flavors. The chart below will show you just a few of the different types of rice and how each can lend itself to a different flavor, helping with ideas on which rice to cook when and showing rice can be used almost every day differently.

Rice Type	How Long to Boil Rice	Description	Characteristics
Brown Rice (usually short grain), but can be any rice which is hulled, but retinas the bran and germ that surrounds the grain.	Bring to a boil and then simmer for approximately 45 minutes.	This is short grain rice, with only the hull removed, and the bran and the germ remaining on each grain.	A stickier and chewier texture with a nuttier flavor. Higher fiber content.
Jasmine Rice	Bring to a boil and for White Jasmine simmer approx. 15 min. and for Brown Jasmine simmer closer to 45 min.	Aromatic, long-grain rice.	This rice is perfect for Thai curries. Has a delicate floral and buttery scent. Even if rinsed it will have a slightly sticky texture.
Arborio Rice	After initial toasting, liquid is added gradually and is stirred for most risotto recipes.	Italian rice. Usually cooked in stock and with other ingredients added (herbs, vegetables or meat).	This is a creamy almost sauce-like rice. Usually a medium grain but can be short grain rice.
Basmati. The name of this rice comes from the Hindi word for “fragrant”.	Soak and rinse for 30 minutes. Then, bring to a boil and for White Basmati simmer 15 minutes and for Brown Basmati about 45 min.	A long slender grain, aromatic and traditionally from the Indian Subcontinent.	A spicy, highly aromatic hulled rice. Usually aged to develop a full flavor.
Kalijira Rice	Bring to a boil and then simmer for 10-15 min.	Long-Grain rice but in miniature. Sometimes called baby basmati.	Tiny grains, nutty and aromatic. The cook quickly.
Lundberg Country Wild Rice	Rinse first, bring to a boil, then simmer for 14 min.	Long-grain brown rice	Blended with Wehani and Black Japonica rices making a great side dish.

We hope with the recipe and the tips and tricks above, you can make your favorite rice or rice dish to perfection. Look for a recipe you haven’t used before or pick a dish that sounds good. Then, find a recipe for it and try it. With the information we’ve given you, you can make any rice or rice dish just like the restaurants, only better because it’s homemade!

You can also see our section – Cereals

References:

https://healthyeating.sfgate.com/nutrition-rice-provide-1047.html

https://www.livestrong.com/article/129557-calcium-ironrich-foods/

https://www.finecooking.com/article/how-to-cook-rice-perfectly