Make Perfect Rice A few tips to help.

 

 

Nothing beats fluffy, tender rice, but for many people, that's easier said than done. Follow these tips from experienced cooks and you'll be dishing up plates and plates of the grain.

• Rinse the rice before cooking. Some rice is coated with talc in processing. This material is inert and won't hurt you if you ingest it, but I'd prefer to have just rice in my side dishes.
• Use a little less liquid than the recipes call for if you want fluffy rice. The ratio of rice to water should be a little less than 1 cup of rice to 2 cups of liquid. Try using 1 ¾ cups water, instead.

 

 

• Don't use water. You can use chicken, vegetable broth, or beef stock if you'd like. It all depends on what you're serving with the rice, and the flavors you want to enhance.
• Keep the lid shut. Lifting the lid will disturb the cooking process.
• When the rice is cooked (tender to the bite), leave the cover on the pan, remove it from the heat and let stand for 5-10 minutes. Then fluff the rice with a fork and serve.
• If you still don't have luck making fluffy rice with these tips, cook your rice like you cook pasta. Bring lots of water to a boil, add the rice, cook until just barely tender, then drain the rice in a colander. Return to the hot pot and cover; let stand for a few minutes to steam. It works!