In your kitchen, you can cook amazingly delicious rice without an electric rice cooker. The main thing here is to know the rules of its preparation (how many times the rice increases during cooking, how long it needs to be cooked, and so on).
What is perfectly cooked cereal?
When cooked properly, the rice should be kept separate, but not dry. Cooked rice should be soft, but not slippery. It should be clean and have a wonderful aroma. Rice is a great base to put other textures and flavors on. It can be either an excellent separate dish or a side dish with many other additions.
You can enjoy friable long rice that looks “fluffy” and soft, or you can make sticky round-grain cereals, popular in Japan and Korea. If a dry product is more preferable for you, basmati may be your best choice. However, this variety is not very suitable for dishes of Vietnamese and other types of cuisine in the regions of Southeast Asia.
Probably the most versatile form of this grain is Thai long-grain jasmine rice. From it you can cook both European and Asian dishes.
Cooking pot
If you decide to cook rice on the stove, you should choose a container with a thick bottom, as well as with a lid that closes tightly. Since the finished grain in volume exceeds the size of the raw, the pan should be large. How many times does rice increase during cooking? Depending on the variety, this indicator may vary, but on average it swells about three times. Therefore, your chosen pan should be filled with raw rice no more than one third. For example, you can use a 2 liter container to make 2 cups of cereal.
How to calculate the quantity?
When calculating the amount of grain, you need to take into account how much rice increases during cooking. One glass of raw cereal will give you about three and a half glasses of the finished product. This means that an average of 200 grams of rice is enough for three people for one meal. This allows you to make rough estimates. It is advisable to prepare one and a half cups of cereal for 3-4 people and, accordingly, 2 cups per company of 4-6 eaters.
How long does it take to cook rice?
As a rule, it should take 30 minutes from the time the stove is turned on until the rice is ready. For this reason, it is advisable to put the cereals to cook first, and then start cooking other dishes for lunch or dinner. Rice will retain heat for approximately 30 minutes. Therefore, if the preparation of other dishes takes about 1 hour, the side dish will already be ready for them. How many times does rice increase after cooking? Typically, the main change in volume occurs during the cooking process, and after the pan is removed from the heat, the cereal only “grinds”. Some Asian varieties can still grow slightly in volume at this time.
For a dinner party, it is best to start cooking rice just before or shortly after the arrival of guests. While the garnish is being prepared, you can safely drink wine and offer snacks, the preparation of cereals does not require your participation. In addition, you can keep a bowl of boiled rice warm after it is cooked. Just put the pan in the oven, heated to a low temperature.
How to wash rice
If you wash the rice before putting it in a pot or rice cooker, you need to take a significant amount of water. In any case, start washing by stirring the groats with your fingers in a circular motion. You can also gently rub it between your palms to remove excess starch. This component can affect how many times the rice increases during cooking.
Do not expect a single rinse to make the cereal clean. As a rule, the first water becomes dirty and muddy. Your goal is to rinse the rice with clean water until it flows out almost transparent. If you measure the exact ratio of water to rice, drop it onto a sieve before putting it in the pan.
How to cook rice on the stove
As a rule, for the first time, rice is brought to a boil in a pan that is not covered with a lid, and then the fire is reduced and the container is covered. During the initial boil, it is best to quickly mix the cereal several times to ensure uniform cooking and avoid sticking to the bottom. So what should be the right course of action from start to finish?
- Bring rice water to a boil at high temperature.
- Stir the cereal with a wooden spoon or Asian chopsticks to raise the grains that have sunk to the bottom.
- Reduce the heat to small - the water should boil slightly. Cook rice, gently stir it for several minutes, then cover and wait until most of the water has been absorbed. Remember how many times the rice increases during cooking. The surface of the finished product should look glossy and dry. When piercing the top layer with a fork, a small layer of water should be visible below
- Make the fire minimal, cover again and heat on the stove for another 10 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and let the rice “ripen” in a closed pan for 10 minutes to condense it and finish cooking.
- Remove the lid, stir the finished product with chopsticks or a fork, and then cover again and leave for another 5 minutes before serving. Warm rice will remain for another 30 minutes. Before you start laying out in portions, mix the cooked cereal again.
What else do you need to know?
Be sure to read the cooking instructions on the product packaging. Some rules may vary, depending on the type of cereal and the dish you intend to cook. For example, if you want to make an Asian dish, be sure to ask how many times the rice increases when cooking pilaf. So, taking into account vegetables and oil, its size can grow slightly smaller than when cooking cereals in water.
How many times does rice increase during cooking
The weight of the product changes in cooked form 2-3 times. As already mentioned, the amount of water is very important to calculate correctly. If you don’t add enough of it, the grain will be half moist and will probably start to burn from the bottom as soon as the liquid evaporates. If you add too much water, the rice will be moist, overly soft and overcooked. That is why it is necessary to adjust the ratio of rice to water, especially when cooking in large containers. It is also necessary to know that if you prepare cereals in milk, you need more liquid. How many times does rice increase when cooking milk porridge? About 3.5 times, if we talk about most of the most common varieties of cereals. In addition, you need to remember that milk can start to burn, so the process of making porridge should be constantly monitored.