Preparing rice is famously challenging, but incorporating just one ingredient could help achieve perfection every single time. Anyone who has attempted to prepare rice from scratch without relying on boil-in-the-bag packets or microwaveable pouches will understand how laborious the process can prove.
The Common Problem with Cooking Rice
In the absence of a dedicated rice cooker, you must guarantee you have used precisely the correct quantity of water so your rice does not scorch, while also ensuring it is not still soggy once cooked. Plain rice can also prove rather tasteless, so it is quite common for people to attempt to introduce some flavour by adding a splash of sesame or coconut oil to the pan, or to prepare the rice in chicken stock rather than plain water.
A Simple Hack from Social Media
However, according to one woman on social media, you do not require either of these ingredients for flawless rice. All that is needed is one everyday ingredient found in your fridge, and some patience.
Naveen Jaspal routinely shares recipes and culinary advice online, and recently uploaded a TikTok video in which she revealed her fail-safe method for creating perfect basmati rice every time.
Naveen explained: "I was asked over the weekend how I make my rice, so I'm going to show you the easiest way. The only thing is, there are multiple opinions on this. I believe my way is the best way."
Step-by-Step Method
She began by measuring out her desired portion of rice using a cup. She then transferred the rice to a saucepan, washing it thoroughly to eliminate excess starch, before leaving it to soak in fresh water for "at least 20 minutes".
Once the soaking process was complete, Naveen drained away the water and used the same cup she had measured the rice with to add precisely one cup of fresh water to the pan. This would serve as the cooking liquid, providing the ideal quantity through an exact one-to-one ratio, given that the same cup was used throughout.
The Secret Ingredient
Then came her secret ingredient. Rather than reaching for stock or oil, Naveen dropped a knob of butter into the pan.
She explained: "I'm going to put this on the hob on a medium heat and keep an eye on it. Once I see the water start bubbling, I'm going to turn it down to setting one or two on the gas, and then I'm going to watch for it to run out of water.
"This is a really important part: you never, ever stir your rice."
Naveen explained that a spoon can be used to gently push aside a small amount of rice to check whether any water remains, but fully stirring the rice should be avoided at all costs. Once the water has completely evaporated, the hob can be switched off and the rice left to steam for a further 5 minutes.
She concluded: "And that, ladies and gents, is how you make rice."
How to Cook Rice: General Tips
There are many different techniques when it comes to cooking rice, and while Naveen uses a 1:1 ratio of rice to water, most recipes will tell you to use a 1:2 ratio, so you use twice as much water as rice.
You can follow these steps as a general rule for cooking rice:
- Rinse: Measure your rice and place it in a fine-mesh sieve. Rinse under cold water, gently moving the rice around with your hand until the water runs mostly clear.
- Add water: Place the washed rice in a saucepan and add cold water. The general rule of thumb for white rice is double the amount of water to your rice, and half a teaspoon of salt per cup of rice.
- Boil: Bring the uncovered pot to a rolling boil over a medium-high heat.
- Cover and simmer: Once boiling, turn the heat down to the lowest setting and cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid. Let the rice simmer undisturbed for around 15-18 minutes, or until the water is absorbed.
- Steam: Remove the pan from the heat and let the rice steam in the pot for another 10 minutes. Once this is done, you can take the lid off and gently fluff the grains with a fork to separate them.
