How to make rice? First, you need to wash the grains, put them in water and sauté them. Also, you need to try not to burn.
White rice is one of the essential ingredients in Brazilian cuisine. Both at lunch and dinner, it is always present in the vast majority of Brazilian dishes. Combining with almost everything, it is consumed every day in Brazil.
However, many people still have doubts about the preparation. Afraid of making a mistake when cooking, they miss some key cooking points. This way, not leaving it soggy or burnt is an easy art to learn. So, we’ve put together some tips so you don’t get lost during the recipe.
Tips for making white rice
1. Wash the rice
There are two types of rice: that which is already washed, and that which has to be washed. Basically, already washed rice is more practical, but it has to be chosen carefully. It is necessary to check whether the grains are pearly in color and whether they are whole. It is important to observe this because if they are not, the rice may become soggy more easily.
For those who prefer to wash their own rice, it is necessary to observe other things. Therefore, when cleaning, it releases a type of flour, which, if not removed, can leave it soggy. So, wash the rice under running water until all the flour is removed. After that, let it drain and dry until ready to prepare.
2. Saute/fry
This is the first step in cooking, in fact. To get a loose result, the secret is to sauté the grains well until they turn white. The idea is that the heat helps to reduce the contact between the starch and the water, nullifying the properties of the starch that are released during cooking.
In short, when frying, you can use some seasonings to make it tastier. Try using some types of oils, onion, garlic and salt, always depending on your preference.
3. Time to add water
Although many people think that the amount of water is one cup of rice to two cups of water, this is not the case. If that were the case, cooking large quantities would require an even larger amount of water.
The ideal, in reality, is to use an extra cup of water for each cup of rice that is used. For example, if you are using two cups of rice, you will need three cups of water. For three cups of rice, the water cup count goes up to four.
Speaking about the water temperature, it is preferable to cook with hot water. Although there is no ideal temperature, the water needs to be boiling, or close to it, for it to be at the right point. Water enters the pan after frying the grains.
4. During cooking
As it cooks, the grains absorb water. So, some tips are valuable so you don’t get in the way of the process. Firstly, avoid stirring the rice in the pan until it is ready. This action ends up breaking grains and increasing the amount of starch in the food, leaving it soggy.
Another way to speed up cooking is to leave the pan covered. The lid of the pan causes the hot water vapor that evaporates to be trapped inside the pan itself, and, in this way, cooking takes place using the heat from the stove and the evaporated water.
How will I know when the rice is ready if I can’t stir it? When you notice that there is no more water in the pan, it means it is time to turn off the stove. Then, very lightly, use a spoon to see if the water, even at the bottom, has evaporated. So, to know the right point of the rice, whether white or brown, the tip is to wait for the excess water covering the grains to evaporate completely.
5. What if I burn?
Every new cook has burned food at least once. So, you know burnt white rice can have a very strong smell and taste. A trick that alleviates this burning sensation is to place a piece of bread on top and wait for it to absorb some of the burnt odor and taste. Ultimately, however, it must be discarded, as it really has no salvation.
Oh, and it’s good to remember that the tips are also used to make brown rice. Also learn: Rice in the microwave – 8 different recipes to make in minutes
Sources: Recipes.ig Monta Encanta
Featured image source: Tudo Gostoso
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