Rice is the most popular food source in the world. As an Asian myself, I eat rice 2 or 3 times a day! How about you? Most people make rice from a rice cooker. But do you know how to cook rice on the stove instead? Cooking rice on the stovetop is not difficult. It can be one of the easiest meals to cook.
Different Types of Rice
I still remember the first time I tried Jasmine rice and got hooked on it. It was softer, more delicate, and more fragrant than white rice. There are so many different types of rice that you can choose from: white rice, brown rice, jasmine rice, sushi rice, long grain rice, etc. Each one has its unique flavor and texture. The most common type of rice cooked by Chinese home cooks is long-grain rice.
How to make rice on the stove
Learn how to make rice on the stove. It’s easier than you think! If you're like most people, you probably think that cooking rice is a complicated process. Well, I'm here to tell you that it's quite simple! All you need is a pot, some water, and a little patience.
To make rice on the stove, start by measuring out your desired amount of rice into a pot. Let’s start to wash the rice. Add rice to a fine-mesh strainer placed on top of a large bowl, and wash until water runs clear in the bowl.
Raise the rice with cold water three times (personal preference) and you will start to see unclear water, especially in the first round. The water is unclear because it now contains starch. The rice will not clump together if the starches wash it away. This will also get rid of any dirt or debris that might be on the grains.
Then add water to the pot and bring the pot to a boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir the rice a bit, and turn it down to low heat. Cover the lid, and let the rice simmer, reduce to low heat. Remember to cover the rice with a tight-fitting lid, I strongly recommend using the glasses lid, so you can see through the cooking process well. Some people like to add butter and salt to the rice, but I don’t. Cook the rice for about 12 minutes or until you no longer see the water.
When I cooked rice on the stove for the first time, I soon realized that this was harder than it looked. The water was boiling, and the rice needed to be floating, but I didn’t know what tap my rice would take for me to get it at the right level of crunchiness. So, it is ok if you don’t make it perfect the first time!
The Ratio!
Let’s talk about the ratio. To make rice on the stove, place 1 part of the rice and 1.5 parts of water in a small saucepan. Sometimes, the ratio changes with a different type of rice! Long-grain rice normally requires a little more water than other types of rice.
Once the water has reached full boiling, lower the heat to low, and allow the rice to continue simmering for 15 minutes. If it does not, add a little water and cook for a few minutes longer or until the rice becomes soft.
The following dishes go well with white rice:
CHINESE PICKLED MUSTARD GREENS STIR FRY GROUND PORK
TERIYAKI SALMON (CHINESE STYLE)
TOMATO AND EGG STIR FRY (番茄炒蛋)
CHINESE EGGPLANT WITH GARLIC SAUCE (鱼香茄子）
CHINESE CHIVE AND EGG STIR FRY (韭菜炒鸡蛋）
Bottom Line
If you love rice but don’t have a rice cooker, you can make rice on the stove with this method above. You can cook rice on the stove in no time! It's so easy and quick. Hope this article will help you cook perfect rice every time!
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