How does one cook rice perfectly?

1. Washing rice

My mother told us from childhood that we should not wash rice more than three times, but twice is the best, because too many times of washing will reduce the nutrition of rice.

2. Soaking rice

Before cooking, soak Wuchang rice in cold water for 30 minutes to 1 hour, or soak it in warm water for 30 minutes. The cooked rice grains will be chewier, soft and delicious. Smart rice cookers can save the step of soaking rice.

3. The ratio of rice to water

This is very important, and it also solves the problem of why the rice is half-cooked after cooking. The water content of Wuchang rice produced in October is very high, so the ratio of rice to water is 1:1 for cooking rice; around March, the water content is lost a little, and at this time the ratio of Wuchang rice to water is 1:1.2; the ratio of rice to water purchased later is 1:1.3.

4. Add vinegar

Before covering the pot, add half a tablespoon of vegetable oil to make the cooked rice oily and translucent, with distinct grains. The chlorine in tap water has a destructive effect on the B vitamins in rice. Therefore, adding 2 ml of vinegar before steaming rice can protect the vitamins, make the steamed rice soft and fragrant, and slow down the speed at which rice goes bad in hot seasons. In addition, vinegar has the effect of delaying the absorption of carbohydrates, which can prevent blood sugar from rising too quickly. Using lemon juice or citrus juice instead of vinegar can also achieve the above effect and eliminate the stale smell in the rice.

5. Control of heat

The rice made by different cooking methods is also different. Generally speaking, the rice cooked by “rice” has a moderate hardness and softness; “quick cooking” is also moderately hard and soft, but the speed can save nearly half the time, which is very suitable for office workers; the rice cooked by “soft” has a higher water content but will not stick to the teeth, which is suitable for the elderly at home; the rice cooked by “hard” has full grains and is suitable for young people.