Perfect Cooked Rice

Submitted by Stephanie Y.

"I really enjoy this rice. I have always heard to not stir the rice, but this method comes out perfect with the grains of rice separated. Make sure you plan ahead because the rice needs to soak for 1 hour. This is not the recipe to make if you are juggling a few recipes at the same time. This recipe is for people who enjoy cooking -(Mom, don't make this rice) as it requires more attention than most steamed rice recipes. from My Grandmother's Chinese Kitchen: 100 Family Recipes and Life Lessons, by Eileen Yin-Fei Lo."

 

• Ready In: 1hr 23mins
• Ingredients: 2
• Yields: 4 1/2-5 cups

ingredients

• 2 cups extra- long-grain rice (rices grown in the southern United States and jasmine rice from Thailand are preferred)
• 15 ounces cold water

directions

1. Place rice in a pot with sufficient water to cover. Wash rice in the cold water in the pot by rubbing it between your hands and then drain using a strainer. Add more water to pot and repeat process for a total of 3x. Drain well after washing.
2. Add 15 ounces water to the rice and allow it to rest for 1 hour before cooking.
3. It is best to use that so-called "old rice" — rice that has been lying about in sacks for extended periods, for it will absorb water better and will cook easier. (It is often suggested that a ratio of 2 cups of rice to 2 cups of water be used. This is unsatisfactory because it will be too soft.).
4. Begin cooking the rice, uncovered, over high heat, by bringing the water to a boil. Stir the rice with the wooden spoon or chopsticks and cook about 4 minutes or until the water is absorbed, or evaporates. Even after the water is gone, the rice will continue to be quite hard. Cover the pot and cook over very low heat for about 8 minutes more, stirring the rice from time to time.
5. Turn off the heat and loosen the rice with the wooden spoon or chopsticks. This will help it retain its fluffiness. Cover tightly until ready to serve. Just before serving, stir and loosen the rice once again. Well-cooked rice will have absorbed the water but will not be lumpy, nor will the kernels stick together. They will be firm and separate. The rice may be kept hot in a warm oven for an hour without drying out.
6. Note: The older the rice the higher the yield.