Stir rice just enough
Before cooking, you should wash the rice about 2-3 times with clean water to remove dust and excess bran on the surface. Do not wash too many times or rub too hard because it can lose some nutrients and make the rice grains easily mushy when cooked.
After washing, you can let the rice drain for a few minutes before putting it in the pot.
Measure water by type of rice
Water content is an important factor determining the flexibility of rice. A fixed ratio should not be applied to all types of rice because new rice, old rice, white rice or brown rice have different water absorption capabilities.
With regular white rice, you can start by using a waterline inside the pot according to the correct number of rice cups. If you prefer softer rice, increase a small amount of water instead of pouring too much right from the start.
A simple tip is that after cooking a few times, remember the amount of water suitable for the rice your family is using.
Soak rice before cooking
If you have time, soaking rice for about 15-30 minutes before cooking can help rice grains absorb water more evenly. Thanks to that, when cooked, rice is easily cooked evenly and limits the situation where the outside is soft but the inside is still hard.
For some special types of rice, the soaking time may be different, so it is necessary to follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Don't open the lid as soon as the rice is cooked
When the pot switches to heating mode, rice should be incubated for about 10-15 minutes before opening the lid. This time helps water vapor redistribute in the pot, making the rice grains softer and more stable.
After opening the lid, use a spoon to gently stir up from the bottom to let the water vapor escape, and at the same time help the rice grains separate evenly.
Keep the pot clean and check the air valve
A pot of old rice or a dirty vent can also affect the cooking process. Therefore, you should clean the pot, lid and vent regularly.
A delicious rice pot does not necessarily have many "secrets". Washing rice just enough, using the right amount of water, soaking rice when needed and incubating rice after it is cooked are simple steps but can make a clear difference.
If the rice is often mushy or dry even after using the correct waterline, the cause may be the type of rice, rice age, or the heat sensor of the pot. Then, adjust each factor instead of continuing to increase or decrease water too much.
