White rice is the base of many recipes with rice and salads, as well as when you want to improvise quick and delicious meals. And since it holds up well once cooked, it serves you both for take-to-work meals and when you go into Batch cooking mode (cook one day for the whole week).
If you want to know how to do it so that it is neither hard nor soft, here is the solution. From the traditional method to the easiest, and a table with the cooking times and the proportion of water according to the variety of rice.
How to make white rice
Ingredients for four servings
- 4 cups of rice
- 8 cups of water
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 teaspoons oil
- Garlic, bay leaf and other aromatic herbs (optional)
Traditional cooking of white rice
It is the method with which the rice is tastier and at its perfect point.
- Wash the rice. Place the rice in a colander or drainer and rinse it until the water runs clear. That way you remove the excess starch and then it is looser.
- Put it in the saucepan. Add the washed and drained rice to a saucepan along with the cooking water, oil, a pinch of salt and the peeled garlic, a bay leaf or other aromatic herbs if you want to give it a little flavor.
- Bring to a boil. Bring it to a boil over high heat and, when it comes to a boil, stir the contents, lower the heat to a minimum, and cover it tightly.
- Cook covered over low heat. Without uncovering it, let it cook for 15 to 20 minutes depending on the type of rice (if it is whole grain, it will take much longer). Below you have a table of approximate times.
- Let stand and serve. After this time, turn off the heat, let it rest for five to ten more minutes, without removing the lid, and it will be ready to taste.
Easy method to make white rice
If you don't want to be measuring or fear that it will be dry or stale, you can also opt for the easy method to make white rice.
- Fill a pot with plenty of water, oil, salt, and ingredients for flavor.
- When it boils, toss the rice (with a handful and a half per person is enough) and cook for 15-20 minutes.
- Taste it to see if it is just right, remove it and drain it.
- If you want it to be very loose, run it under cold water to remove the excess starch.
- And finally mix it with a thread of oil so that it does not stick.
Proportion of water and cooking time according to the variety:
- Medium grain white rice (most common): 2 parts water to 1 part rice; cook, 18 to 20 minutes.
- Short grain white rice (el arborio): 1 part and ¼ of water for 1 of rice; cooking, 15 minutes.
- Brown rice: 1 part and ¾ of water for 1 of rice; cooking, 40 to 45 minutes.
- Basmati rice: 1 and ½ of water for 1 of rice; cooking, 15 to 20 minutes.
- Wild rice: 2 parts of water for 1 of rice; cooking, 45 to 50 minutes.
