Rice may be cooked in an electric rice cooker, directly in a pan, in the pressure cooker or in the microwave oven.
Method 1
To cook a cup of rice in the electric rice cooker
Again there are 2 methods of cooking rice in an electric rice cooker
One is to wash the cup of rice thoroughly in the dish provided , add 2 cups of water to the rice and cover with the lid
Connect it to the plug and ensure that the light is on “cook” – as soon as the rice is cooked it would automatically go to “keep warm”
The rice is ready to be served!
The other method which is my preference is to add one to and a half cups of water in the dish which is provided with the electric cooker
Take another steel dish that fits into the cooker
(choose a dish that fits in fairly well so that you can cover the electric cooker comfortably with the lid)
Wash the cup of rice, add the 2 cups of water to the rice in the steel dish
Place the dish inside the cooker (which has water in it) and cover with the lid, plug in and press “cook”
The rice is generally cooked in 30-40 minutes –
The greatest advantage of this method is that rice does not stick to the bottom and turns out fluffy!
The only disadvantage is that you have to check if the rice is done before you turn the cooker off – normally takes 35-40 minutes
To cook a cup of rice in a pan
Method 2
Bring 2 ½ cups of water to the boil in a large pan.
Wash a cup of rice thoroughly and pour it into the boiling water.
Stir it through and cover it with a lid and cook it on a medium flame for 5- 6 minutes.
Check every 5 minutes to see if there is enough water in the large saucepan.
Remove the lid and cook it for a further 12-15 minutes stirring it every 3-4 minutes so that the rice does not get burnt.
Add more water only if necessary
The rice is done when the water has been absorbed and the rice is soft to touch.
Method 3
To cook a cup of rice in a pressure cooker
Rice cooked in a pressure cooker is less time consuming and very effective
Add 2 cups of water to the cooker
Add a cup of washed rice in a separate dish that fits well into the cooker
The weight is placed immediately so that the steam does not escape through.
After 5-6 minutes, the pressure cooker gives out a huge whistle
Turn the heat off after a couple o more whistles
Open the cooker after 5 minutes and the cooked rice is ready to be served.
Method 4
To cook rice in a microwave oven
Add 2 ½ cups of water to a cup of washed rice in a large microwave dish without the lid and cook it on high for 10 minutes
Stop, open the microwave and stir the rice through
Cover it with a lid and cook it for a further 15-20 minutes on low
The rice is done when it is soft and the water has been absorbed.
If the water has not been absorbed, cook it till it is done.
Note: For the right measurements of cooking Long Grain Basmati rice or Raw Rice, please follow the individual recipes!
Cooked rice varies in texture based on the brand of rice and the amount of water used to cook the rice!!
You will master it when you start to cook rice a few times!!!