How to make rice

Thursday, January 8th, 2009

I admit, I grew up on Minute Rice and still bought the “boil, pour and fluff” stuff for years — up until money got tight.

That’s when I forced myself to learn how to cook rice (you know, the kind that’s 70 cents a pound).

It’s really quite simple, and a money-saver, to boot. I would say basically you can make two to three times as much rice for the same amount of money you would pay for quick rice.

Now, to make this, I am not talking any steamer, or any new equipment addition to the kitchen. Just a saucepan.

For two people, I find 3/4 cup of rice to 1 1/2 cup of water works perfect. So basically measure the rice, and then use double the water.

Now to the directions:

  • Spray the pan with cooking spray (I just learned this — makes cleanup a breeze).
  • Boil the water.
  • Add a little salt to taste.
  • Pour in the rice.
  • I do bring it back to a boil for about 10 seconds (I find it all cooks this way).
  • Cover and turn down heat to a simmer (about a “2″ on the cooktop) for 20 minutes.

    • Now don’t lift the lid. Let it just simmer away. Once the 20 minutes is up, let it rest for about 5 minutes, and serve. Voila! You just made rice — and saved money!

    Bonus money-saving hint: Buy your rice loose in the bulk bins, and it’s half the price than the pre-bagged kind.



    4 Responses to “How to make rice”
    1. 1
      farmers.wife Says:
      2:48 pm

      What about brown rice? Even in my steamer (my Daddy bought it for me and I LOVE it), brown rice never follows the directions and always takes much longer to cook.

      Got any measurements + time for brown rice, Oh Great Master? :-D

    2. 2
      JezDez Says:
      4:08 pm

      Thanks for the rice tips! Even though I made Spanish rice forever, it seems; I quit making it and all of a sudden, it’s not coming out right! You’ve reminded me of a few techniques.
      A word to the wise though, and a little known fact, which I just learned these past few months: Little did I know that purchasing items from bins can infest your pantry with MOTHS!!! After our pantry became infested with moths (and it was a nightmare to get rid of them); I learned through the internet that items purchased in the “bins” can carry larva into your pantry and produce THOUSANDS of moths before you even notice it! It seems the moths love nuts especially, and anything in the bins (better access to the food); and the larva clings to the cardbord which produces moths, once in your home. Just thought I’d pass that along.

    3. 3
      Elisa Says:
      9:30 pm

      I always cook brown rice even though my husband doesn’t like it. Ha ha! It’s better for you! To answer FW’s question it takes about 50 minutes but the quantities are the same. Yummy.

      I tried this brown bag your own basmati rice and it is very good and smells wonderful. I have also cooked it in the crockpot. Love the cooking spray tip!

    4. 4
      admin Says:
      12:26 am

      I’ve never tried that basmati rice — I gotta try that!

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