Make plain rice from scratch.
Rice is a staple ingredient for Mexican, Thai, Chinese and many other cuisines. Home cooks who are experimenting with recipes from these cultures often rely on instant rice or rice in boiling bags because of the mistaken belief that instant rice is successful more often than plain rice. Save money by skipping the packaged, precooked rice and make your own rice from scratch. Plain rice is cooked using the same methods and equipment as instant rice, and costs much less to buy.
Instructions
1. Measure 1 cup of rice into a large bowl. Fill the bowl with water to cover the rice and swish the rice around in the water. The water will turn milky.
2. Pour off the milky water by tipping the bowl over the sink slightly. Hold the bowl with one hand and place the other hand in front of where the water will pour out to hold back the rice. Add more cold water to the bowl after you pour off the first batch. Swish this batch around the same way. Pour off this water and add cold water a third time. Leave the rice in the water for 30 minutes.
3. Pour the rice and water into a fine-mesh strainer. Allow the rice to drain thoroughly.
4. Place the rice into a pot with a sturdy bottom. Add 1 3/4 cups of water and a dash of salt. Place the pot on the burner and turn the heat to high.
5. Heat the rice until the mixture begins to boil. Turn down the heat immediately until the rice and water are at a bare simmer. Place the lid on the pot and leave it for 12 minutes.
6. Lift the lid slightly to give the rice a quick peek. If all the water has absorbed, remove the pot from the stove. If not, allow it to cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes.
7. Remove the pot from the stove and leave it on the counter with the lid still in place. Cover the pot with a kitchen towel to help keep in the heat. Let the rice sit for 5 to 30 minutes, depending on how long it takes to finish cooking the rest of your meal.
8. Remove the towel, lift the lid and fluff the rice grains with a fork or a set of chopsticks. Serve the rice immediately.
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