Winging the measurements.
Some packages of rice have reliable rice-to-liquid ratios on the back of the bag or box, but not all. To eliminate the guesswork, Cayne goes with this formula: 1 1/2 to 2 cups of liquid for every cup of raw rice. The liquid can be water, stock, a coconut milk-water mixture, even tea. If you’re using brown rice, go with closer to 2 cups of liquid; for white rice, around 1 1/2 cups should suffice (brown rice needs more liquid because it still has a bran, or outer covering, that needs to be softened).
Skipping the rinse.
Washing grains of rice before cooking them isn’t absolutely necessary, but if you prefer the grains to be separate and not clumpy, the few minutes it takes matters. Cayne says to place the rice in a fine-mesh sieve and run cold water over it, swishing the grains around, for about two minutes. This removes the starch that gives the cooked rice a gummier texture.
Not knowing your stove well.
After you combine the rice with liquid and bring it to a boil, you’ll want to reduce the heat to the lowest setting and cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid. The mistake Cayne says many home cooks make at this point is not using the lowest setting of the weakest burner on the stove. She says most of us don’t realize each burner on a range is different, so “low” on one burner may not be as low as “low” on another. Find the one that’s putting out the least amount of heat (the pot’s lid shouldn’t vibrate, and the rice should be very gently simmering inside) and use that one for cooking. If the flame is too high, the rice could turn out soft on the outside but still crunchy on the inside.
Forgetting the rest.
You’ve heard of resting steak before serving it—well, it turns out that rice also benefits from a brief time-out between taking it off the stove and eating it. When the rice is finished cooking, move the pot from the burner to a trivet or hot plate on the counter, letting it rest, covered, so it steams for another five to 10 minutes. This will make for a more evenly cooked pot of rice with no rogue, not-quite-done grains.
Leaving it clumpy.
Once the rice is steamed, Cayne recommends one final step for preparing the perfect rice: Use a fork. Take a dinner-size one and gently lift the rice up and let it back down, moving the fork around so you cover the entire pot. This “fluffing” technique ensures that the grains won’t clump when they’re served.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.