Processing pre-cooked rice is actually quite easy and not much different from cooking ordinary rice. In general, you can first boil 2 parts water with a pinch of salt, then cover the pot and reduce the heat. Some types of roasted rice should cook for 45 minutes, while American-style roasted rice should only take 20 to 25 minutes. In addition to using the stove, rice can also be cooked using a microwave or rice cooker. The term parboiled rice can also be used to refer to white rice or brown rice that is half cooked. To make your own, all you have to do is cook the rice until it's “al dente” or soft on the outside and slightly firm on the inside, then finish the cooking process in soups, pilafs or risottos.
Ingredients
- 240 ml of cooked rice
- 470 ml water
- Pinch of salt (optional)
For: 4 servings
Step
Method 1 of 4: Cooking Cooked Rice on the Stove
Step 1. Soak the rice for 30 minutes to reduce cooking time and maximize the flavor of the rice
If desired, pour enough warm water over the surface of the rice so that there is a gap of about 2.5 to 5 cm between the surface of the rice and the surface of the water. Then, soak the rice for 20 to 30 minutes, then drain the excess water through a sieve.
Soaking rice is optional, but it's best done to reduce cooking time by as much as 20%! Remember, a shorter cooking time can maximize the flavor of the rice
Step 2. Bring 2 parts of water to a boil with a pinch of salt
Use a ratio of 2 parts water to 1 part rice. For example, if you want to cook 240 ml of rice, use 470 ml of water. Pour water into a medium saucepan, then add a pinch of salt, and bring both to a boil.
If you want to make 4 servings of rice, use 240 ml of rice and 470 ml of water. Reduce this amount by half if you only want to make 2 servings of rice, or double the amount to make 8 servings of rice. Most importantly, stick to a 2:1 ratio
Step 3. Add 1 part cooked rice
After the water boils, immediately put the rice into the pot. Then, mix well so that the rice is evenly distributed in the water.
If the rice has been soaked first, don't forget to drain it using a sieve before putting it in the boiling water. In addition, the soaked rice should also be slowly submerged in boiling water so that the very hot water does not splash in all directions. Supposedly, the rice will also feel heavier than the unsoaked version because it has absorbed the water
Step 4. Cover and cook American-style cooked rice for 15 to 25 minutes
Stir the rice, reduce the heat, then cover the pot used. If using pre-boiled rice that has not been pre-soaked, try cooking it for 20 to 25 minutes. If the rice is pre-soaked, you can cook it for 15 to 20 minutes.
American-style pre-cooked rice has gone through a pre-cooking process. As a result, the required cooking time is also shorter
Step 5. Cook the South Indian-style pre-cooked rice for up to 45 minutes
Stir in the rice, reduce the heat, and cover the pot used. Unlike American-style pre-cooked rice, other types of cooked rice actually need to cook longer than regular white rice, about 45 minutes.
- If the rice has been pre-soaked, check for doneness after 35 minutes.
- If you don't know what type of rice to use, check the cooking instructions listed.
Step 6. Turn off the heat, then stir the rice with a fork
Once the rice is cooked, turn off the heat and let the rice sit in the pot for 5 minutes. Then, open the lid of the pot and gently stir the rice with a fork. Serve rice immediately warm!
Method 2 of 4: Microwave Cooking Cooked Rice
Step 1. Combine water, cooked rice, and salt in a heatproof bowl
Use a ratio of 2 parts water to cook 1 part rice, then add a pinch of salt. Stir all the ingredients in a heat-resistant container that is safe for use in the microwave. Since the container will need to be closed later, make sure you choose a container that comes with a special lid.
- Since the rice will expand as it cooks, make sure the rice and water are not more than halfway high in the bowl.
- Use 240 ml of rice and 470 ml of water to make 4 servings of rice. Make sure you always stick to this ratio if you want to increase or decrease the amount of rice produced.
- The process of soaking the rice is optional. However, if you wish, you can soak the rice in warm water for 15 minutes to reduce the cooking time.
Step 2. Microwave the rice without covering the container for 5 minutes
In the first 5 minutes, cook the rice in the microwave on full power until the water boils. If the water hasn't come to a boil within this time, reprocess the rice at full power for another 2 to 5 minutes.
The container doesn't need to be closed at this stage
Step 3. Cover the rice and cook for 15 minutes on medium power
Once the water boils, cover the container and set the microwave on medium setting. Then, cook the rice for 15 minutes and observe its doneness after the time is up.
Supposedly, American-style cooked rice should be cooked in 15 minutes. If you're using South Indian-style pre-cooked rice, it will likely need to take 5 to 10 minutes longer to cook
Step 4. Re-process the rice in the microwave for another 5 minutes, if necessary
After 15 minutes, observe to see if the rice has absorbed all of the water and check for texture. If the rice is not cooked yet, process again in the microwave for another 5 minutes.
- Season the rice and check its condition every 5 minutes until the rice is cooked to perfection.
- If the texture of the rice is soft enough but there is still water remaining at the bottom of the bowl, try draining the excess water.
Step 5. Stir in the rice and serve immediately
Once the rice is cooked, immediately stir it with a fork. Then, serve the rice in a bowl or transfer it to a serving bowl first.
Method 3 of 4: Cooking Plain Rice in a Rice Cooker
Step 1. Read the manual included in the rice cooker package
In fact, the basic instructions for most rice cookers are no different. However, since there will always be minor instructions that will vary slightly for each product, keep reading the manual for the rice to water ratio, cooking time, and other important details.
Observe the instructions listed to identify whether or not to soak the rice and/or adjust the rice cooker settings to cook pre-soaked rice. Some rice cooker manufacturers recommend that you soak brown rice before cooking it. If that's the case with your rice cooker, don't forget to soak the South Indian-style cooked rice according to the instructions
Step 2. Put 2 parts water, 1 part cooked rice and a pinch of salt in the rice cooker
Pour the water into the rice cooker container, then add a pinch of salt, and add the rice before stirring thoroughly until smooth.
- Use 240 ml of rice and 470 ml of water to make 4 servings of rice. Double the amount to make 8 servings of rice, or mix 120 ml of rice with 235 ml of water to make 2 servings of rice. Most importantly, stick to the 2:1 ratio!
- Adjust the dose used with the ratio of rice to water recommended in the manual.
Step 3. Turn on the rice cooker
If your rice cooker has varying settings, select the “white rice” option. The rice cooker will turn off automatically when the rice is cooked, for about 15 to 20 minutes.
Since South Indian-style boiled rice takes longer to cook, choose the “brown rice” option. The rice should be cooked after 30 minutes. Some products even recommend that you soak the brown rice before cooking it to make it easier to cook. Follow the instructions, if so suggested
Step 4. Let the rice sit in the rice cooker for 10 to 15 minutes covered
Resting the rice after the cooking process ends will make the texture of the rice fluffier and less mushy when eaten.
If you want, you can cook a large amount of rice and then store it in the rice cooker to keep the temperature warm. These days, most rice cookers already have a “keep warm” setting
Step 5. Stir in the rice and serve immediately
Use a fork to stir the rice and remove any hot steam trapped in it, then immediately serve it from the rice cooker or transfer it to a serving bowl first.
Method 4 of 4: Making Boiled White and Brown Rice
Step 1. Bring 2 parts of water to a boil with a pinch of salt
Use a ratio of 2 parts water to 1 part rice to practice this recipe. Then, bring the water to a boil with a pinch of salt in a saucepan over medium to high heat.
To make 4 servings of rice, use 240 ml of rice and 470 ml of water. Adjust the amount to make more or less rice, but stick to the 2:1 ratio
Step 2. Add plain white rice or brown rice when the water starts to boil
Stir the rice so that all the grains are evenly distributed in the water. Then, reduce the heat and cover the pot.
Step 3. Cook the white rice for 5 to 10 minutes
If your recipe calls for white rice, reduce the heat and cook the rice until it is al dente, or has a soft surface texture but still a little firm on the inside.
Cooking undercooked white rice is a common cooking technique used in many countries, such as Nigeria and Middle Eastern countries
Step 4. Cook brown rice for 20 minutes
If your recipe calls for brown rice, try cooking it to an al dente texture for 20 minutes. This technique is useful if brown rice will be added to soups or used instead of white rice. For example, if you want to make risotto with brown rice instead of Arborio rice, you will need to cook the brown rice first until it is half cooked.
Step 5. Turn off the stove and drain the rice
When the texture of the rice is al dente, immediately turn off the stove. Most likely, the rice will not absorb all the water content used. Therefore, you can drain it using a sieve and let the rice sit in the colander instead of returning it to the pot.
Step 6. Soak the cooked rice in cold water to stop the cooking process
Once drained, immerse the sieve filled with rice in a bowl of iced water. This method should prevent the rice from getting too mushy when cooked in the soup.
Step 7. Process the rice in various favorite recipes
Add the rice about 15 minutes before your dish is cooked. For example, if the soup needs to be cooked for 25 minutes, let the soup cook for 10 minutes, then add the rice and cook both for 15 minutes.
