Brown rice is a nutritious and versatile grain that can be enjoyed as a side dish or as a base for a variety of meals. Cooking brown rice can seem intimidating, but with a few simple tips, you can easily prepare perfect brown rice every time.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of brown rice
- 2 cups of water or broth
- Salt (optional)
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to cook brown rice:
- Rinse the rice in a fine-mesh strainer under cold running water. This will remove any dirt or debris from the rice.
- In a medium-sized pot, combine the rinsed rice, water or broth, and a pinch of salt (if using).
- Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat. Once it reaches a boil, reduce the heat to low and cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid.
- Simmer the rice for 18-20 minutes, or until the water is fully absorbed and the rice is tender.
- Once the rice is cooked, remove it from the heat and let it sit, covered, for an additional 5 minutes.
- Fluff the rice with a fork and serve.
When cooking brown rice, it is important to use the correct ratio of water to rice. The general rule is 2 cups of water to 1 cup of rice. You can also use broth instead of water for added flavor. You can also add some butter, olive oil, or a little bit of salt to the rice while it is cooking, but these are not necessary.
You can also use a rice cooker or pressure cooker to cook brown rice. Rice cookers are easy to use and will automatically switch to the “warm” setting once the rice is cooked, which prevents overcooking.
In pressure cookers you need to be aware that the cooking time is reduced and you can cook the rice in a much shorter time.
It’s important to note that brown rice has a longer cooking time than white rice and it also has a chewier texture.
With the above steps, you should be able to cook perfectly fluffy and flavorful brown rice. Enjoy!