When I was first learning to cook, I thought there was only one way to cook rice, to follow the instructions on the bag. Since then, I have learned 2 other ways to cook rice that are actually easier!
The Oven Method:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Put 1 cup of rice and 2 cups of water in a casserole dish with a lid, or plan to cover tightly with aluminum foil.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes
This makes rice hands free! No stirring, no watching, just throw it into the oven and set a timer.
The Microwave Method:
- Put 1 cup of rice and 2 cups of water in a microwave safe bowl. (Remember, rice doubles in size so make sure to use a big enough bowl!)
- Microwave for 12 minutes uncovered
- Remove from microwave and cover with a plate or something to hold the steam in for another 5 minutes or until ready to eat
In either of these recipes, you can dissolve a bouillon cube in the water before adding to the rice or use the same amount of broth to cook rice with more flavor. Also, a lot of people like the consistency of rice that has been rinsed before cooking. I don't usually rinse mine, but a quick internet search tells me that most people recommend it.
Rice can be cooked ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 5 days, or you can freeze it, making it a great thing to make ahead and make life easier on busy nights.
Rice makes a good filler. It is the most commonly eaten food in the world, and that is because it shelf stable, easy to cook, and inexpensive. It helps stretch out your more expensive ingredients to make a filling meal that sticks to your ribs. You can add rice to soups, casseroles, mix with taco or burrito fillings, or top with meat and vegetables. It is also handy in helping to stretch leftovers, even if you are just serving it as a side.
If you haven't tried cooking rice before, try one of these easy methods and let me know how it goes!
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