Perfect Rice Everytime

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When it comes to cooking rice, there are a lot of ways to do it. Some start from scratch, use the back of the bag instructions, and boil their rice. Problem is it can be pretty sticky and gooey at times. Some of you have perfected your own way to cook rice, so I encourage you to keep on doing it the way it works for you.

For me, cooking rice was a great mystery. I either made it a sticky mess, or I ended up burning the bottom and ruining my wife's nice pots. That was when we heard about this gadget called a rice steamer. It was when we lived in Eutawville, SC. All my years as a rice eater and I had never used or even seen one used to cook rice. The unusual thing about that was that in Charleston, it was said that most of us have much in common with the Chinese, in particular that we ate rice and worshipped our ancestors. So, it was strange that I had never been touched by this marvelous way of cooking rice that gives a consistent, wonderfully textured, and delicious bowl of rice every time.

First, you must have a Charleston Rice Steamer. They are available, but you've got to look. Here's a store I know has them. Use this link: rice cooker. They can be a little pricey, but will last you for many, many years. As an alternative, there are also electric rice cookers everywhere. But, this article does not claim anything about those monstrosities. 

This is what the rice cooker looks like. Who knows, you might see one at a yard sale and pick it up for little of nothing. They are also good for steaming vegetables. And for those of us who are Alton Brown fans, you always want to be able to multi-task your cooking utensils.

The Recipe:

• 2 cups of rice
• 2 cups of water
• Scant salt
• Butter or oil

The Cooking:

• Fill bottom of the rice steamer pot with enough water to touch the steamer insert.
• Pour rice into steamer insert
• Pour water into steamer insert
• Add salt to taste
• Add tsp of oil or pad of butter
• Stir quickly
• Turn burner to high

Once steamer begins to steam, turn down to medium heat

Warning: Be sure and check the bottom pan for water. It can completely steam away on you if you leave it on for a long time at high. I recommend you check the lower pot after 25 minutes by lifting the insert with oven mits (it will be HOT) and seeing how much water is left. My wife has perfected swishing the pot and being able to tell if there's water in it. That will come with experience. If necessary, because the water has boiled low or even away, add more water to bottom pan and continue cooking rice.

Cook for 25 to 30 minutes total time.

Use fork and pull up rice then you can let sit or serve as is or use in any recipe.

• Pro Tip 1: Cook as little rice as you would like by adjusting the amounts of ingredients and the cooking time. Use 1:1 as your water to rice ratio. Also I have found that you can cook up to 3 cups of rice in this rice steamer. That will feed a lot of people.
• Pro Tip 2: Rice freezes great and can be placed in a ziplock type bag and saved for later use if not all eaten. I often save for Chinese fried rice recipes and Indian curry recipes that I will be sharing with you later.

Remember, God created all good things for us to enjoy,

Trey Rhodes

You might want to try these other simple recipes as well:

Easy cook roast

Easy Omelet