Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Perfect Rice Everytime

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 here. They are a little pricey, but will last you for many, many years. 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

8 comments:

  1. I don't consider $35 for that Charleston Gifts rice steamer to be pricey at all. That's what the local Asian markets want for their steamers, which all have holes too big for rice. And other actual rice steamers go for over $100.

    I'm going to be getting that Charleston steamer, because while the electronic gadget works well, it's huge, serves only one purpose, and it has to go!

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  2. Hey man, I'm glad you've come over from the dark side. We welcome you. The Charleston Rice Steamer we use never dials and fits well in the cabinet with the rest of our pots and pans. Thanks for the input!

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  3. I'm here to tell you that this is one of the best cooking implements you can buy. It takes just a little bit of practice to learn to use it well, but once you get the hang, it absolutely aces rice as well as other foods like oatmeal and vegetables. You can cook whole meals using this simple appliance! I can't rave enough about the Charleston rice steamer! Get one and you'll understand!

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  4. Mine always before long get holes in both the rice part and the water pot because the aluminum is so thin.I am hoping to find a stainless rice steamer.

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  5. I sure wish I could find one! Company quit making them.

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  6. Years ago, long years ago, there was a store named Fred's on Meeting Street (I think) that sild an Italian-made stainless steel version of the Wear-ever. Might still exist...

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  7. Checked every Ace Hardware store in Charleston ( where I bought mine years ago), and told these are not made anymore. I cherish mine but would like one for my daughter.

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  8. I want to purchase one of that specific type of steamer. My email is reynoldsrigney@msn.com

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