Basmati Rice is a variety of rice that is commonly used in Indian and South Asian cuisines and is noted for its nutty flavor and lovely aroma. It comes as long-grain in both white and brown kinds. Though it's flavorful, cooking Basmati rice is a bit difficult process as it can get sticky and mushy quickly when cooking.
Why is your Basmati rice sticky and mushy?
- Using more water than is necessary
Beginners frequently make this mistake. The first reason is that you overfill the rice cooking pot or container with water.
- For cooking, new basmati rice was used
Basmati rice is available in two varieties on the market as rice that is new (less than 1-year-old) and rice that has been aged (1 to 2 years old). The most serious issue with fresh/new rice is that it already has a high moisture content. The new rice cooks quicker in the cooker since it already has more moisture. The grains lose their properties and break down quickly as a result of the rapid cooking procedure. It eventually turns into sticky, mushy rice. Over time, the moisture content of the grains drops. As a result, I recommend using Basmati rice that has been matured for at least one year in the preparation.
- Cooking rice for a longer time
Basmati rice begins to break down into tiny bits when cooked for a long time. It also causes the rice to get sticky at the end of the cooking process. As a result, when cooking Basmati rice, it's important to stick to the recommended cooking time.
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The 10 tips and techniques in the following post will show you how to prepare fluffy, non-sticky Basmati rice as featured in commercial advertisements!
01. Thoroughly rinse
The first and foremost step is to thoroughly rinse the rice grains. Make sure it's clean by rinsing it under running water. It will need to be washed a few times until the starchy water is gone from the grains. Rice grains contain a lot of starch, which aids in the fluffy texture of the rice. The presence of too much starch in the grains improves the probability of sticky, mushy rice in the end.
02. The traditional knuckle method
First, you just need to add the rinsed and washed Basmati rice to the cooking pot or container. Make sure the rice is level. Now put your index finger on top of the leveled rice and add water until it hits your first knuckle. This trick works regardless of finger size or grain length and this traditional method is widely used in Asian countries.
03. Soak for a long time
Soak the rice grains in cold water for 30 minutes. This step should not be done with warm. Many experts recommend soaking the rice in water for at least an hour. However, soaking the rice for around 15 minutes is completely OK. It is the suggested minimum soaking period. The soaking method also aids in the speedy cooking of rice.
05 Use ghee or oil
Everyone loves picture-perfect separated rice grains. Because a tiny film of oil forms on each grain aids in the separation of the grains.
04. Support the container using a stand
This suggestion is only applicable to pressure cooker users who place their rice containers on a stand. If you're supporting the container with something else, ensure the surface is level. When you cook rice in a pressure cooker over high heat, the container can shift about inside the pressure cooker. When this occurs, the water in the container may spill into the cooker. In the end, you'll get undercooked or sticky rice. To avoid this disaster, make sure the container is supported by a sturdy and flat platform.
06. Set it aside for a bit to chill
Allow the rice to rest for a few minutes before serving it. This can continue to cook in its own steam during the resting phase. And that's all you'll need to make fluffy, non-sticky rice.
07. Fluff the rice
When the rice has completed its resting period, place it on a dish and fluff it with a fork or a wooden spoon. You should approach this task carefully. The metal spoon has the potential to shatter the grains. The steam held inside the grains is released into the air as you do this procedure. As a result, it cools down more quickly.
08. Cook rice over high heat
When cooking the Basmati rice, you must use a high flame. Because the rice cooks quicker on high heat, all of the rice grains cook evenly. However, if you cook it on low heat, the heat slowly reaches the rice's top layer. As a result, it cooks unevenly.
09. Sprinkling extra water - Undercooked
Sprinkle some water on top of the rice grains if they appear to be a little undercooked as will help in increasing the moisture content of the rice. Then, you must place the container back in the pressure cooker and cook for a few more minutes in the steam. This method ensures that the rice cooks thoroughly without becoming sticky.
10. Add a potato/slice of bread - Overcooked
If the rice seems to little bit overcooked, then you can place a potato or slice of bread inside the pot you have cooked the rice. The potatoes/bread will absorb the extra moisture of the rice grains.
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