Although white and brown rice is whole grains, they differ significantly in their nutritional value. White rice contains less fiber, iron, zinc, B vitamins, and vitamin E per serving than brown rice. Cooking it perfectly in the perfect amount of water is the most important thing. 1¾ cups of water for every 1 cup of brown rice is recommended for the perfect brown rice.
Also, how much water should I add to my rice cooker before cooking brown rice? Finally, is there any different method of cooking brown rice? These questions are answered below. So read on.
How Much Water to Perfect Brown Rice?
Start by measuring out your rice. You should use 1 cup of brown rice and 2 cups of water per serving.
So, if you want to make enough for two people:
- Measure 2 cups of water in a pot (1 cup + 1/4 cup = 2 cups).
- Rinse the rice under running water once or twice until the water runs clear, then add it to the pot (1 cup + 1/4 cup = 3 cups).
If you're making more than that:
- Add 1/4 cup of brown rice for each additional person (if three people are eating, use an extra 3/4 cup). The total amount is still 8 cups. This will seem like a lot at first glance but don't worry—it'll soak up most of that liquid as it cooks.
Can I tender my brown rice?
Yes, you can. Brown rice is reliably good when it is pre-soaked. Ideally, you should soak it for 90 minutes, but if you prefer soft rice, you can soak it longer. Getting al dente results will take more than 20 minutes if you're pressed for time.
It is best to soak brown rice for a longer period before you leave for school or work in the morning, as it will become more tender and fluffy.
Some methods to cook perfect brown rice:
Cooking rice sounds simple, which is true, but why not play around with it to see which method gives the best result? So let's go through the methods.
Equipment you’ll need:
You'll need a pot to boil the water, a measuring cup for the rice and water, and some sort of colander to drain your cooked grains. You'll also need to line your baking sheet with parchment paper or foil before you spread out the grains; this will make cleanup much easier (and you won't end up with burnt-on rice). You can use either one—just make sure it's long enough to fit all of your brown rice along its length.
Pasta method:
This method works like pasta making, except you don't use pasta. Instead, you use white rice. You'll want to start with about 2 cups of uncooked rice per person. Next, give it 12 cups of water. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and cover the pot. Cook for 12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Remove from the heat and let sit covered for 10-20 minutes for soaked rice and 10-20 minutes for unsoaked rice. Drain well. Add back into the pot and steam for another 10 minutes. Serve hot.
Hurry method:
The quick and simple method involves adding the water and rice to a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring it to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover, use 1 ½ cups water for 1 cup of rice and cook it for 10-15 minutes if it's soaked. And for its unsoaked rice, use 2 cups of water for 1 cup of rice and cook it for 20-25 minutes.
Remove from the heat, uncover the pot, let stand for ten additional minutes, and serve. This method works well for smaller quantities of rice, but you might want to double the recipe if you're making enough for a larger crowd.
Stove method:
Rinse 2 cups of brown rice well. Then add enough water to cover the rice by about an inch. Let sit for 20–30 minutes, ideally 90 minutes or even overnight, before cooking. Drain away the soaking water. If there is still some moisture left over, rinse again.
Add fresh water in the same amount as rice. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium, cover and simmer for 40–45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the lid and cook for 5–10 minutes longer, depending on how tender you like your rice. Fluff with a fork and serve.
Rice cooker method:
The water level measurement lines in a brown rice cooker pot should show how much water is required for plain white rice and brown rice. Either scenario will be explained to you.
The rice cooker comes with a cup for measuring rice. Use it. The cups measure ¾ of a cup, so using 2 cups results in 1½ U.S. standard cups and will yield about 3¾ U.S. cups of brown rice.
Rice cookers should be rinsed well before cooking brown rice. Then, pour enough water into the pot to cover the brown rice up to the water level lines. For example, if you use two rice cooker cups and 112 standard cups of water, you will need to fill the pot with fresh water until the 2-cup water line is reached.
Allow the rice to soak in water for at least 20 minutes, ideally 90 minutes, before pressing the brown rice button. This way, brown rice becomes tender, and the cooking process becomes smoother.
It is important to soak rice before cooking since your rice cooker isn't calibrated for a longer cooking time if you do not have a brown rice button.
Increase the water level so that it is slightly above the 2-cup level. Then, let your rice cook for another 10 minutes in the rice cooker without opening the lid after it is "done" to allow it to continue cooking.
Frequently asked questions
1. What is the ratio for brown rice?
A: Your basic rice-to-water ratio is 1:12.
2. How do you drain rice?
A: Drain it just like you do for pasta.
3. What is the cooking time for pre-soaked rice?
A: In addition to reducing cooking time, soaking rice before cooking -- usually for 30 minutes -- provides several benefits.
4. Do you rinse rice after soaking?
A: Before cooking white rice, it's important to rinse it well to remove its starchy coating, which causes the rice to smell and spoil more quickly. You should stir the rice several times with your hand after placing it in a bowl of cold water and covering it with it.
5. Is brown rice eaten by the Japanese?
A: White rice is the staple food of Japan, and most rice is processed and consumed as white rice. In addition to polished rice, brown rice is also consumed in its unpolished state, often for its health benefits.
Conclusion
Brown rice has many health benefits, which surely work to boost our energy in everyday life. No matter how you cook or eat with it, its benefit will never disappoint you. So don't be a couch potato; run to the kitchen and try one of the methods.
