Kitchen Hacks: How To Cook Undercooked Rice

You can always make a superb pot of rice if you have a sturdy rice cooker, but there will be instances that you will need to understand how to cook undercooked rice. Especially if you get the timing wrong. If your cooker is used properly, you will be the proud chef of a fluffy plate of cooked rice.

A rice cooker is simple to use. How does it work? By placing water and rinsed rice in an internal pot which is situated over a heating plate. This plate reaches and maintains optimal rice cooking temperature which helps to evenly cook the rice. This occurs both in the digital models and the pot-style ones.

Most, if not all the rice cookers are set to warm automatically after it is cooked. This allows you to leave it alone while it cooks, then return after a few minutes when the rice is cooked.  Let’s first explore how to properly use a rice cooker then venture into what to do if you have a hiccup and wind up with a serving of undercooked rice.

Cooking Rice in a Rice Cooker

Here is how to use the rice cooker for perfect rice. You will be surprised to see how simple it is:

1. Use a cup to measure out rice and place it into a container. A cup of uncooked rice yields 1 1/2 to 3 cups cooked rice based on the variety. Ensure there is enough room for the rice to cook without it spilling over.
2. Rinse the rice under running water to remove excess starch, contaminants, and herbicides. Whilst rinsing, stir, and slowly drain water making sure there are no contaminants left. Rinse until the water is relatively clear, at least twice.
3. Measure the water needed to cook rice. The total amount of water required is dependent on how moist you want the rice and the types of grains being cooked. There are some graduated marks on the inside of the cooker, you may use them as your guide to how much water needed to be poured on the rice.
4. Optional: rice can be soaked for half an hour to shorten the cooking time if desired.
5. Place rice in the rice cooker. Plug in the rice cooker, cover the lid, then press the “cook” or “on” button. After a short period, you will click a light click telling you that the rice is cooked. The cooker will then flip to warm mode.
6. Allow the rice to sit like this for 10 minutes before the lid is removed.
7. Use a fork to fluff the rice and serve.

Following this recipe generally gives you the perfect texture of cooked rice, but what do you do if for some reason your rice didn’t cook how it was supposed to? Don’t panic! You won’t necessarily have to throw it out. Let’s explore what to do if your rice is undercooked.

How To Cook Undercooked Rice

Rice is such an easy ingredient to cook that it becomes extremely easy to mess up. If you find yourself in a predicament where all other elements of your meal are ready and perfect, but your rice is still didn’t cook all the way, there are a few quick steps you can take to fix it using your microwave.

It is worth noting that it is in fact possible to cook rice from scratch using a microwave and get the same delicious fluffiness you would have achieved from a rice cooker or stovetop. The timing, of course, would be different. The microwave would cook your rice significantly faster, and that is what makes it the perfect option for fixing your undercooked rice.

So, what do you do to fix it? Simply follow these steps:

1. Transfer your rice to a microwave-safe bowl, if it is not already in one.
2. Generously wet two sheets of paper towel then squeeze out the excess water. You want the paper towel to be damp, not dripping wet. This will serve as a steaming mechanism for the rice. As the microwave heats the moisture in the towel will produce steam adding more liquid to the rice and helping it to cook.
3. Fit the paper towel over your bowl of rice using a fork to tuck the sides of it in the bowl to create a doom over your rice.
4. Set to cook in the microwave like this for 2 minutes on high.
5. Carefully take the rice from the microwave. Bear in mind that it will be hot so, use mittens if needed.
6. Carefully take the paper towel from the bowl. Bear in mind once more that this will be hot so, exercise caution.
7. Use a fork to fluff the rice and serve along with the rest of your meal.

Now that you understand how to cook a proper serving of rice and how to save any potential undercooked fails. Let’s show you how to spin your humble rice ingredient into a delicious dish where the rice is the star.

Mixed Vegetables on Bed of Rice

This dish is super colorful and nutritious. You will have no regrets after eating this meal.

Serves: 4

Time: 25 mins.

Ingredients:

• onion (1, large, wedged)
• carrots (2, diced)
• ginger (2 tsp, minced)
• squash (2 cups, butternut, chunked)
• courgettes (1, large)
• chickpeas (1 can)
• tomatoes (1 can, chopped)
• spinach (1 cup, baby)
• olive oil (2 tbsp)
• garlic (2 tsp, minced)
• turmeric (1 tsp, ground)
• harissa paste (1 tbsp)
• bell pepper (1 large, diced, red)
• vegetable stock (1 ¼ cups)
• maple syrup (2 tbsp)
• coriander (handful)
• mint (handful, fresh)
• rice (brown)
• salt (pinch)
• pepper (pinch)

 Directions:

1. In a rice cooker, begin to heat the oil and add the onion.
2. Sauté for approximately 5 minutes then add the butternut squash and carrots then stir for approximately 5 minutes.
3. Stir in the courgettes, garlic, ginger, harissa, turmeric, tomatoes, bell pepper, and vegetable stock.
4. Season using salt and pepper and bring the mixture to a boil. Place mixture into the rice cooker then close the lid. Cook for roughly 5 minutes.
5. Stir in the spinach, chickpeas, maple syrup, and ½ of the mint and coriander. Serve on top of the brown rice.

Final Thoughts

Rice is a very versatile ingredient, and when prepared correctly it will sing on your plate. The drawback with being an easy ingredient to prepare, however, is that it is likely that you’ll fall into instances of undercooking. Luckily, moving forward, when these issues occur, all you’ll need to do is take a deep breath and apply the kitchen hack we discussed here today.

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