The Trick to Making Perfect Fluffy Rice Everytime: Even when You're in a Hurry!

Everybody makes rice and everybody makes it all the time. It's a staple. It goes with everything. The instructions are right on the box or bag and they're simple. Boil the required amount of water, put in the required amount of rice, cover, turn down the heat to very low and cook for the required amount of time.

So easy, right? So then why doesn't the rice come out nice and moist and fluffy like it looks on the TV commercials and on the side of the rice box? Why is it burned to the bottom of the pan, or why is it soupy, or why is it soggy? I will show you a secret that will allow you to cook perfect rice every time even when you are in a hurry, which if your at all like me is almost always.

Everyone seems to think that to cook rice perfectly you must let the rice rest for five minutes even after the required cooking time has expired. This, they say, allows the rice to soak up any excess water that may be left over and allow the texture to become consistent through all the cooked rice. This is only partly true. If you've used too much water to begin with your rice will still be soggy.

Why would anyone use too much water to begin with? They would if the instructions on the bag told them to which is exactly what cooking instructions on all bags and boxes of rice do. Why this is I don't know but they do. How much water should you use? This is not the time to experiment. Here is the secret to ensure you get perfect rice every time no matter what the type of rice. Use 1/4 cup of water less than is recommended for each serving of rice being prepared. It's that simple. If the instructions call for 1 1/2 cups of water for every cup of rice, use 1 1/4 cups of water.for every cup of rice. IF the instructions call for 2 cups of water for every cup of rice use 1 3/4 cups of water for every cup of rice. That's all you have to do. Use a measuring cup for the rice and the water. Measure the rice out first.

Boil the water first using the smallest pot that you can for the amount of water and rice you are using. When the water boils, put in the rice and cover with a tight lid. Start the timer. Turn down the heat as low as you can, to a simmer. Cook the rice for exactly 5 minutes less than the instructions call for. When your cooking time is up, turn off the heat and use those last 5 minutes to let the rice absorb any remaining moisture. Do not lift the lid to peek. Let the whole 5 minutes pass.

When you finally do lift the lid you'll be in for a pleasant surprise. No soaking, or washing or draining or straining, just perfect rice even when your in a hurry.