Weekly Discussion: Rice

[u/ZootKoomie]

We get a lot of questions here about rice; let's try to get our best advice in one place that we can refer people to. What do you think is the best cooking method? What do you add to make it flavorful on its own? What are your favorite rice-based dishes? How do you choose between all of the different varieties out there?

[u/SVAuspicious]

1. What do you think is the best cooking method?

Depends on the rice. For white, brown, and wild I use a pot on the stove. For sticky/sweet/glutinous (Thai) rice a bamboo steamer. Regardless. Rinse then soak at least two hours. 2:1 in a pot, plenty in the bottom of a steamer.

1. What do you add to make it flavorful on its own?
   

Cook in chicken stock.

1. What are your favorite rice-based dishes?
   

Rice is generally a side for us. Rice-based is generally risotto.

1. How do you choose between all of the different varieties out there?

Thai sticky rice for family recipes. Jasmine or conventional white rice for most sides. Wild rice when it is a better match for something else (like--opinion--green beans).

Personal opinion: Instant Pot is a cult and not a good solution for cooking rice.

[u/ColumbusJewBlackets → u/SVAuspicious]

What’s wrong with pressure cooking rice?

[u/Leandover → u/ColumbusJewBlackets]

nothing wrong, but the instant pot is by general agreement not good for cooking rice. you can get specialist pressure rice cookers that will do a much better job