How many times does rice increase in volume when cooked?

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

In your kitchen, you can cook amazingly delicious rice without an electric rice cooker. The main thing at the same time is to know the rules for its preparation (how many times the rice increases during cooking, how long it takes to cook it, and so on).

What is a perfectly cooked grits?

When properly cooked, the grains should keep separate but not dry. Cooked rice should be soft but not slippery. It should be clean and have a wonderful aroma. Rice is a great base in which you can add other textures and flavors. It can be great on its own or as a side dish with many other toppings.

You can enjoy fluffy long rice that looks "fluffy" and soft, or you can make sticky round grains popular in Japan and Korea. If a dry product is more to your liking, basmati may be your best bet. However, this variety is not well suited for Vietnamese and other Southeast Asian cuisines.

Probably the most versatile type of this grain is Thai long grainrice jasmine. From it you can cook both European and Asian dishes.

Cooking pot

If you decide to cook rice on the stove, you should choose a container with a thick bottom and a lid that closes tightly. Since the finished grain is larger in volume than the raw grain, the pan must be large. How much does rice expand when cooked? Depending on the variety, this figure may vary, but on average it swells about three times. Therefore, the pot you choose should be filled with raw rice no more than one-third. For example, you can use a 2 liter container to cook 2 cups of cereals.

How to calculate quantity?

When calculating the amount of grain, you need to take into account how much rice increases during cooking. One cup of raw cereal will give you about three and a half cups of the finished product. This means that on average 200 grams of rice is enough for three people for one meal. This allows you to make approximate calculations. It is advisable to cook one and a half glasses of cereal for 3-4 people and, accordingly, 2 glasses for a company of 4-6 eaters.

How long does it take to cook rice?

As a general rule, it should take 30 minutes from the time the stove is turned on until the rice is ready. For this reason, it is advisable to cook the grits first, and then start preparing other dishes for lunch or dinner. Rice will holdheat for about 30 minutes. Therefore, if the preparation of other dishes takes you about 1 hour, the side dish for them will already be ready. How much does rice expand after cooking? Usually, the main change in volume occurs during the cooking process, and after the pan is removed from the heat, the cereal only “fades”. Some Asian strains may still grow slightly at this time as well.

For a dinner party, it's best to start cooking the rice right before or shortly after the guests arrive. While the side dish is being prepared, you can safely drink wine and offer snacks; cooking cereals does not require your participation. Alternatively, you can keep the bowl of boiled rice warm after it has been cooked. Simply put the pot in the oven at a low temperature.

How to wash rice

If you wash rice before placing it in a pot or rice cooker, you need to use a significant amount of water. In any case, start washing by stirring the grits with your fingers in a circular motion. You can also gently rub it between your palms to remove excess starch. This component can affect how much the rice increases during cooking.

Don't expect a single rinse to make grits clean. As a rule, the first water becomes dirty and cloudy. Your goal is to repeatedly rinse the rice with clean water until it comes out almost clear. If you are measuring the exact ratio of water to rice, drain it on a sieve before putting it in the pot.

How to cook rice on the stove

As a rule, the first time the rice is brought to a boil in an uncovered pot, then reduce the heat and cover the container. During the initial boil, it is best to quickly stir the grits several times to ensure even cooking and avoid sticking to the bottom. So, what should be the correct order of operations from start to finish?

1. Bring water with rice to a boil on high heat.
2. Stir the grains with a wooden spoon or Asian chopsticks to lift up the grains that have sunk to the bottom.
3. Reduce heat to low - water should simmer gently. Boil the rice, stir it gently for a few minutes, then cover and wait until most of the water has been absorbed. Remember how many times the rice increases during cooking. The surface of the finished product should look glossy and dry. When piercing the top layer with a fork, a small layer of water should be visible below
4. Reduce heat to low, cover again and heat on stove for another 10 minutes.
5. Turn off the heat and let the rice "ripen" in a covered pot for 10 minutes to firm it up and finish cooking.
6. Remove the lid, stir the finished product with chopsticks or a fork, then cover again and leave for another 5 minutes before serving. Rice will remain warm for another 30 minutes. Before you start laying outportions, stir the cooked grits again.

What else do you need to know?

Be sure to read the cooking instructions on the product packaging. Some rules may differ, depending on the type of cereal and on the dish you intend to cook. For example, if you want to make an Asian dish, be sure to ask how many times the rice increases when cooking pilaf. So, taking into account vegetables and oil, its size may grow slightly less than when cooking cereals in water.

How many times does rice increase during cooking

The weight of the product changes in cooked form by 2-3 times. As already mentioned, the amount of water is very important to calculate correctly. If you don't add enough, the grain will come out half raw and will probably start to burn from the bottom once the liquid has evaporated. If you add too much water, the rice will be wet, soft and overcooked. That is why it is necessary to adjust the ratio of rice to water, especially when cooking in large containers. You also need to know that if you cook cereals in milk, you need more liquid. How many times does rice increase when milk porridge is cooked? Approximately 3.5 times, if we talk about most of the most common varieties of cereals. In addition, you need to remember that milk can start to burn, so you need to constantly monitor the process of cooking porridge.