How to Cook Perfect Rice

People make so much fuss about cooking rice that a novice trying to do it for the first time might think that it's one of the more difficult culinary skills to master, requiring a rice cooker and specialist know-how. It doesn't. Cooking perfect rice is very easy and here I'll show you how.

There are many types of rice on the market but for a basic long-grain type that will cover most of your recipe needs I would suggest white basmati rice. It has slender grains, is very adaptable and cooks easily. Just be sure to buy the best quality basmati you can find.

Appetites vary but a general rule of thumb (for me at least) is that 100ml of uncooked rice will provide a generous portion for one person as the rice will swell to around three times that volume during the cooking process. Once you've mastered the basic cooking method you can vary the amounts to suit yourself if you so wish.

Before we cook the rice we need to wash it. Washing is important because it removes additives and milling dust that can make the rice sticky and gummy. Put your uncooked rice into a large bowl or pot and cover the rice with cold water. Then you must rinse it in the water with your fingers before pouring the (now milky) water off. Repeat this process four or five times until the water runs clear. Finally, cover the washed rice with clean cold water and set aside for around half an hour. Longer will do no harm. The soaking process will turn the rice white and ensure it cooks very quickly.

Now we can cook our rice. We'll cook enough for two (you will need 200ml of uncooked rice).

First drain the soaking rice and put it in a pot. Remember that the rice will expand threefold during cooking so make sure your pot is big enough and that it has a close-fitting lid. Season the rice with salt, cover it with 300ml of cold water (rice volume + 1/3) then put the lid on the pot. Place the pot on the hob and bring the water to the boil (this will take a few minutes).

When the water comes to a boil take the pot off the hob and turn the hob down to its lowest setting. Place the pot back on the hob and allow the rice to simmer until all the water has cooked off (this will only take a few minutes and you can use a fork to check the bottom of the pot). When the water has cooked out take the pot off the hob. You may need to lift the lid off the pot a couple of times during this process to allow steam to escape. Your rice is now cooked.

Before serving allow it to sit in the pot for five minutes or so with the lid on so as to allow the excess steam to rise out. This will prevent any stickiness. Your rice will now be fluffy and perfect. If you want it to be aromatic then try adding a few cardamom pods to the pot before you cook. They can be removed with a fork before you serve your rice. The pods add a beautifully fragrant aroma and will undoubtedly get your taste buds working overtime.