How to cook rice - with apples, for sushi or risotto?

Rice, according to various reports, was part of human diet even 8000 years ago (6000 BC). The long history of rice has allowed it to become a basic ingredient in many dishes, yet depending on the dish, it should be prepared in different ways. And many amateur cooks have a problem with this. How to cook rice? The answer is to be found below.

The first documented finds on rice date back to 4000 BC. Dishes covered with drawings of rice grains suggest that it was already consumed by the Korea inhabitants of the time. Other reports by archaeologists speak of the benefits of rice enjoyed by the Indians even at 5000 BC. Regardless of the origin of the white grains, rice now meets the needs of up to 1/3 of the population.

Why rice?

The beneficial properties of rice are many, especially for people at the weight loss stage, because rice is a product that the stomach digests slowly. In addition, it provides a large amount of carbohydrates as an energy source and valuable nutrients such as magnesium, potassium and fibre.

Thanks to the various types of rice, of which there are up to 8 000, it can be used in a wide variety of dishes. Rice with round grains such as Arborio, which is the basic ingredient of risotto, brown rice perfectly complementing the taste of baked salmon or Japanese Koshihikari rice used for sushi, provide a lot of culinary options.

Rice cooker

Depending on the dish, cooking rice can be challenging and improper handling can spoil the taste of the whole dish. With the solution comes the automatic rice cooker TS997 which is becoming increasingly popular among amateur cooks and food lovers. Thanks to its automatic keep-warm function, the cooked rice easily reaches and maintains its right texture, releasing the full aroma of the food being cooked.

Equipped with a non-stick coated inner bowl, it makes cooking rice even more enjoyable. Straining is extremely easy and safe - the handy design reduces the risk of scalding when pouring water out. And washing is finally no longer a challenge in which it is impossible to get rid of burnt grains.

The cooker is also equipped with a convenient steamer basket facilitating the preparation of healthy and low-calory meals, as well as with a spoon and a rice measuring cup which guarantees you use the right proportions.

How to cook rice?

Cooking rice is not at all easy and it requires an appropriate approach. A special rice cooker automatically maintaining the temperature to keep rice warm can make things easier. Cooking for too long can make the grains stick together which makes it difficult later to further use the rice in dishes and eat it. Depending on the purpose, the rice should be prepared in an appropriate way.

Rice with apples - a taste of childhood to which many people are happy to return. However, to awaken warm memories, you need to start with the correct heat treatment of rice. In this dish, the long-grain rice works well being light and fluffy after cooking, perfectly emphasizing the sweet taste of baked apples and cinnamon. Cooking long-grain rice is not a big challenge. Both the bulk rice and boil-in-bag rice versions should have the water to rice ratio of 2:1. The standard cooking time in salted water should not exceed 15 minutes. Bulk rice should be boiled in two stages: first until the water is absorbed and then under cover for another 15 minutes.

Rice for sushi -  start preparation by choosing the right rice. The most popular variety is Japanese Koshihikari which should be rinsed before cooking until the water becomes completely transparent (usually about 4-5 times). The next step is soaking the rice in a bowl of water for about 30 minutes and then straining it thoroughly. Cooking takes place in two stages: at the beginning, put rice in the proportion of 1 cup of rice per 1 and 1/4 cups of water into the cooker and bring to the boil. Then cover the mixture and cook over low heat until the water is completely absorbed (about 7-10 minutes). The last step is to mix the rice with the prepared earlier vinegar seasoning containing: 3 tablespoons of rice vinegar, half a teaspoon of salt and 2 teaspoons of fine sugar.

Risotto – the best variety of rice for risotto is the round grain called Arborio. It contains a lot of starch which is released during cooking and mixing with the broth it forms a thick, aromatic sauce. Preparation of risotto differs from other dishes because rice is not traditionally cooked in a pot with water. At the beginning a cup of white grains should be fried in a pan with fried onion and pressed garlic. Then add a glass of white wine and when it evaporates slowly add broth, watching carefully the formation of a thick sauce. When the rice is soft, Parmesan cheese and parsley can be added to taste.

Enjoyable cooking

There is always a certain amount of satisfaction when preparing meals with rice. The awareness that dishes based on white grains, which have been present on the tables for thousands of years, are lower in calories than potatoes or traditional pasta makes more and more people decide to use them. However, cooking different varieties of rice can pose a risk, especially for less experienced cooks, of getting an improper texture and consequently changing the final taste of the dish. Then an automatic rice cooker TS997 comes to your rescue to bring out the full taste of each rice dish.