Rice is something we (basically) all eat. For some, it’s a mandatory side to every. Single. Meal. And while some of us have mastered the art of cooking rice, many of us are faced with rice that resembles clag paste more so than it does fluffy rice.
So today, we’re going to stop the glug and learn how to cook the fluffiest rice the world has ever seen.
Why is my rice gluggy?
Gluggy rice is simply rice that has been overcooked and absorbed too much water. If it sticks together in clumps, it usually indicates a lot of starch. You won’t notice the starch coating each of the rice grains before you start cooking, but when it hits the water and heats up, it becomes extremely gluey.
How to cook perfectly fluffy rice
If you’re sick of gluggy rice then we’re here to help. To master the art of fluffy rice, we asked taste.com.au contributor and celebrity cook Marion Grasby to give us tips and tricks when it comes to cooking rice.
Marion said: “There are a few simple steps to stop the glug and keep your rice fluffy. Firstly, find a brand of rice you like and stick with it, as brands differ in water requirements (e.g. 1 cup of long-grain rice can take 1 ½ -2 cups water). Experiment to find out how much water your brand needs.
“Before cooking, rinse rice until the water runs clear to remove loose starch. Place it in a pan with a tight-fitting lid. Add the water, cover and simmer until absorbed (about 12 minutes for 1 cup of long-grain rice). Take it off the heat and set aside, covered, for 5 minutes. This allows the steam and moisture to evenly distribute so the rice is uniformly cooked. Finally, use a fork to lightly fluff the grains before serving.”
Side note: one of our food editors also swears by rinsing the rice before cooking, to remove any extra starch.
How to use leftover rice
If all fails and you’re left with a mountain of gluggy rice our number one tip is…DON’T THROW IT OUT. While it may not be delicious to eat mushy rice on its own, it can be repurposed into a whole range of dishes:
Cheesy rice fritters
One cup of leftover rice plus a few other ingredients is all it takes to make these super crispy cheesy rice fritters that the kids will love. Bonus: heaps of hidden veg too!
Mediterranean tuna & rice bake
With your leftover clumpy rice, you can whip up this super easy and satisfying rice bake – perfect for dinner and lunchboxes the next day.
Our favourite way to cook rice: Garlic butter rice
While there are millions of recipes to try out your new-found skills, we think this garlic butter rice is delicious and pretty foolproof. The recipe uses a packet of French onion soup mix, making this rice extra extra delish. Serve with anything you desire (curry, casserole, even as a BBQ side!) and keep this recipe in your repertoire to enjoy this garlicky, buttery goodness whenever the craving hits.
More rice recipes:
FAQs
If your rice has absorbed too much liquid, the grains may have split and the starches may have given the rice a soft, gluey consistency.
What causes rice to go Gluggy? ›
Gluggy rice is simply rice that has been overcooked and absorbed too much water. If it sticks together in clumps, it usually indicates a lot of starch. You won't notice the starch coating each of the rice grains before you start cooking, but when it hits the water and heats up, it becomes extremely gluey.
Does washing rice make it less sticky? ›
Contrary to what chefs will tell you, this study showed the washing process had no effect on the stickiness (or hardness) of the rice.
Why is my rice mushy on the outside and hard on the inside? ›
And if you don't cook the rice long enough, it gets soft on the outside but doesn't cook through. Of course, you also need to keep in mind variables that are unique to you and your kitchen, such as how hot your stove runs, if your stove runs on gas or electricity, and how thick or thin your pot is.
Does more water mean stickier rice? ›
Fill a large pot with 2 cups (450 milliliters) of water and add a few extra tablespoons of water. Using more water than you actually need will help make the ricer stickier and clumpier. Consider adding a dash of salt. This will give the rice some flavor and make it taste less bland.
How much water for 2 cups of rice? ›
For tender grains of rice that easily separate, such as in a pilaf, use 2 cups of water for every 1 cup of rice. You can also use another liquid like stock in this 2:1 ratio. For slightly chewier, fluffy white rice, use 1 1/2 cups of water for every cup of rice, or a 1.5:1 ratio.
How to stop rice from going gluggy? ›
Why does my rice turn out gluggy/mushy? Mushy rice is simply the result of overcooking. To avoid this, timing is key. If you're boiling rice, you need to drain it as soon as the grains are cooked through.
How do I keep rice from getting sticky? ›
by adding in just a little bit of vinegar. it'll prevent your rice from being sticky. and look at that, your rice is cooked to perfection.
Do Chinese wash rice before cooking? ›
It depends on what you're making
"They don't really wash their rice because what they want to do is retain the [starch] that is essential in making sure the dish ends up tasting creamy. "Whereas in Asian cultures, the tendency is always to wash the rice," Tan says.
How to cook rice so it's not mushy? ›
- First, you need to make sure you have the correct ratio of water to rice. Most bags say 2:1 but I tend to change that slightly. ...
- Once you don't get water pouring toward the tip, take the rice off the heat and let it sit for about 5 minutes. Then fluff with a fork.
- It won't be sticky or mushy.
When rice turns out gummy or clumps together, it's generally a sign that there was a lot of extra starch coating each of the grains before they were cooked.
What to put in rice to make it not sticky? ›
Oil will make the rice non sticky and fluffy. Just before 2 minutes last cooking of rice… add few drops of lemon juice.
Should you rinse rice? ›
“But in all seriousness, it's important to wash rice because it removes any excess starch so that when you cook it the grains remain separate.” For creamy dishes like rice porridge, risotto, or rice pudding that benefit starch's sticky nature, you can skip the thorough rinse.
How do you prevent rice from getting sticky? ›
by adding in just a little bit of vinegar. it'll prevent your rice from being sticky. and look at that, your rice is cooked to perfection.
Why does my rice bubble up? ›
Why Your Rice Boils Over. Rice grains are coated in lots of starch — more than you'd think possible for such tiny grains. When boiled in water, those starches form big, soapy, angry bubbles that steam pushes up and out of the pot.
Why does my Mexican rice come out mushy? ›
The rice should be a tiny bit on the dry side (but still soft and fluffy). If your rice is really wet and mushy, you probably added too much water and/or overcooked it.
