Rice that's too sticky: how do you make up for it?
by Karine Lemoine
The rice is taken out of the pot in a compact, sticky mass instead of well-detached grains. Is it possible to catch up with him, or do you have to start all over again?
In most cases, rice that is too sticky can be saved with a few simple actions, as long as you understand why it stuck.
Table of Contents
Here are the most common causes and techniques for making up for overly sticky rice.
Why does rice get sticky
Rice sticks mainly because ofstarchreleased to the surface of the grains during cooking. The longer the rice cooks, the more starch it makes into the water, and the more grains tend to clump together. Too much water, cooking for too long, or stirring the rice too much during cooking also promote this result.
Rinse to remove excess starch
If the rice is still hot and slightly overcooked, arinsing with hot waterin a colander removes some of the starch on the surface, which is responsible for the sticky effect. Simply pass the rice under hot water, stirring gently with a fork, then drain it well. This gesture separates the beans without further damaging them.
Spread and dry to loosen the kernels
Another solution is toSpread the rice on a baking sheet or large platter, in a thin layer, so that it cools and dries in the open air for about ten minutes. The evaporation of moisture on the surface helps the grains to separate from each other.
For rice that is still very humid, a quick passage in the oven at low temperature (about 100°C), on a tray, for a few minutes, accelerates this drying without drying out the inside of the grains. It should be monitored regularly so as not to let it harden.
Our tips
►Rinse off with hot water, not cold
Hot water removes starch on the surface without freezing the grains, unlike cold water, which can result in firmer but still clumpy rice.
►Do not cover the rice while waiting
Leave the rice in the open rather than under a lid: trapped steam maintains humidity and worsens the sticky effect.
►Rinse the rice before cooking next time
To avoid the problem from the start, rinse the raw rice under cold water until it becomes clear, in order to remove some of the starch even before cooking.
Rice that is too sticky is not lost: rinsing in hot water and drying well in the air or in the oven are often enough to find well-loosened grains.
You can also read:How much water does it take to cook basmati riceandHow to thicken a spaghetti sauce that is too liquid.
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