Most of the world cooks rice by dropping it in boiling water. Things are a bit different in India, where we use pressure cookers, which change things up. I will talk about both methods of cooking here. Obviously, different varieties of rice need to be cooked differently. Basmati takes a lot less water, sona masuri, depending on it’s age, can take even more water than mentioned here, and brown rice takes double the time to cook.

Usually, 1 cup of rice is enough for 2 people.

The Pressure-Cooker Method

When using pressure cooker, people use two methods of checking. Most women count the ‘whistles’, which means the number of whistles after the first whistle. I know that some women cook on the max setting throughout, but I prefer to reduce the flame to minimum after the first whistle.

Proportions:
Basmati Rice: 1 cup rice, 1 cup water
Sona Masoori Rice: 1 cup rice, 2 cups water
Brown Rice: 1 cup rice, 3 cups water

Method:

• Wash the rice twice.
• Put the rice into the pressure cooker and add the water.
• Cook on high flame until the first whistle.
• TIME: Reduce the flame to minimum and cook for 5 minutes. (10 min for brown rice)

OR

• WHISTLE: Reduce the flame and cook until the next whistle.

Note: If you have an induction cook top, you will need to place the rice inside of another vessel within the pressure cooker, otherwise the rice at the bottom will burn.

The Open Cooking Method

• Wash the rice twice.
• For cooking 1 cup rice, bring about 4-5 cups of water to a boil.
• Pour the rice in, let it come to a boil again and then reduce the flame and let it simmer.
• Do NOT cover the vessel unless you are standing right next to it, or the foam will push the lid over and spill.
•  Boil for exactly 10 min (brown rice might take a bit more than 20).
• Inspect the grain of rice – if there is a ridge along the length of the grain, then it is cooked well. Taste about 1/4 teaspoonful, to make sure that it is cooked properly.
• Cover the vessel with a lid, leaving a narrow gap on one edge. Tilt it in the sink until all the water is drained. This water can also be poured to the plants, it is very nourishing.
• For best results, let it sit for another 5-10 min. It will continue to cook in it’s own heat and become softer.
• Note: To get the rice to look perfect, every grain separate from the other, add 2 pinches of cooking soda, 1 tsp of oil and salt to the water before you pour the rice in. Cooking soda is not a good thing to eat regularly, so I do this only if it is a special occasion.

The Microwave Method

Proportions:
1 cup rice
2 cups water, heated

Method:

• Wash the rice twice.
• Put the rice and add hot water.
• Cover and cook on HIGH for about 6 minutes.
• Let stand covered for 10 minutes
• Optionally, you could soak the rice for 10 minutes and then microwave it covered for 15 min