How to cook rice on the stove

But I agree with cookbook author Andrea Nguyen, who says cooking rice on the stove lets you better observe, tweak and understand how to make this staple. Plus, you can’t beat the simplicity, especially if your kitchen equipment is limited.

To help get over my own rice hang-ups, I spent some time with Nguyen in our Food Lab, going step-by-step through her recipe for “10-10-10 Perfect Rice” featured in her new book, “Ever-Green Vietnamese.” Here’s what I learned.

Which type of rice is best?

Nguyen’s go-to method is designed for long-grain rice, and her preferred variety is jasmine. “It has this wonderful chew to it and incredible, incredible aroma when it’s cooking,” she says.

If you can, seek out jasmine rice from Thailand, Nguyen advises. Look for grains that are polished and long, without too many that are broken. The grains should be more translucent than chalky. Nguyen says finding your favorite rice is like picking your favorite brand of jeans, so it’s okay to be choosy and try a few different options before settling on one. Her favorite is Three Ladies.

How to wash rice — and why to do it

Whether you rinse your rice is a matter of personal preference, Nguyen says, though she says it can help eliminate surface starches and reduce gumminess. That way you get more individual grains that don’t stick together. Rinsing “gives it a much cleaner flavor,” she says.

You don’t necessarily have to set the rice in a strainer or separate bowl and dirty more dishes. Nguyen recommends putting the rice in your pot (she likes something with a 2- to 3-quart capacity for cooking 2 cups of dried rice), covering it by about 1 inch of water and stirring with your fingers. Pour off the water — or save to water your plants — and repeat two or three times. The water will be almost, but not crystal, clear.

Water to rice ratio

Nguyen’s recipe calls for a 4-to-5 ratio of rice to water (2 cups rice to 2 1/2 cups water) to get a “chewy, firm texture” with grains that are not too hard or too soft.

Again, this is the kind of thing that comes down to personal preference, so feel free to experiment to reach your desired texture.

Nguyen offers another clever tip if you want to get out of measuring water every time. Once you settle on a pot you like for making rice and the amount of water you prefer, pour in the (measured) amount of water. Then stick your finger in until the tip reaches the surface of the rice and gauge how far up the water goes on your finger. For any future batches, you’ll know how to eyeball the water without your measuring cup.

Tips for cooking rice on a stove

As your water comes to a boil, you’ll want to stir occasionally to even out the cooking, since grains toward the bottom of the pot are closer to the heat, Nguyen says. And it’s okay to do so. Rice is not that delicate. It “can be stirred, prodded or coaxed,” Nguyen says. Once the water boils, drop the heat a little and simmer for 1 to 3 minutes. Don’t walk away. The rice is expanding and absorbing water, so there will be less and less liquid among the grains. Look for little sputtering craters to form on the surface.

How long to cook rice step-by-step

Here comes the easy-to-remember part of the process that explains the name of Nguyen’s recipe. Once those craters form on the surface, reduce the heat to low, cover and cook for 10 minutes. Then turn off the heat, leaving the pot covered and on the burner for another 10 minutes. This allows the rice to continue steaming in the residual heat and moisture. Now it’s time to fluff, using a fork, spatula or chopsticks. Circulating the rice can help soften firmer grains toward the top of the pot, as well as separate them. Re-cover and let rest for a final 10 minutes. The beauty of this method, Nguyen says, is that “you’re going to get a very gentle, even cooking.”

Once you’re done, you can keep the rice covered and warm for up to 30 minutes, just be sure to fluff it right before serving.