Title: Is it cold or hot to cook rice? Many people don't know, no wonder rice is not delicious when cooked
Cooking rice seems to be a simple thing in our daily life, but there is a question that many people do not understand - whether to cook rice in cold water or hot water, which is a question that plagues countless housewives and chefs. And I, as a master of life tricks, have also faced this problem. In the process of exploring, practicing and summarizing, I have discovered some amazing facts and experienced some unforgettable stories, let me share them with you.
When I was a child, I used to see my grandmother always wash the rice in hot water first and then cook it in hot water when she was cooking. She told me that this makes the rice fuller and more flavorful. However, when I grew up and started to live independently, I found that some people cook rice in cold water, believing that this preserves the nutrients in the rice. Both approaches have their supporters, but which one is the right one?
One day, I decided to conduct an experiment to answer this question. I cooked the rice in hot and cold water, respectively, and invited a few friends to taste it. The result was unexpected, and there was almost no difference between the texture and taste of the two rices, which puzzled me. So I decided to dig deeper.
I started to look up the relevant information and learned that the cooking process of rice is mainly the penetration of water and the condensation of starch inside the rice grains. Proponents of boiling rice in cold water argue that starting with cold water can allow the rice grains to absorb enough water, avoiding a sudden increase in external temperature that causes the outer layer of the rice grains to condense prematurely, thus affecting the taste of the rice. People who cook rice in hot water believe that hot water penetrates the rice grains faster, shortens the cooking time, and also makes the rice fuller. It seems that there is some truth on both sides.
However, to my surprise, I found in practice that in addition to the water temperature, factors such as the variety of rice, the quality of the water, and the control of the heat can all have an impact on the final taste of the rice. For example, some rice has a higher starch content and becomes more viscous when cooked, while some water contains a lot of minerals that give the rice some special flavors. This made me realize that cooking rice is not as simple as it seems, and there are many details and tricks involved.
In the course of my exploration, I also encountered some surprises. Once, when I was cooking rice in cold water, I accidentally put some extra water, and the cooked rice was too moist and had a very bad taste. Once, when I was cooking rice in hot water, I was surprised when the rice was cooked due to improper control of the heat. Although these accidents made me a little frustrated, they also gave me a deeper understanding of the techniques and points of cooking rice.
In addition to water temperature and heat, the preservation and processing of rice are also important factors that affect the taste. I once tried to make fried rice out of leftover rice, but because the rice was not stored properly, the fried rice was so dry and hard that it was impossible to eat. Later, I learned to store leftover rice in the refrigerator and soak it in a little water before stir-frying rice, which made the fried rice taste much better. At the same time, I have also tried to use rice for sushi and porridge, and found that different processing methods can give different textures and flavors to rice, which is eye-opening.
Through these practices and summaries, I gradually figured out how to cook rice that suits me. I've found that whether you're using hot or cold water, it's important to keep the heat right so that the rice is cooked but not too mushy, and that you also pay attention to the preservation and processing of the rice so that it retains its best taste and nutritional value. In the process, I also experienced the joys and challenges of life, learned to enjoy every cooking process, and let my creativity and imagination run wild.
To sum up, there is no set answer as to whether to use cold or hot water to cook rice. The key is to master the skills and points of cooking rice well, and adjust it according to your taste preferences and habits. And in the process, we can also continue to explore and experiment, and discover more culinary pleasures. I hope my experience and story can inspire you and make you go further and further on the road of cooking rice, and the more you go, the more delicious it will be!