Cant cook rice

grahamg

grahamg

Old codger
Location
South of Manchester, UK
I came across an amusing fact concerning a young man employed by the same agency I use.

He told me he'd never cooked rice before, and seemed to think it might be beyond his culinary skills.

I'm pretty useless as a cook myself, and am not averse to resorting to beans on toast, cheese on toast etc. a apparently he does most often too (he can cook pasta thank the lord, and makes something with tuna apparently).

I have to say "what was his mother up to", (or father), turning him out in life so unskilled? Maybe its more common than it seems to be this ignorant, and maybe be a "good woman" will one day train him a little, and you never know he could turn out quite competent. He's ever such a nice lad, so lets hope he does eat properly, now he's got access to a kitchen in his new digs.
 

I worked with a teenage girl who didn't know how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Sometimes some of the kids are just that coddled. My mom wouldn't show me how to cook. I had to rely on home economics.
 
If the young man uses Tilda brand rice, he won't go wrong. It's the easiest rice to cook. There are so many recipes online and on YouTube these days. Perhaps he will go that route.
 
I never cared for cooking until I retired and then it became a hobby. That young man's mother was probably an old fashioned mother who thought his wife will take care of him and his needs. BUT, he's now an adult, he can easily Google how to cook rice, no need to blame the mother.

I only use brown rice. I boil two cups of water, then add in one cup of brown rice, stir, cover, lower heat to medium-low, and cook for 30 minutes. Shut off the heat and let it stay on the hot burner another 30 minutes. Remove the lid, ruffle with a fork, and voila! Perfect rice every time.
 
I cook rice the way my Mom cooked it and I haven't run across anyone who cooked it her way,which I'm pretty sure was the wrong way. She made it almost like you would cook pasta only she started it in cold water. Add any amount of rice to some cold water, salted or not, simmer until done and drain.
I find no difference in texture or flavor than when measuring the water and rice out. It is easier because I don't have to make a set amount of rice and it takes less watching. I add butter when ready to serve.
There may possibly be a difference in nutritional value but maybe a bit less calories because quite a bit of starch comes out in the water that is drained off .
Whatever method is used I hope the poor man eventually figures out how to cook rice.
 
Unless he tries making short-grain, glutinous sushi rice .. he should be safe enough starting off with a long grain rice such as basmati. Short-grain has to be rinsed over & over until the water runs clear. Long grain is much easier to cook, for someone who is a "beginner".
 
My mom was a great cook on top of the stove. Some say that magic happens in the oven. When my mon put stuff in the oven, I'm not sure it was magic, but something unearthly happened in there. NASA is still using her cookies as heat shields on their space craft. I remember when I was a kid asking her why her cookies looked shiny like glass.
 
Catlady said:
I never cared for cooking until I retired and then it became a hobby. That young man's mother was probably an old fashioned mother who thought his wife will take care of him and his needs. BUT, he's now an adult, he can easily Google how to cook rice, no need to blame the mother.

I only use brown rice. I boil two cups of water, then add in one cup of brown rice, stir, cover, lower heat to medium-low, and cook for 30 minutes. Shut off the heat and let it stay on the hot burner another 30 minutes. Remove the lid, ruffle with a fork, and voila! Perfect rice every time.
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If you have a glass lid on your pot it's easy to see when the rice is ready. It fluffs up nicely. It depends on the rice you use. e.g. par boiled, or the type like Arborio for risotto.
 
My mom never taught me to cook or bake for that matter. I can cook but pie crust is beyond me and it's to high calorie for me now.

Follow the recipe on the box/bag. Anyone can learn to cook if they get an easy recipe book like Betty Crocker or Joy of Cooking.

There are some that are just not interested in cooking (like my hubby) and if I don't feel like cooking he gets soup (from a can) and a sandwich. I can also order a pizza or chinese.
 
Camper6 said:
My sister makes great pie crust. She tells me that pie crust is more art than science.

She tells me "you have to feel the dough". Well I do feel it and it's nice and soft but when I bake it, it's harder than a brick.
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I'd settle for the brick. Mine comes out like paper. I think I need to start paying attn to the women making pies in movies. I found this on FB or something. Not sure how accurate it is.
piecrust.jpg
 
MarciKS said:
I'd settle for the brick. Mine comes out like paper. I think I need to start paying attn to the women making pies in movies. I found this on FB or something. Not sure how accurate it is.
View attachment 96607
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I found out that American flour is different than Canadian flour so that might account for the difference in the crust.

Roll out, bake,? Hmmn! I do that and it shrinks right back . It must have something to do with gluten.

There's a secret in adding the water. You just can't dump the water in. And this is where the art takes over from the science. You are supposed to add just enough water a little at a time(and it has to be ice water) so that the dough clings together. Too much and the dough will be tough.

I'm just going to buy the Pillsbury dough for pies.
 
IrisSenior said:
My mom never taught me to cook or bake for that matter. I can cook but pie crust is beyond me and it's to high calorie for me now.

Follow the recipe on the box/bag. Anyone can learn to cook if they get an easy recipe book like Betty Crocker or Joy of Cooking.

There are some that are just not interested in cooking (like my hubby) and if I don't feel like cooking he gets soup (from a can) and a sandwich. I can also order a pizza or chinese.
Click to expand...
Yes you can learn to cook after you make about 15 mistakes. Then it's easy.

When I had to learn how to cook everyone lost weight.

Cook books.? You have to learn the weird words. Like fold in the white of an egg. Or dot the apples with butter. O.K. Why do I have to dot the apples with butter?
 
I have never cooked rice. My wife has been feeding me for 60 years and making a good job of it, I am 40 pounds heavier than when we married.
 

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