How come the instructions on rice always tell you to use a lot more water than you really need?

Question

Do they think you're trying to make a soup or something? LOL

Answer 1

Are they rice cooker or stove top instructions? It makes a difference. The kind of rice makes a difference too. Is it covered or unconvered? It makes a difference. They try to make it as idiot proof as possible, but it looks like you can't make rice =P.

Answer 2

I don't know why they tell you to use more than enough water>>> but i can tell you exactly how much water to use for perfect rice and why!

The following method was given to me by a lady who cooked a lot of rice as she was of Indian descent. She cooked a lot of rice .

take one quantity of rice (small cupful is enough for 2 people)
place a small knob of butter in a saucepan and put heat on high.
When melted, add the rice to the pan. Keep stirring so that the raw rice is 'frying' off the starch. Keep this up for a minute or so, the pan should be very hot.
Add one quantity (same cup) of HOT water to the rice.
When the water goes in it will sizzle like mad ... this is good.
Stir and then add another cup of hot water.
Let the rice and water boil fast for a couple of minutes then PUT THE LID ON THE PAN AND TAKE OFF THE HEAT.

The rice will keep on cooking itself whilst absorbing the water.
When you take off the lid and stir the rice it will be perfect and fluffy with no water left over.
The rice has steamed itself in the correct amount of water!

Enjoy!

Answer 3

The amount of water (assuming white, medium- to long-grain rice) isn't "a lot more than you need"....it's just right.

Most grains, such as rice, can absorb several times their own volume in liquid. Arborio rice (the kind used to make Risotto) can absorb seven or eight times it's own volume. A good rule of thumb is twice as much water (liquid) as rice, volume-wise. Brown and wild rices will require less liquid; small grain rice will require more.

Answer 4

Because the rice absorbs a lot of the water. Without enough water, your rice will be dry, and too hard.

Answer 5

Rice soaks up water as it cooks - causing it to expand. Brown rice takes nearly two and a half times as much water to rice ratio to cook properly. Long grain white - you're ok with just twice as much water as rice. ...And, of course - good ol' Minute Rice is the fastest!

Something else - Rice will take water right out of the air as it heats. if you purchase one of those "moist heat" microwavable heating pads, they often contain rice for this reason. The hot rice pulls moisture out of the air - causing it to expand. As it cools, it releases moisture into your treating area, helping to reduce inflamation. Weird, huh?

Peace hon. --De

Answer 6

you need instructions to cook rice? wow! honestly there are many kinds of rice and many ways of cooking it. firmer rice for salads, soft rice for stir fry etc. there's basmati, jasmine or good old red rose, brown rice needs much more water. in asia there is sticky rice. rice should rest after cooking, from 5 minutes to a half hour (makes it nice and evenly fluffy.

Answer 7

I find one cup rice 2 cups water. Double the amount of water to the amount of rice. If you experiment you may be able to cut the amount of water down to your taste.

Answer 8

well if you still have water in your rice at the end of cooking it.....your rice is either old....or you are not following the instructions correctly and not cooking it long enough....I have never had a problem with rice.....I use comet brand

Answer 9

Because rice soaks up water
Because heat evaporates water

Answer 10

To seperate the coonasses and cajuns from the rest of you people who don't know how to cook rice.