How do you use saffron to make rice yellow?

Question

I put pan of rice on and added quite a few strands of saffron and the rice came out white!! Are you meant to grind it first or something?

Answer 1

Place the saffron in a small bowl and cover with 3 tablespoons of boiling water.
Soak for 10 minutes.


http://www.recipezaar.com/55617

Answer 2

First you toast/dry it. I do it by putting the strands on a bit of kitchen paper and then on top of the lid of a pan that's cooking, the heat alone will do it. I also heard some people put it in the microwave. In any case, once toasted/dried, ground it by squeezing it whilst still inside the paper, you should get something resembling a red/orange powder.

After all that, you put it in the liquid that you're going to use to cook your rice in, water or stock, then you'll see how the colour really comes out of it.

To be honest with you, most professional chefs in Spain, when cooking paella they use a special additive to give it that bright yellow, it's cheaper than saffron. I know it's called "reunidos" in the Canary Islands, but I don't know what's called in mainland Spain. In any case, I'm sure a very small amount of turmeric could do at a pinch, enough to give you colour but not to taste it.

Answer 3

Soak the Saffron in hot water for half an hour then put the whole mixture in the water with the rice.

Answer 4

Just as Morrocan say's...use Turmeric.
This will make your rice go yellow and it's only a fraction of the price of Saffron.

Answer 5

i use pure saffron,a few strands added to the rice as soon as it boils and mine always colours yellow and a good flavour.

Answer 6

Saffron itself will not color the rice....even if it is ground.

Commercial saffron rice products use food coloring to get the yellow color.

Answer 7

Dissolve it in a cup of water for 1/2 and hour and it should work out ok.

Answer 8

6 stigmas to a cup o rice will do it then cook rice as normal

Answer 9

I think you put the safron in the water and leave it boil a bit before adding anything to it.

Answer 10

I think Chris is right on this.........but if you want a good flavor to your rice try adding a chicken bullion cube when cooking.