17 November 2023
We’ve pulled together our favourite tips and tricks, so you can cook perfect, fluffy rice that tastes delicious, every time.
Rice is one of the most wonderful staples of our diet, spanning back centuries, enjoyed throughout the ages, and used in a number of mouth-watering dishes across multiple different cultures. Whether you’re confident in the kitchen or still learning the basics, we’ve pulled together our favourite tips and tricks, so you can cook perfect, fluffy rice that tastes delicious, every time.
All you need to wash your rice is a bowl and a free hand. Start by measuring out your rice and placing it in a bowl that gives you plenty of room, then cover the grains in cold water. Gently swirl your hand through the rice until the water becomes cloudy. Discard the liquid, being careful not to lose any runaway grains, and repeat three to four times until the water is clear.
You can also put your rice in a sieve and rinse it under a tap, but doing it this way, it’s more difficult to see the colour change and ends up using more water.
The amount of rice served per person varies whether you’re cooking it as a side dish or as the main course (ignoring ‘how hungry are you?’ as a factor). We recommend 50-75g of dry uncooked rice per person, using more for main dishes and less for side dishes.
Too much water in your pot can leave your rice as a soggy mess, too little and it will be underdone and likely burn at the bottom. The good news is there’s a simple, foolproof way of getting it right every time, and you don’t need any fancy equipment or magic water-to-rice ratios, just your finger.
The finger trick, or first knuckle method, is quick, easy and it works for any type of rice. Simply add the amount of rice you want to cook into the pot and make sure it’s level. Then put your index finger on top of the rice and add cold water until it reaches the first line of your index finger from the top. And that’s it.
If you don’t trust the finger trick, read our how to cook Basmati rice guide here, which covers the open pan and covered pan/absorption methods. Or, generally speaking, 2-parts water to 1-part rice is a good ratio, with 1 ½ parts water to 1 part rice for slightly firmer rice.
If you’re cooking our microwave pouches, you’ll only need your fingers to squeeze the pouch and tear the strip, and you don’t need any water at all!
If you’re looking to elevate your rice dish, try toasting it in oil until it browns ever so slightly. It will bring out more flavour and give your rice a delicious nuttiness. As an added bonus, it also reduces the cooking time because you’ve softened the starch and avoids it getting clumpy.
Some people say it’s actually better to freeze rice rather than storing it in the fridge, and this works for all types of grains. It can be frozen cooked, or uncooked, just make sure to cool it down before freezing it. A great way to do this quickly is by spreading it out on a shallow bowl, plate or tray and then transferring it to freezer-safe containers or bags as soon as possible. Remember to label your portions and use them within one month.
Whether fridge-cold or frozen, reheating pre-cooked rice is perfectly safe to do. The same as when you’re preparing your rice for freezing, cool down your cooked rice and get it in the fridge. Make sure you reheat it until it’s piping hot. For a more in-depth guide, read our full blog on how to reheat and store rice.
Cooked too much rice for dinner? Don’t throw it away, leftover rice is perfect for making fried rice. It has a drier, firmer texture than freshly cooked rice, which contains too much moisture. It also has a slight flavour which can enhance its taste. Just make sure the rice is completely cool before using it, because if it’s still warm, it will be sticky and difficult to stir-fry.
At Tilda, we believe fluffy rice starts with the right grain. Using high-quality rice like Tilda Jasmine or Basmati means you’re already halfway there. The rest comes down to simple steps: rinse the grains until the water runs clear (to wash away excess starch), use the right ratio of rice to water (1 part rice to 1.5 parts water for long grain or jasmine), and resist the urge to stir while it cooks.
Once the cooking is done, leave the rice covered for 5 minutes to steam, then fluff gently with a fork. This ensures each grain stays separate, light and fragrant. With Tilda, you can trust that every meal will have that perfect texture.
Try infusing your Basmati with aromatic Star Anise whilst cooking. The star-shaped spice is one of the central spices in Chinese cooking and gives a sweet, liquorice flavour, similar to aniseed.
If you want to turn up the heat, try adding some smoked paprika. It’s the perfect spice to complement Brown Basmati.
Jasmine rice teams perfectly with lemongrass, galangal, lime, green chilli and kaffir lime leaves.
Adding parmesan cheese, mushrooms and asparagus to arborio rice really enhances the flavour.
The big thing to remember: rice should be cooked until it’s piping hot all the way through. This ensures the grains are safe to eat and have that perfect fluffy texture.
Once you press start, trust the cooker. Opening the lid lets out steam and disrupts the cooking cycle.
Let the rice cool to body temperature before you handle it. Too hot and it’ll be hard to work with; too cold and it’ll lose stickiness.
Our fried rice recipes for inspiration
Egg Fried Long Grain Rice 250g
Chicken Fried Rice
Oriental flavours of five spice and ginger create a mouthwatering stir fry dish.
Char Siu Pork & Egg Fried Rice
This delicious dish is made using Tilda Egg Fried rice, vegetables and tender pork for the perfect quick and easy midweek recipe.
Pure Basmati Rice 500g
Egg Fried Rice
Better than a takeaway! Cooked rice stir fried with eggs, spring onion and a touch of 5 spice.
Egg and Vegetable Fried Rice
A simple yet delicious simple fried rice which is ideal with left over rice.
Pure Steamed Basmati Rice 250g
Air Fryer Chicken Fried Rice
A quick lunch or midweek meal go-to! An easy homemade Asian inspired chicken fried rice.
Long Grain Rice 250g
Kimchi Fried Rice
A popular Korean dish that is both delicious and quick for midweek meals. Best served with Tilda Easy Cook Long Grain Rice and topped with a slightly runny fried egg!
Golden Soy and Sesame Fried Rice
Our fluffy and slender Pure Basmati is the perfect rice for the spices and high temperature of delicious Golden Soy and Sesame Fried Rice
Special Fried Rice
Authentic and delicious fried rice with prawns and fresh ginger.