It happened, you undercooked your rice – now what? Not to worry, this guide will help you determine if rice is overcooked, undercooked and just how to fix it.
Most often, you can chalk your problem rice up to the length of time you cooked it for, the temperature and in what pot. Once you get an understanding of how you undercooked the rice, then you can look at how to fix it.
Table of Contents
Why is the Rice Undercooked?
Generally, it’s the water that causes undercooked rice to boil and evaporate before the rice has the chance to cook thoroughly.
This means that the rice is still hard in the middle. You can easily tell this before even eating it – all you have to do is press the grain of rice between your finger and thumb.
If the outer layer is easy to squeeze, but the center isn’t, then your rice is undercooked. Another easy sign is that undercooked rice is often both hard and crusty.
How To Tell If Rice Is Undercooked?
It’s important to note that properly cooked rice is fluffy, soft and cooked thoroughly. To obtain this, you will need to start with the right ratio of water to rice, which can depend on the type of rice you’re cooking.
If you have the heat too high, the water will evaporate quicker than the rice can cook. If there isn’t enough water, then your rice will end up dry and crunchy. In addition to that, if you don’t cook rice long enough, it will be soft on the outside and hard on the inside.
How to Fix Undercooked Rice in Rice Cooker
First let the rice sit in warm mode for about 10 minutes – this will allow the rice grains to soak up any leftover water. Afterwards, remove the lid and place a grain in between your thumb and finger to check the texture.
If you find that the rice is still undercooked after that, then here’s what to do:
- Pour half a cup of boiling water over the rice.
- Stir the rice with a fork to separate the grains, place the lid back on.
- Set the rice to cook, and continue cooking it for another 2 to 3 minutes. After that, recheck the rice. If it’s soft, you’re good to go, if it’s still hard, repeat the process.
- Repeat as many times as necessary.
How to Fix Undercooked Rice in the Microwave
Place the undercooked rice in a microwave-safe bowl. Wet a couple of pieces of paper towel, squeeze about 20 percent of the water out and drape the sheets over the bowl. Be sure to completely cover the rice but not touch them with paper towels.
Microwave the rice in two, one-minute intervals, while checking the rice in between. This method is usually successful because of the moisture in the paper towels turning into steam. With nowhere to go, the steam then locks into the rice and continues cooking the rice. Don’t forget to fluff and serve!
Tips for Fixing Undercooked Rice
Here are some suggestions on how to fix undercooked rice that is dependent on the situation:
How to Fix Soggy Rice
If rice absorbs too much water, it can cause your grains to become gummy and split. When this happens, it is due to starches that are released.
The bad news is that you can’t unglue the rice, but you can add some milk, vanilla and sugar to make it into a creamy rice pudding. Next time, rinse the rice with cold water and drain it through a sieve to get rid of any excess starches.
How to Fix Watery Rice
Time is up, but your rice isn’t cooked and there’s still water left – what to do? Simply continue to cook the rice on low, with a lid on for about 5 more minutes.
From there, remove from heat and let stand for 10 minutes, fluff and serve.
How to Fix Crunchy Rice
If you’re not a fan of your rice having a bit of a crunch to it, then just add a 1/4 cup boiling water to the pot, cook on low for about 5 minutes with the lid on. Do not rush the process and do not turn up the heat or you will end up with the same result.
How to Fix Hard Rice
Do you love your noodles cooked Al dente but not your rice, then don’t worry. To correct this, simply transfer the rice into a microwave-safe bowl and cover. Microwave the rice for about 2 minutes or until it softens and you see steam. Or, you can put the pot back on the stove on low heat for 2 minutes, when time is up let the rice sit for 10 minutes, fluff and serve.
Can You Eat Undercooked Rice?
No! Both raw and undercooked rice can contain a bacteria called Bacillus Cereus. While it isn’t harmful in cooked rice, in undercooked rice it can multiply and cause you to get sick. For this reason, it is advised that you don’t eat cold, cooked rice or undercooked rice.
How To Fix Burnt Rice
If your rice is black, burnt and smells burnt – sorry you will need to discard it! If the bottom of the pan is light brown, you can scrape it off and eat your rice as a crunchy snack.
How To Prevent Rice From Overflowing on the Stove Top
Everyone has probably been here before – the rice bubbles up and overflows with the water. The reason why this occurs is that you are either cooking at too high of a temperature or you’re using too small of a pan. It’s important to note that rice expands as it boils.
This problem can be avoided by simply rinsing the rice before you cook it.
How Long Can Cooked Rice Last
You can keep rice safely in your fridge for up to five days – while being aware of the possibility of the growth of bacteria.
Fixing Undercooked Rice Step-by-Step Instructions
Ingredients
- 1 cup undercooked rice
- boiling water
Instructions
- Pour half a cup of boiling water over the rice in your rice cooker.
- Stir the rice with a fork to separate the grains, and put the lid back on.
- Set the rice to cook, and continue cooking it for another 2 to 3 minutes. After that, recheck the rice. If it’s soft, you’re good to go, if it’s still hard, repeat the process.
- Repeat as many times as necessary.
Thank you for saving my undercooked rice using the rice maker.
Hi Sarah, Great to hear and thanks for your comment.