Who would have thought that rinsing rice in a colander would get massive reactions? A BBC Food video on how to cook egg fried rice an uproar all over the interweb.
It sparked various reactions, mostly shock, from Asians on multiple social media platforms. Some even called out BBC for cultural appropriation. To make light of the rice cooking issue, comedian Nigel Ng made a funny video with his Uncle Roger persona. In good fun, Ng also met and cooked with Hersh Patel herself. But the damage has been done.
What she did ‘wrong’
In the BBC Food video, chef Hersha Patel measured the rice to be cooked using a cup. She then used the same cup to measure the water for cooking the rice. Then she put the pot on the stove and started cooking it. Halfway through cooking, she went on to strain the rice on a colander and washed it with tap water. Then she proceeded to use it for egg fried rice. Pretty simple. So what did she do wrong?
First of all, Every Filipino learns from childhood that you have to wash the rice at least twice. Otherwise, your mom will scold you for cooking smelly rice or rice that’s not white enough. Second, Filipino moms or grandmas teach kids the magic of measuring the water for cooking rice using your finger. Using a cup to measure water is unheard of. Lastly, if you drain and rinse the half-cooked rice in a colander, your grandmother will think you’re crazy.
Where she’s right
But is it actually a wrong method? Not for all Asians. Cooking rice in Indian and Persian cuisine actually uses the colander or the “pasta method.” That’s how Persian rice gets its light, fluffy texture. The rice is washed, cooked halfway, and then strained and rinsed before being put back in the pot. Oil, spices, and other ingredients are then added to the pot.
There’s really no right or wrong method. Strain and rinse mid-way of cooking if you’re going for loose and light rice. Skip the strainer and just let the rice cook if you want the rice to stick together. But definitely, you have to wash the rice before cooking.
What’s your take on the great rice debate? Tell us in the comments.