Steaming Jasmine Rice: Bamboo Steamer Secrets

Cooking jasmine rice in a bamboo steamer is a gentle and healthy way to prepare this dish without losing its flavour, shape, and nutrients. Bamboo steamers are made of high-quality and durable bamboo and come with multi-level baskets, allowing you to cook other ingredients like fish, vegetables, or dumplings simultaneously. This method of cooking rice is perfect for those who don't own a rice cooker or are looking for an authentic and stylish way to serve rice.

Soak the rice for at least 4 hours

Soaking the rice is an important step in the process of cooking jasmine rice in a bamboo steamer. This is because the soaking helps to soften the grains before steaming, which will give the rice its desired sticky texture. The minimum recommended soaking time for jasmine rice is four hours, but it can be left to soak for up to 10-12 hours. If you're short on time, you can soak the rice for 3.5 hours using warm water instead of cold.

To soak the rice, simply place the uncooked rice in a bowl and cover it with water, leaving about two inches of water above the rice. Leave the rice to soak for your desired length of time, then drain the water and rinse the rice with fresh water. It is important to ensure that the rice is thoroughly soaked and rinsed to remove any excess starch, which will help to reduce the stickiness of the rice after cooking.

After soaking and rinsing the rice, it is now ready to be placed into the bamboo steamer for cooking. Line the bottom of the steamer with a thin cloth or large lettuce leaves to prevent the rice from falling through the slats of the steamer. Place the rice into the steamer, cover it with the lid, and it's ready to be steamed!

Rinse the rice to remove starch and prevent stickiness

Rinsing the rice is an important step in the process of cooking jasmine rice in a bamboo steamer. It helps to remove excess starch from the rice grains, which can prevent stickiness and clumping after cooking. Here is a detailed guide on rinsing and preparing the rice for cooking in a bamboo steamer:

Firstly, place the desired amount of jasmine rice in a mixing bowl or a colander. Using a bowl allows you to soak the rice after rinsing, which is an optional step that can help achieve a softer texture. If you choose to soak the rice, cover it with water and let it sit for at least 3 hours, or even overnight for the best results.

Now, it's time to rinse the rice. Use cold water and thoroughly wash the rice, swooshing the grains with your fingers to help loosen them up and remove the starch. The water will become cloudy and milky as it dissolves the starch on the rice. Drain this cloudy water and repeat the process of rinsing and draining until the water runs clear. This may take around 4-5 rounds of rinsing and draining. You can use a strainer or a splatter guard to catch the rice grains when pouring out the water, ensuring none are lost down the drain.

After rinsing, if you have soaked the rice, it is now time to drain it. If you did not soak the rice, simply proceed to the next step. Drain the rice in a colander and give it another good rinse. Now your rice is ready to be steamed!

By rinsing the rice to remove starch, you will help prevent the rice from becoming sticky and clumpy. This technique is especially important when cooking sticky rice varieties, as they have a higher starch content. Rinsing ensures your cooked jasmine rice is fluffy, tender, and separate, with a delightful texture.

Line the steamer with parchment paper or cheesecloth

When lining the steamer with parchment paper, make sure the paper is secure and lying flat before adding the rice. You can do this by clipping the paper to the sides of the steamer with clothes pegs. Once the paper is in place, pour in the rice and pat it down to form an even layer. Remove the clothes pegs before placing the lid on the steamer.

If you're using cheesecloth, place the rinsed rice on top of the cloth and wrap it around the grains before placing the lid on the steamer. This will ensure the rice is covered completely and help to retain moisture.

Using parchment paper, cheesecloth, or another type of liner will prevent the rice from falling through the slats in the steamer and create a barrier between the rice and the steamer, which can help to prevent sticking and make clean-up easier.

Add water to the pot and bring to a boil

Now it's time to cook your jasmine rice in your bamboo steamer. First, add water to a pot and bring it to a boil. The amount of water you add will depend on the size of your pot. You want to ensure that when you place the bamboo steamer on top, the water level is below the bottom of the steamer. Ideally, the water level should be about 1 cm or 2 inches below the steamer. This ensures that the bottom of the steamer doesn't get wet.

It's important to note that the water in the pot will evaporate over time, so be diligent about adding more water to the pot as needed. If all the water evaporates, your bamboo steamer risks burning and becoming damaged.

Once the water is boiling, you can place the bamboo steamer on top of the pot. The steamer should fit tightly into the pot to avoid steam from escaping around the sides.

Place the steamer on top of the pot and cover with a lid

Now that you've prepared your rice for steaming, it's time to cook it. Place the steamer basket on top of the pot, ensuring that the water level is about 2–3 inches and will not touch the bottom of the steamer. This is important to avoid the rice coming into direct contact with the water, which is not how steaming works. The water should also not be boiling when you place the rice inside the steamer.

Once the steamer is in place, cover the pot with a lid. This will trap the steam inside, allowing it to circulate and cook the rice evenly. Turn on the stove to the highest setting to bring the water to a boil. The rice will now be gently cooked by the rising steam.

Keep the lid on throughout the cooking process to maintain the steam and heat. Depending on the recipe you are following, you may need to add more water to the pot as it evaporates. This is important to prevent the bamboo steamer from burning and getting damaged.

Frequently asked questions