The Perfect Pot of Rice

Ingredients

• Salt
• Kosher salt
• Water
• Cold water
• White rice
• Cooked rice

Directions

Place 1 cup long-grain white rice in a fine-mesh sieve and rinse it until the water is clear, which can take as long as a minute. You can also swish the rice in a bowl or pot with several changes of cold water, pouring off the water carefully each time, though the sieve is the easiest route. This rinse removes the surface starch that can make the cooked grains cling to one another. Add the rice, ½ tsp. kosher salt, and 1¼ cups water to a medium saucepan, then stir gently. Bring the mixture to a boil, cover the pot with a snug lid, and turn the heat down to low, using the lowest flame you can. Leave the rice alone as it cooks, with the lid firmly on, for 18 minutes. Take the pan off the heat and let it sit for at least 15 minutes, or until you need it. Before serving, remove the lid and loosen the rice with a fork.