I still remember when I was young, cooking rice every day was quite a chore. First, I had to light the stove, then add a suitable amount of water to the pot. Once the water boiled, I could add the rice. When the rice was half-cooked, I had to scoop some of the water out of the pot. Finally, I would cover the pot and cook on low heat to let the rice finish cooking by steam.

Now, with the development of science and technology, cooking rice has become much easier. All I need to do is rinse the rice, put it in the rice cooker, press the button, and in less than half an hour, the rice will be done. Although cooking rice with a rice cooker is very simple, not everyone knows the secret to making the rice delicious and soft.

With the development of science and technology, cooking rice has become much easier.

Most people just add water to the rice and start cooking. However, adding just water is not enough! To get fragrant, soft rice with distinct grains, we only need to add two ingredients to the water when cooking. Over the years, whenever friends asked me, "Why is your rice so delicious?", I always shared this method with them. After trying it out, they all praised the effectiveness of this secret.

Step 1: Rinse the rice
Many people, when rinsing rice, put it in water, rub it quickly, change the water, and continue until the water runs clear. However, this method can wash away a lot of vitamin C and aromatic compounds on the surface of the rice, which makes the rice less fragrant when cooked. The correct way to rinse rice is to put the rice in water, gently rub it once, and then rinse with clean water.

Step 2: Soak the rice
After rinsing the rice, soak it in water for about 15-20 minutes. Soaking helps the rice expand more evenly, making the rice softer when cooked. Additionally, the aromatic compounds in the rice will mix better with the water, giving the rice a delicious fragrance. However, don't soak the rice for too long; if you soak it for more than half an hour, the rice will lose its texture.

Step 3: Rice-to-water ratio
The rice-to-water ratio is also very important. To make the rice soft without being too mushy, the ratio should be 1:1.2.

Step 4: Add two ingredients
To make the rice fragrant, soft, and shiny, add 3 drops of white vinegar and half a teaspoon of peanut oil. Vinegar has an acidic property, which helps to denature the starch, making the rice softer when cooked. Most oils have a pleasant fragrance; adding a bit of oil not only enhances the rice's aroma but also makes it look more beautiful.

Avoid using soybean oil, canola oil, or oils with a strong scent. If possible, you should add a spoonful of coconut oil to further enhance the flavor of the rice.

To make the rice fragrant, soft, and shiny, add 3 drops of white vinegar and half a teaspoon of peanut oil.

Step 5: Cook the rice
The rice cooker usually has a setting to cook rice. You just need to adjust it according to the instructions. Once the rice is cooked, don't open the lid immediately. Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes before opening the lid. This allows the fragrance to deeply infuse each grain of rice.