Is soaking rice as good as boiling it?

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I heard that one could soak rice in a bowl of water and some time later (overnight?) it would be edible, as if it was boiled. I'm trying it out now, let you know the results tomorrow. Anyone else got good information on this, techniques to improve the outcome etc. If it is possible, seems a good fuel saving economy. What about pasta? Can that be soaked in cold water? I don't much like the idea of cold pasta, but if it worked the pasta could still be warmed up with other foods.

-- christopher (christopher@philosophers.net), November 28, 1999

Answers

I think you are referring to the process that requires LESS fuel rather than NO fuel. You put the specified amount of water for the appropriate amount of pasta or rice (along with salt, and oil as your preferences require) in the pot and bring it to a boil. Then you put in the pasta or rice and return to a boil. Then take if off the heat, cover, and let it cook with the residual heat. The starch requires heat to break down the carbs so they're in edible (and palatable) form.

-- Big D (ddac@yahoo.com), November 28, 1999.

On a thread on the TB2000 forum they mentioned that instant rice or angel hair pasta could be soaked without fuel until tender. Check it out over there (sorry, don't have the link).

-- Sammie (sammiex0@hotmail.com), November 28, 1999.

Christopher,

FYI-- My instructions are for regular rice and pasta, not instant.

-- Big D (ddac@yahoo.com), November 28, 1999.


Place rice in wide-mouth Thermos with salt and boiling water. Close up the Thermos tight and lay it on its side. Check rice in about 2 hrs.

This method can also be used for pasta, oatmeal, etc., with different cooking times. Good luck.

Charlene

-- Charlene Baillie (Ldynrd@home.com), November 28, 1999.


I tried the rice in the thermos method (boiled water, poured into thermos with rice, capped tightly and waited several hours) and it didn't work for me. Rice was still hard.

Any suggestions?

-- Sandwich (anon@anon.anon), November 28, 1999.



In an emergency,could normal dried rice be made edible by soaking it in cold water?or must it be heated to make it nutritionaly accessable? Like converting flour to gluten?

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), November 28, 1999.

I haven't tried the rice in the thermos method, but the instructions I read said to let it sit overnight. Oatmeal too.

-- Jill D. (jdance@mindspring.com), November 28, 1999.

I tried the rice but it doesn't work (for me) Did it work for anyone?

-- Sandwich (anon@anon.anon), November 28, 1999.

I have not tried this, but if you can make sun tea, why could you not put it in a window. I am going to try covering a board with foil that is the same size as my window. I will probally use something like mirrow hooks so the board with foil on it can be taken down. Putting this on the inside of a sunny window, I thought this might make a solar over of sorts. You could put jars of food on the window ledge, and let the sun heat up things. I would think you could move from window to window or make several so as the sun moves, so do you.

If anyone tries this let me know.

Beth

-- Beth (Craig@icu2.net), November 28, 1999.


i just get the rice and water to a good rolling boil, take it off stove, and put a tight lid on the pan and let it sit--can't remember how long but only for an hour or so i think. always cooks perfectly. same for pasta--although you need to drain the pasta and it doesn't take as long.

-- tt (cuddluppy@nowhere.com), November 28, 1999.


I've soaked various pasta in cold water with these results.

Angel hair and "regular" spaghetti noodles rehydrate in a few hours. Small elbow noodles rehydrated overnight. The others e.g. lasagna, large shells, large elbow, etc. never did completely rehydrate.

These rehydrated noodles did not have much flavor and were kind of rubbery. I did not heat after rehydration. This may improve taste and texture. If someone tries this, please let me know the results.

-- (southeastern@my-deja.com), November 29, 1999.


not much flavor? Add LOTS of salt to the water, no matter how you cook it or rehydrate it! Many chefs say that water for cooking pasta should as salty as the sea...and that pasta can only absorb salt as it cooks. Try it!

-- joe (joe@adeveloper.net), December 04, 1999.

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