You can follow instructions on how to cook rice to the letter, but every now and then, you'll still end up with sticky, clumpy, and "heavy" rice. Unfortunately, that happens to the best of us. The first thing to do is to check and make sure your rice hasn't expired.
Rice that's been left exposed to air for too long can turn mushy when cooked, and unfortunately, there's no fix for that. If the rice is still fresh and you crave a lighter, fluffier texture, here's an easy trick that works: add a splash of vinegar. While cooking rice with vinegar may sound a little unorthodox, it's actually a clever trick you can use to keep your rice from clumping.
There's science behind it — vinegar helps rinse out and break down the starches on the rice's surface, which are responsible for making the grains stick together as they cook. Used in a small amount, your rice will taste and smell exactly the same, except with a much more appetizing texture. How to use vinegar for fluffier rice Cooking rice with vinegar is really simple.
No matter if you're making basic white rice , jasmine, basmati, or any other type of rice , the method's pretty much the same. Start by rinsing the rice a couple of times with cold water. This helps wash off some of the surface starch that can make the rice sticky.
You can rinse the rice in a strainer or right in the pot — just be careful not to overdo it and break the rice. And don't toss that used water! It's packed with vitamins and makes for some nutritious pl.