One of the most unpleasant experiences while cooking rice for a gathering is realizing that the bottom layer has burnt, causing the entire pot of rice to smell burnt. Discarding and re-cooking the rice isn't always practical! Learn some techniques to eliminate the burnt smell from rice.
According to the family magazine service of Saed News, one of the most unpleasant experiences while cooking rice for a gathering is realizing that the bottom layer has burnt, causing the entire pot of rice to smell burnt. Since this burnt smell affects the taste of your rice, discarding and re-cooking it isn't practical. Instead, you can use certain techniques to remove the burnt smell from rice.
Eliminating the Burnt Smell from Rice
If you notice that your rice has burnt, or the bottom layer has caused the whole pot to smell burnt, try these simple methods to eliminate the burnt smell:
Place a Few Onion Pieces One of the quickest methods to eliminate the burnt smell from steaming rice is to peel and slice an onion into pieces. Place the pieces among the rice layers and cover the pot. After 10 minutes, open the pot, and you'll find the burnt smell has disappeared.
Use a Piece of Bread Another method is to place a piece of bread on the surface of the rice and cover the pot with a cloth or lid. When it's time to serve the rice, remove the bread, and you'll find the rice has retained its natural aroma. Many cooks also use this method to quickly steam rice.
Use Fresh Lemon Juice A modern and unique trick to remove the burnt smell from rice is to use fresh lemon juice. Soak a cotton ball in lemon juice and place it in a clean paper towel. Put the towel on the rice and cover the pot. After a few minutes, remove the towel. The lemon juice will neutralize the burnt smell, making the rice ready to serve.
Use Sugar Cubes Though it may seem unconventional, using sugar cubes to remove the burnt smell from rice can be effective. When you notice the burnt smell, place a few sugar cubes among the rice layers to absorb the odor.
Use Rose Water Rose water has a strong fragrance that can effectively mask the burnt smell of rice. If your rice has burnt, dampen a cloth with rose water and place it on the rice. Rose water will absorb the burnt smell. For extra assurance, you can add a few drops of rose water directly to the rice or mix it with saffron rice to enhance the flavor.
Use Aromatic Herbs If you enjoy rice with herbs alongside fish or meat, adding fresh or dried aromatic herbs like dill to the rice can help minimize the burnt smell. The strong aroma of these herbs will reduce the burnt odor significantly.
