Why does the rice in my rice pudding get hard after it is refrigerated? What am I doing wrong?

Question

I love to cook... and it is frustrating my rice pudding recipe is great when served hot... but is hard and terrible cold.
Somebody help me!
The recipe calls for cooking the rice slowly in milk.
Should I wash the rice first?... or boil it in water before cooking in milk?

Answer 1

You're NOT doing anything wrong, that's just what happens to rice when it's cooked and then refrigerated........even plain steamed rice does that......try and reheating it in the microwave covered with a damp paper towel for a minute (depending on the size of the portion) and see if that helps.....when cooked rice is refrigerated, the naturally occurring starch in the rice makes it bind together......Enjoy!!!



Christopher

Answer 2

You don't boil it first.

This sounds like how I make it but I can't find my recipe offhand.

Mine tells me to use short grained arborrio or Italian rice.



It is a fairly small amount like 1/2 or 1/3 of a cup of arborrio for a full quart of whole milk.

Mine simmers for about 45 min and it is great cold.



I wonder if you are not using the correct rice,not using enough milk or not cooking it long enough. If you want recipe you could contact me and I will dig it out.

I love this recipe because you don't have to bake it or use eggs.



Sorry those people are wrong!

I know the recipe you mean and you can cook the rice slow in milk and it makes very nice rice pudding. The only other thing I can suggest is if you are not keeping it moist enough or covered. There would be no problem pouring a small amount of milk over to keep it moist.

Are you using whole milk - that makes it creamier. If you are trying with skim or 1% it might not be creamy enough.

Argh - of course plain steamed rice does that - BECAUSE IT IS DRY- this is rice cooked slow and creamy in whole milk. Keep it moist it will not be hard.

Answer 3

Its not washing, its boi in water before cooking in milk.



This isnt like risotto where you can cook rice in the same pan.



I suggest cooking it in a rice boiler half way till its not al dente

Answer 4

the rice might needs to be boiled more

buht once rice is cooks and soft, when you put it somewhere cold it gets hard . like spaghetti soft when cooked hard when sits out



oh! you can have the rice sit in hot water then cook it