Tips time: Why you should fluff rice with a fork and not spoon

Cooking rice? Are you worried about how the rice might turn mushy or stick to each other even though you've poured just the right quantity of water?

Fear not, for we'll tell you how not to let that happen!

To fluff the rice essentially means to separate the grains without letting them stick to each other or get mushy. Things to bear in mind right after your pressure cooker has howled at you making the announcement that rice has finally cooked:

The first thing to do is NOT open the lid immediately. Wait until the pressure has subsided and then pop open the cooker.

Secondly, don't grab a spoon and try to fluff the rice. It could bruise the rice, mush it up and it's game over too soon. Let the just-opened cooker with the diminutive rice sit out for a while, dissipating all that steam.

And then, after about 10-15 minutes, use the prongs of a fork to carefully separate the cooked grains. This will remove lumps and separate the delicate grains without crushing them.

So there, light and fluffy rice for you, as promised!