It has been said that prevention is the best medicine, and many nutritionists agree. A person’s diet plays a large role in his or her overall health, and medical experts are constantly urging their patients to eat healthier diets. One of the best ways to develop healthier eating habits is to eat whole foods. Most people understand the health benefits of whole grain wheat bread in contrast to white bread, but not everyone is as informed about brown rice.

Brown rice is considered to be much healthier than white rice because it is unrefined and unprocessed. It is in its natural form and contains essential nutrients. On the other hand, white rice is very processed, and it has lost virtually all of its nutritional value. If you have decided to make the switch to brown rice but are not quite sure how to cook this wholesome food, simply follow the steps below.

1. Proper ratio.

Brown rice is fairly easy to cook; however, you must use the correct proportions. The basic rule when cooking this rice is to use twice as much liquid as dry rice. Many people use plain water to cook their rice, while some enjoy using chicken broth to add a little extra flavor. The rice will absorb all of the liquid, so your end product will yield exactly as much rice as the amount of water that was used.

2. Boil.

When cooking brown rice, you must wait for the liquid to come to a rolling boil before you add brown rice. Then, gently stir in the rice, reduce the heat to low, and cover the pot.

3. Wait.

One of the biggest differences between cooking white and brown rice is the variation in cooking time. Brown rice takes 45 minutes to cook. Simply set a kitchen timer and let the rice cook undisturbed. Do not lift the lid to inspect or stir the rice, because this will only make it sticky. Just be patient and listen for your timer to sound.

4. Remove from heat.

After 45 minutes, remove the pot of rice from the heat source and allow it to cool. It is now fully cooked! You can enjoy your rice in a variety of stir-fry dishes and casseroles, or you can simply add butter and salt to create a nice side dish to any meal.

Preparing brown rice for your family is a great way to improve the nutritional value of a meal. It does take a little more time to cook than white rice does, but this extra time is an investment into the health and well-being of your family.