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Who will cook my rice for me?


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Old Jun 26th, 2007, 02:45   #1
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Who will cook my rice for me?

Hi everyone,

Here is another pre-departure question that is sure to be answered shortly upon arrival - What ever happened to the days of experiential learning!?

So, I'm just generally curious:

I've gotten into the dietary habit here at home of eating a light lunch, usually steamed rice and some nuts or dried fruit on the side. I would like to be able to buy my own rice (rather than going to a restaurant and ordering nothing but), but the question is, Who will cook it for me?

Does anyone have any experience with this? Of course I could use my own stove, but....it is a rather lengthy and messy affair, and I would rather not go about doing it every day if possible. Would a street stall vendor cook it for me? What about the owners of my hotel/guesthouse? Any other thoughts? In the event that I can't find someone to cook it for me, could I go to a restaurant and order nothing but rice?

Again, just a curiosity. Something that I'm bound to work out upon arrival. Thanks everyone,

-Dave
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Old Jun 26th, 2007, 04:21   #2
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If you cant find rice in India than something is seriously wrong!

Seriously, though, there would be no problems with going to a restaurant and ordering just rice. (It might cost between 5 and 20 rupees) The waiter might suggest some dahl or something with it but you certainly would not be obligated to order anything else.

If you stay at a guest house that serves food then rice should pretty much always be available on demand.

I have not seen street stalls selling rice.
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Old Jun 26th, 2007, 04:55   #3
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Use a microwave, or pressure cooker.

If you are staying long enough to justify the cost, why not buy a microwave or a pressure cooker. I use the micro all the time for rice. You use 3/4 c. water : 1/2 c. rice. This amount gets done in 3-4min. Best of luck!
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Old Jun 26th, 2007, 05:18   #4
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David . . . David . . . David . . .

. . . you certainly could, as one poster suggested, buy rice from any restaurant . . . but - and not knowing if you've been to India, or traveled extensively before - what else have you got to do?!?!?!?!?!? but chop wood . . . carry water . . . cook rice
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Old Jun 26th, 2007, 05:52   #5
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Originally Posted by davidp80 View Post
Of course I could use my own stove, but....it is a rather lengthy and messy affair, and I would rather not go about doing it every day if possible.
Dave, all you need is one vessel, and water. From begining to end, it will take to 15-20 mins of which you actual time spend will only be 5 mins (15 mins of cooking time while you wait). This is the old fasioned way. Personally I have never tried the microwave method, but that might be even more convenient.

BTW, rice cookers make the whole process even more simple
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Old Jun 26th, 2007, 06:21   #6
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I guess the steaming is more involved, together with keeping the fire for it going (although you pack it away midway through the process to do its own steaming, no more heat involved. It was probably invented to preserve fuel, whilst producing the most tasty rice you might wish for.)

Dave, if you wanna be that picky about it I suggest bringing a camping stove (And a rice steamer. But just eating what's on offer around you might be much more simple yes).
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Old Jun 26th, 2007, 06:32   #7
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I would get an electric rice cooker. Put in water and rice, plug it in, flip the switch and walk away until its done. That's it! Couldn't get any easier, that is, unless you don't have someone to do it for you.
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Old Jun 26th, 2007, 09:10   #8
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I would get an electric rice cooker. Put in water and rice, plug it in, flip the switch and walk away until its done. That's it! Couldn't get any easier, that is, unless you don't have someone to do it for you.
Yup..thats the easisiet solution for you..go for a rice cooker..easy to handle..and can be used anywhere..

secondly rice is something that should be available in all the restaurants and joints...it might be not available in some specific places,,but you will not have any trouble in finding the same atleast in luch hours..
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Old Jun 26th, 2007, 09:10   #9
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I would get an electric rice cooker. Put in water and rice, plug it in, flip the switch and walk away until its done. That's it! Couldn't get any easier, that is, unless you don't have someone to do it for you.
Second that. Elec Rice cooker is the easiest and safest way to make rice. Why safest ? you will know why when your pressure cooker safety valve blows [edit: i think it was the weight which flipped off] and the rice hits the ceiling. Once I had to spend 2 days cleaning the rice stalagtites hanging on the ceiling

The electric rice cooker has a thermostatic controlled switch so when the rice is done it turns to warm mode and stops the cooking. I use one cup of rice with one and half cups of water ratio to get the best rice.

I tried making idlis in microwave but somehow I could never master the art of microwave cooking.
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Old Jun 26th, 2007, 09:18   #10
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I think Dave means to get pretty much off the track though and go volunteering in Ladakh and somewhere down south, besides visiting some ashrams. So maybe carrying a microwave and electric cooker will get to be a little much
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Old Jun 26th, 2007, 09:26   #11
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You should be careful about rice from hotels. I heard they add baking soda to make it cook faster [ eco friendly chaps saving fuel lol ]
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Old Jun 26th, 2007, 11:18   #12
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You can also think about electrical rice cooker.Put the water ,rice and set the timer, it will be ready for you.No hassel,no dependency.Though another option is there, you can marry a beautiful Indian girl.Ha,Ha, Ha....
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Old Jun 26th, 2007, 11:20   #13
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You can also think about electrical rice cooker.Put the water ,rice and set the timer, it will be ready for you.No hassel,no dependency.Though another option is there, you can marry a beautiful Indian girl.Ha,Ha, Ha....

lol..nice suggestion..

but how is her being beautiful related to her cooking good rice ??
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Old Jun 26th, 2007, 11:26   #14
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She may not cook beautiful rice but her beauty will make the rice delicious.
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Old Jun 26th, 2007, 16:36   #15
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I think Dave means to get pretty much off the track though and go volunteering in Ladakh and somewhere down south, besides visiting some ashrams. So maybe carrying a microwave and electric cooker will get to be a little much
not to repeat myself, but, even if you are off the beaten track, and you are hungry for rice, you will find it.

I'm starting to wonder if this isn't a troll type of thread. Rice in Inida?
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