How the well cooked Basmati Rice looked like?

A well cooked serving of basmati rice should be soft and fluffy. It's important that the grains retain their shape; are not broken, and are separate from each other. If you achieve this, you did a job well done!

Important steps while cooking basmati

Step 1: Wash the Rice

Place rice in a bowl and add enough water to cover the rice by 1-2 inches. Use your fingers to gently rub the rice and swirl the water around. The water will start to look muddy and milky. Drain the water and repeat this process 3-4 times till the water starts looking pretty clear. This process washes away the extra starch and impurities, reducing stickiness in cooked rice.Do not skip washing the rice. If skipped, this is the #1 reason for basmati rice being sticky. 

Step 2: Soak the Rice

Soaking basmati rice before cooking isn't essential, but in my experience, it produces better results. So don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Soak the rice for just 30 minutes before cooking. For sella and golden sella  varieties soak rice for 60 mins in water. This helps the rice absorb some water and helps the grains relax. This produces softer grains.Use the vessel you are planning to cook the rice in for soaking because we won't be draining the rice. The rice to water ratio can vary between 1:1.25 to 1:1.5.

Step 3: Cooking

You don't need to stir the rice while its cooking. Stirring can actually break the grains, and we are looking for super long grains that are fully intact in shape.Place the soaked rice and water on the stove and bring it to a boil. As soon as the water starts boiling, reduce the flame to a simmer and cover and cook for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the rice sit for 5 more minutes. Basmati rice is now ready to serve.