Cooking rice isn’t difficult, but sometimes, it just may not turn out as you expect…well, all may not be lost. Here are a few ways to salvage not-so-perfect rice.

Hard or Chewy Rice

After cooking for the recommended period of time, if the rice is still hard or chewy, add a little bit of water to create more steam (for every cup of uncooked rice used, add about 2 tablespoons of water). Cover the pot tightly and place over very low heat for 5 to 10 minutes. Let rest before serving.

Wet Rice

If, after resting, the rice is cooked through but still too wet, uncover the pot and cook over low heat to evaporate the excess moisture. Alternatively, you can gently spread the rice out onto a baking tray and dry it in a low oven (about 300º F or 150º C). Just keep an eye on it so it doesn’t dry out too much.

Scorched or Burnt Rice

If the bottom layer of the rice has scorched or burnt, taste the top layer. If it doesn’t have any off flavors, salvage what you can by gently scooping out as much as possible.

Large Quantities of Rice

When preparing large quantities of rice, consider cooking it in two or three smaller batches. It will cook more evenly and be easier to handle.