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Everyday staples

Simple staples still need timing.

Rice, eggs and pasta are everyday foods, but they are often cooked while everything else is happening.

Timing guide

Planning numbers.

Use these as a starting point, then check temperature, texture and doneness before serving.

White rice Often 10-15 minutes simmering plus resting
Brown rice Often 25-35 minutes depending on grain
Eggs Soft-boiled 4-6 minutes, hard-boiled 9-12 minutes
Pasta Use the packet as the main guide and taste near the end
Leftovers Cool rice quickly and reheat until steaming hot
Method

Cook it in order.

  1. Read the packet because grain size and pasta shape matter.
  2. Set a timer and start checking texture before the end of the range.
  3. Rest rice briefly off the heat if the method calls for it.
  4. Cool leftover rice quickly and refrigerate promptly.
  5. Reheat leftovers until steaming hot throughout.
Avoid

Common mistakes.

Leaving rice cooling slowly on the hob for hours.

Following one pasta timing for every shape.

Forgetting carry-over cooking in boiled eggs.