29/10/2025
Cooking local white rice is not easy ooo. If it doesn't have stone in it, it'll end up soggy (gum gum). Local rice, especially the Nigerian type, has its own unique texture and cooking behavior so it can be tricky if you don’t handle it properly.
One wrong move and you end up with a pot of moi moi rice instead of fluffy, separate grains.
So how do you get it right every single time? Let’s break it down👇
1. Rinse Thoroughly
Local white rice usually contains starch, dust, and sometimes small stones. Rinse it several times in clean water until the water runs clear. Also use your hand to scoop out the rice from the rinsing water to a different bowl until it's completely exhausted but at each last wash, biko throw the water away even if it has some grains of rice because that's when the sand settles. Rinse the bowl thoroughly before using it again. This step removes excess starch and sand which is one of the main reasons rice becomes soggy and sandy.
2. Parboil Before Cooking
Pour your rice into boiling water and allow it to cook for about 5 to 7 minutes.
Then, pour it into a sieve and rinse it again under clean running water.
Parboiling helps remove the outer starch layer and hardens the grain slightly, making it less likely to turn mushy later.
3. Measure Water Properly
Rice doesn’t need to swim in water.
If you’re cooking a softer local rice variety, reduce the water a bit.
Too much water = soggy rice.
4. Don’t Stir Too Much
Once your rice starts cooking, aunty don't stir that thing like you're trying to stir your destiny back to life 😏. Every time you stir, the grains break and release more starch, which leads to a sticky or soggy texture.
Just twice to let the salt pe*****te everywhere.
5. Cook on Low Heat
After the water starts boiling, lower your heat. Allow the rice to steam gently so it cooks evenly. Cover it tightly to trap steam and prevent excess moisture from dripping back in.
6. Let It Rest
When your rice is done, turn off the heat and let it sit for about 5 minutes before fluffing with a fork. This final rest allows any remaining steam to finish the cooking naturally.
That's all!
So remember wash rice thoroughly, measure water right, parboil properly, and let steam do the work. Follow these steps and nobody would know it's local rice you boiled 🙂↔️😌..
Make sure you come back and give testimony 😁
Cheers 🥂
📸: Internet