American or Oriental Style of Cooking Rice?

Excess Method or Pilaf Method?

Even the simplest way to cook rice, which is using water for a plain, boiled serving of rice, is divided into two basic techniques, namely Excess method and Pilaf method. Excess method is also known as American method, whereas Pilaf method is also known as Oriental method.

As suggested by its name, excess method refers to cooking rice in a large quantity of water followed by draining the remaining water once the rice is cooked. Pilaf method refers to cooking rice in a measured quantity of water, usually at the ratio of one to two for rice to water volume until the water is fully absorbed upon cooking.

From the aspect of sensory quality, the best technique of cooking plain, boiled rice depends on the variety of rice and the final use of the rice. When evaluating from nutritional point of view, Pilaf method is better than Excess method as the former way retains more water-soluble nutrients than the latter way.