Why I Don’t Need a Rice Cooker: Carolina Plantation Aromatic Rice Is Foolproof

I’m a member of a Facebook group where people share what they’re making in the kitchen: the trials, the tribulations, the recipes. It’s a fun group, and most of the cooks are southern like me. Recently, a member posted this, “I made really good rice!!!!!!! yeah 2014.” I responded to the post, asking what brand she used, prepared to hear about her amazing rice cooker. Her answer surprised me, though it shouldn’t have.

She had used Carolina Plantation rice for the first time. After years of rice failings, she learned the secret. I used to think all cooked rice came with a rubbery, burnt layer on the bottom, until someone gave me a bag of Carolina Plantation Aromatic Rice. One cup of rice, two cups of water, one teaspoon salt: Dump it all in a pot, heat it to boiling, lower the heat and cover, allowing the rice to cook for 18 to 20 minutes (no stirring, no meddling). Toss it with a fork…et voilà!

If you follow the very simple directions, you cannot mess up this rice.

The rice is grown on a farm in Darlington County in South Carolina, using renewable energy sources. Carolina Plantation Rice was the first business in South Carolina to be Green-e certified. More importantly, while it’s cooking, your kitchen will smell like butter. Somehow, the rice tastes like it has butter on it, even though it doesn’t. And it comes out perfectly fluffy every time. Magic!

How do you cook rice? (And I’m happy to hear about your rice cooker. One of these days, I may even try one myself.)

→ Find it: Carolina Plantation White Rice, $5.45 per pound at their website