5 Links to Read Before Cooking Rice

Each week, we’ll be sharing a comprehensive list of links to help you master something new in the kitchen. Culinary greatness, here you come..

Today: A guide to the perfect pot of rice.

Rice is a fickle ingredient. Some days, it's overcooked and mushy, and other days, it's hard and stuck to the bottom of the pot. It's no wonder there are so many conflicting approaches and techniques to cooking it. But perfectly cooked rice -- whether it's fried with kimchi, stirred into a creamy risotto, or sweetened with maple syrup for rice pudding -- is a versatile staple suited for any meal. Skip the rice cooker and read these links instead -- you'll be making big, beautiful batches of rice in no time.

• Before you get started, study this handy guide to rice varieties. (Huffington Post.)

• Washing rice to remove excess starch is a crucial first step. (Martha Stewart.)

• Follow along as our community weighs in on fluffy, stress-free rice. (Food52.)

• Commit these tips to memory for fried rice success. (Bon Appétit.)

• Watch this video for Kim Severson's no-stick, no-fuss, no-fail rice. (New York Times.)

What's your favorite way to cook rice? Share your tips with us in the comments!