What to Plant in a Victory Garden

Let’s talk about what to plant in a victory garden. The victory garden once played a vital role in our nation, helping feed millions of Americans at home and those fighting overseas. After WWII ended, the government didn’t see much need for them anymore, and they slowly began to die out.

Yet, a few Americans still carried on with them, some even to this day. Your grandmother or grandfather may have been one of them and passed their love for gardening down to you.

What to Plant in a Victory Garden

There’s also the chance that you may not even know what a victory garden is, but could be interested in getting one started if you understand the whys and hows. After all, we’re facing tough times once again, and planting a victory garden is something I’d strongly encourage. I’ll share with you their history, several interesting facts about them, and what you need to plant in your very own victory garden. 

History of the Victory Garden 

Victory Gardens have been around with us for well over 100 years. They were first introduced and promoted during WWI, but were especially important during WWII. During this time, they were referred to as “war gardens.”

These gardens were a way for every American citizen to help the war effort and ensure there wouldn’t be a food shortage during those challenging times. It was certainly a morale booster, in which every civilian felt they had an important role to play.   

People would plant these gardens in vacant lots, city parks, playgrounds, churchyards, and often in their own backyards. Some U.S citizens took it a step further and even plowed up their front lawns to help contribute to the food supply.

They played a key role in ensuring that everyone on the home front and the soldiers fighting overseas had plenty of food.  

Fun Facts

• In 1943, there were over 20 million gardens scattered throughout the country, producing as much as 8 million tons of food. 
• In Golden Gate Park alone, there were over 800 victory gardens growing vegetables. 
• During WWII, victory gardens provided 41% of all the vegetables consumed in the United States. That’s huge! 
• Even Eleanor Roosevelt, who went against what the Department of Agriculture advised, planted her own victory garden in the White House lawn.  

Victory Gardens Today

Victory gardens were more than just about feeding people. They were viewed as a way for Americans to stop relying on others for their food supply. That was a big deal, and something we certainly need to do better today.

It also allowed Americans to get their hands dirty by returning them to a more natural way of living and providing for their families while working alongside one another in a community.     

• We may not currently be experiencing a wartime scenario, but recent events have certainly underscored our country’s need for victory gardens.
• For starters, the recent pandemic depleted our local grocery store shelves, making it more challenging to go in and get what you came for.
• Most meat aisles are still nowhere near appropriate stock levels, as are many other goods we plan to purchase.
• So it only makes sense that we plant our own victory gardens to help stretch our nation’s food supply during these trying times.    

What to Plant in Your Victory Garden

A victory garden should include fruits and vegetables that are easier to grow, ensuring fresh produce is planted for harvest during their appropriate growing seasons, along with root and hardier crops that can be stored throughout the winter.

Here’s what you could be planting during certain times of the year to keep your victory garden flourishing up until the first snowflake. 

Springtime Garden

Spring gardens should include vegetables such as lettuce, carrots, onions, peas, radishes, and kale. These are all vegetables that do extremely well during cooler conditions. Click on whichever link above interests you for more details on how to plant and maintain these various vegetable crops.  

Summertime Garden 

You can still grow a number of the vegetables I’ve already mentioned in your summer garden, but be aware that they become more difficult to grow because they prefer cooler temperatures.

Summertime garden vegetables to consider include corn, beans, peppers, eggplants, basil, cucumbers, tomatoes, pumpkins, muskmelons, watermelon, and summer and winter squash. 

Fall and Winter Garden

For your fall and wintertime garden, many of the vegetables that you planted during your spring garden, you’ll notice, are fairly similar. Consider planting carrots, lettuce, radishes, as you did in the spring, along with broccoli, cauliflower, beets, cabbage, spinach, parsley, parsnips, and turnips in your victory garden.

There’s even Swiss chard, Kohlrabi, and kale that are also extremely easy to grow, though they’re not as often talked about.

Why Families Are Planting Victory Gardens Now

With rising food costs and a growing interest in self-sufficiency, more families than ever are turning to backyard and container gardening. A victory garden gives kids hands-on experience with where food comes from, reduces trips to the grocery store, and can meaningfully cut your household food budget over a single growing season. It also gets the whole family outside and working toward a shared goal.

Choosing the Right Location for Your Garden

Sunlight is the single most important factor when choosing where to plant. Most vegetables need six to eight hours of direct sun per day. Walk your yard or outdoor space at different times of day and observe where sunlight falls for the longest time. Avoid spots near large trees that cast shade or compete for nutrients. If you’re limited on space, a south-facing patio or balcony with containers works well for many crops.

Starting Small and Scaling Up

One of the most common beginner mistakes is planting too much too soon. Start with a four-by-four or four-by-eight raised bed, or four to six large containers. This is manageable for a busy family and gives you room to learn without becoming overwhelmed. You can always expand next season once you know what works in your climate and soil.

The Best Vegetables for First-Time Victory Gardeners

Some vegetables are much easier to grow than others. For beginners, stick with crops that are forgiving and fast-producing. Zucchini, bush beans, leaf lettuce, radishes, cherry tomatoes, and cucumbers are all excellent choices. Herbs like basil, chives, and parsley are also simple to grow and add a lot to home-cooked meals. Avoid starting with notoriously tricky crops like corn, melons, or artichokes until you have a season or two under your belt.

Understanding Your Soil

Healthy soil is the foundation of any productive garden. Purchase a basic soil test kit from a garden center to check your soil’s pH and nutrient levels. Most vegetables thrive in slightly acidic to neutral soil, with a pH of around 6.0 to 7.0. If you’re starting a raised bed, fill it with a mix of topsoil, compost, and aged manure for a nutrient-rich growing environment. Adding compost each season keeps the soil productive year after year.

Planting from Seed vs. Buying Transplants

Seeds are less expensive and offer more variety, but they require more time and attention early on. Transplants are young plants already started for you at a nursery, and they’re a great option for families just getting started. A good middle-ground approach is to buy tomato, pepper, and herb transplants while starting faster crops like beans, cucumbers, and radishes directly from seed in the ground.

How to Water a Victory Garden

Consistent moisture is key to healthy vegetables. Most gardens need about one inch of water per week, either from rainfall or irrigation. Water deeply and less frequently rather than a little every day, which encourages roots to grow deeper into the soil. Morning watering is ideal because it gives foliage time to dry before evening, reducing the risk of fungal disease. A simple soaker hose or drip system makes watering efficient and easy to maintain.

Getting Kids Involved in the Garden

A family victory garden is a perfect opportunity to teach children responsibility, patience, and where food actually comes from. Give each child their own small plot or container to take care of. Let them choose one or two vegetables they love to eat. Kids are far more likely to eat vegetables they grew themselves, which is a meaningful bonus for picky eaters. Simple tasks like watering, weeding, and harvesting are appropriate for most ages.

Managing Weeds and Pests Naturally

Weeds compete with your vegetables for water and nutrients, so staying on top of them early makes a big difference. Mulching around your plants with straw or wood chips suppresses weeds and helps retain moisture. For pests, start with the least invasive approach. Hand-pick larger insects like tomato hornworms, use insecticidal soap spray for aphids, and attract beneficial insects like ladybugs by planting marigolds or dill nearby.

Keeping a Simple Garden Journal

Tracking what you plant, when you plant it, and how it performs takes only a few minutes a week and pays off enormously over time. Note what worked, what didn’t, when the first frost came, and which varieties your family enjoyed eating most. This record becomes your personalized guide that gets better every single season.

Harvesting and Enjoying Your Food

Most vegetables taste best when harvested young and eaten quickly. Check your garden daily once plants start producing. Zucchini can go from perfect to enormous overnight. Lettuce bolts and turns bitter if left too long in heat. Harvesting regularly also encourages plants to keep producing throughout the season. The moment your family sits down to a meal made entirely from your own garden is one you’ll remember for a long time.

Making Your Victory Garden a Yearly Tradition

Starting a victory garden is a commitment that rewards you more each year. Your soil improves, your skills sharpen, and your family develops a rhythm that makes the whole process feel natural. Many families find that what begins as a small backyard experiment grows into one of their most meaningful annual traditions. Plant the first seed this season, and you may be surprised how far it takes you.

Please Check Out What To Plant Each Month:

• What To Plant In January
• What To Plant In February
• What To Plant In March
• What To Plant In April
• What To Plant In May
• What To Plant In June
• What To Plant In July
• What To Plant In August
• What To Plant In September
• What To Plant In October

Final Word

It’s a great feeling not having to rely so much on others for your every need, and gardening is one way to do that. It also gives you the opportunity to get out of the house. 

Now that you have the knowledge regarding what to plant, you can get started and “Dig for Victory” in your very own victory garden. And remember that you don’t have to confine yourself to one growing season. 

If you’re already a faithful gardener, what do you find to be the most successful vegetable crop that you and your family enjoy to grow each year?  What would you choose when it comes to what to plant in a victory garden? Please keep prepping, we must. May God bless this world, Linda

Copyright Images: Vegetables Deposit photos_25388211_s-2019, Garden Woman with Cucumber Deposit photos_5050434_s-2019, Garden Vegetables for Soup Deposit photos_78146246_s-2019

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Beginner Prepping List: The Bare Minimum You MUST Have

Estimated reading time: 1 minute

Most people are completely unprepared for a disaster. And I'm not talking about being prepared for some end-of-the-world scenario. Most people aren't even prepared for common disasters that happen all the time. Hurricanes. Floods. Earthquakes. Wildfires. Chemical spills that force an evacuation. A winter storm that knocks out power for a week.

Sudden disasters don't care whether you're ready or not. And when one hits, the last thing you want to be doing is scrambling to find flashlight batteries or realizing you don't have a single gallon of clean water in your house.

The good news is that basic preparedness doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. You don't need a bunker. You don't need a year's worth of freeze-dried food. What you do need is enough supplies to get you through the first 72 hours. That's the period when stores are picked clean, roads are flooded or blocked, and you're essentially on your own.

This article is going to cut through all the noise and give you the bare minimum of what you need to have on hand before disaster strikes.

Click here to download a printable version of the checklist below.

Table of Contents

• Water
• Food
• Sanitation & Hygiene
• Medical & Health
• Communication & Power
• Safety & Tools
• Shelter & Comfort
• Special Needs

Water

Water is your single most important prep. You can survive weeks without food but only a few days without water, and in a disaster, tap water could be cut off or contaminated. Don't wait until a storm is approaching to think about this one.

• Water (3 gallons per person) — The standard recommendation is one gallon per person per day for drinking and basic sanitation, so three gallons covers you for 72 hours. Buy bottled water or store it in containers specifically designed for water storage.
• Water purification tablets — Even if you have stored water, purification tablets are a cheap insurance policy in case your supply runs out or gets contaminated. They're lightweight, inexpensive, and can make creek water, puddle water, or questionable tap water safe to drink in about 30 minutes.

Food

New preppers love to buy MREs and emergency ration bars because they see survivors eating them in shows and movies. While those are good to have in certain scenarios, for short-term disasters you should just buy more of what you already eat and rotate through it on a regular basis.

• Food (3 days' worth per person) — Think canned goods, peanut butter, jerky, granola bars, and dried fruit. Aim for a mix of carbohydrates, fat, and protein. A good rule of thumb is roughly 2,000 calories per person per day.
• Fiber tablets — When you're stressed and eating nothing but high-sodium, high-carb pantry food, your digestive system is going to have a bad time. Fiber tablets are small, cheap, and can save you a lot of discomfort.
• Manual can opener — This one sounds obvious until the power is out and you're staring at a can of beans with no way to open it. Get a sturdy, well-built manual opener and toss it in your kit now.
• Paper cups and plates — With limited or no running water, washing dishes becomes a real problem. Disposable cups and plates let you eat without burning through your water supply on cleanup.
• Plastic utensils — Same reasoning as above.

Sanitation & Hygiene

When the water goes out, staying clean becomes both harder and more important. Illness spreads fast in disaster conditions, and something as simple as dirty hands can turn a bad situation into a dangerous one.

• Cleaning wipes (skin-safe) — These are your substitute for washing your hands and face when running water isn't an option. Look for wipes that are safe for skin. Baby wipes work great and are usually cheaper than “adult” versions.
• Disinfectant wipes — Different from the above. These are for cleaning surfaces like countertops, door handles, and anything that might be contaminated. Don't use these on your skin.
• Hand sanitizer — A fast, waterless way to kill germs between tasks. Keep a bottle in your kit and use it often, especially before eating.
• Soap — Even with limited water, a small amount goes a long way. Bar soap is more compact and longer-lasting than liquid soap.
• Personal hygiene items — Toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, and whatever else you use daily. Three days without brushing your teeth isn't going to kill you, but it's one more thing that chips away at morale.
• Feminine supplies — If this applies to anyone in your household, don't leave it as an afterthought.
• Garbage bags — Trash piles up fast when you're living out of a kit, and in a disaster, you may not have regular trash pickup. Large heavy-duty bags also have dozens of secondary uses like makeshift ponchos, waterproofing, waste management if plumbing is out.

Medical & Health

Disasters have a way of making small health problems into big ones. A cut that gets infected, a headache that becomes debilitating, or a stomach bug from contaminated water can all take you out of commission at the worst possible time. Stay ahead of it.

• Basic first aid kit — At minimum, you need bandages, gauze, medical tape, antiseptic wipes, and a pair of gloves. Most pre-assembled kits cover the basics. Just make sure yours isn't expired and actually has what you'd need for cuts, burns, and minor injuries.
• Prescription medications — If you or anyone in your household takes a daily medication, make sure you have at least a 3-day supply in your kit at all times. Talk to your doctor about getting an emergency supply if needed.
• Painkillers — Ibuprofen or acetaminophen covers a wide range of problems: headaches, muscle pain, fever, inflammation. Pack both if you can, since they work differently and can be alternated.
• Anti-diarrhea medication — This one is more important than people realize. Diarrhea caused by drinking tainted water can dehydrate you dangerously fast, especially if you're already short on water. Imodium or a generic equivalent can buy you critical time.
• Prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses and solution — If you can't see clearly, you can't function safely. Keep a backup pair of glasses in your kit, and if you wear contacts, pack enough solution and a spare case to last the full 72 hours.

Communication & Power

When the grid goes down, so does your access to information. Knowing what's happening, whether the storm has passed, whether there's a shelter nearby, whether you need to evacuate, can be the difference between making good decisions and wandering into danger.

• Hand-crank weather radio — This is your lifeline to official information when your phone is dead and the internet is down. NOAA weather radio broadcasts emergency alerts 24/7 and doesn't require batteries or a power outlet. Get one that also has a solar panel and a USB charging port — they're worth the few extra dollars.
• Flashlight — A basic but essential tool. Get at least one per adult in the household, and don't rely on your phone's flashlight because you'll need that battery for communication. A headlamp is even better since it keeps your hands free.
• Extra batteries — Flashlights, radios, and other battery-powered devices all need fuel. Stock up on the sizes your devices use, and store them somewhere cool and dry to extend their shelf life.
• Cell phone chargers — Your phone is your connection to family, emergency services, and information. Keep it alive as long as possible. Pack your regular charging cable, and make sure it's compatible with your power bank.
• Power bank — A fully charged power bank can recharge your phone several times over, giving you days of communication without any outlet. Charge it up before storm season and check it every few months to make sure it's still holding a charge.

Safety & Tools

Disasters don't just cut off your power and water. They can damage your home, compromise your air quality, and put you in situations where you need to take quick action to protect yourself or your property.

• Lighters — You may need to light candles, start a camp stove, or start a fire to stay warm or cook food. Pack at least two or three so you have backups. Waterproof lighters are worth the small extra cost.
• Fire extinguisher — Disasters increase the risk of house fires, downed power lines, candles, improper use of generators or camp stoves. A basic ABC-rated extinguisher should be in every home regardless, but make sure yours is charged and accessible.
• Shut-off tool — After an earthquake or gas leak, you may need to shut off your home's gas or water supply quickly. A dedicated utility shut-off tool fits most standard meters and lets you do this without having to search for a wrench in a panic. Keep it somewhere you can find it fast.
• Plastic sheeting and duct tape — If a window gets blown out, a tree lands on your roof, or you need to seal off a room in case of airborne chemical contamination, plastic sheeting and duct tape are what you'll reach for. Keep a roll of heavy-duty sheeting and a couple rolls of duct tape together in your kit.
• N95 face mask — Wildfires, building collapses, industrial accidents, and even some flooding events can put dangerous particles or chemicals into the air. A standard surgical mask won't cut it. You need an N95 or better to actually filter fine particles. Pack one per person.
• Whistle — If you're trapped under debris or in a damaged building, yelling for help will exhaust you fast. A simple loud whistle carries much farther and takes almost no energy to use. The signal for distress is three short blasts.
• Weapon for self-defense — In the immediate aftermath of a major disaster, law enforcement is stretched thin and response times can be extremely long. A firearm, pepper spray, or other means of self-defense is a personal decision, but it's worth thinking about before an emergency happens.
• Map of local area — GPS and cell service can both fail during a disaster. A printed map of your area, one that shows evacuation routes, shelters, and hospitals, could be invaluable if you need to navigate without technology. Download one from your county's emergency management website and print it out.

Shelter & Comfort

Staying physically comfortable matters more than people think. Hypothermia is a real risk during winter disasters, and mental exhaustion sets in fast when people are bored, stressed, and uncomfortable. Don't neglect this category.

• Change of clothing for everyone — You may need to evacuate quickly and end up stuck somewhere for days. A clean change of clothes, including sturdy footwear and weather-appropriate layers, is a basic comfort worth having.
• Warm blankets or sleeping bags and pillows — If the heat goes out or you end up in a shelter or your vehicle, staying warm becomes a survival issue. Wool blankets and quality sleeping bags retain heat even when wet.
• Books, games, puzzles, etc. — This one surprises people, but boredom and stress are serious morale killers during a disaster, especially for children. When the power is out and there's nothing to do for hours on end, having something to keep your mind occupied is genuinely important. Pack a few physical books, a deck of cards, or a travel board game.

Special Needs

If you have young children or pets, don't forget everything you need for them.

• Baby supplies — Diapers, formula, wipes, diaper rash cream, and any other items your baby needs daily. Stress can affect nursing mothers, so formula backup is smart even if you're breastfeeding. Pack more than you think you'll need. Three days can stretch longer than expected.
• Pet supplies — Three days of food and water for each pet, plus any medications they take. Don't forget a leash, carrier, or crate if you may need to evacuate. Many shelters won't accept pets, so also research pet-friendly hotels or emergency boarding options in your area ahead of time.

As long as you have these things, you'll be ready for all of the most likely disasters and in better shape than 95% of people. Don't wait until the last minute stock stock up on these items. Get them now while they're still relatively cheap and easy to find. The peace of mind is well worth it.

You May Also Like:

• Where to Find Food and Water After The SHTF
• 50 Preparedness Items for Less Than $5 Each
• How to Store a Year's Supply of Food in Small Spaces
• 10 Wilderness Survival Tips For Your Next Adventure
• The 100 to 1 Rule of Grid Down Survival

The post Beginner Prepping List: The Bare Minimum You MUST Have appeared first on Urban Survival Site.

from Urban Survival Site

Garbage During Emergencies: How Trash Becomes a Public Health Crisis

Most people preparing for disasters focus on food, water, and shelter. Very few think about what happens to their garbage. That oversight can be dangerous and when normal life gets disrupted, so does every system that keeps waste out of sight and out of mind. Within hours of a major emergency, collection stops. Within days, ... Read more...

from Prepper's Will

What Your Neighbors Will Do First When SHTF

The early hours of a real collapse can feel normal. The power is out, phones aren’t connecting, and the usual rhythm of traffic has gone quiet, while most of your neighbors are still standing on their porches, chatting across fences, half-convinced this will be sorted out by evening. Someone mentions the grocery store closed early. […]

The post What Your Neighbors Will Do First When SHTF appeared first on Ask a Prepper.

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How to Cook Rice

Today, we’re all about how to cook rice. It’s easy. Do you have a hard time cooking rice so it comes out the way you pictured? Please don’t feel bad about it; you’re not the only one. Many people struggle with cooking rice because there is a method you need to follow. We are eating rice four times a week right now. The price of groceries is so high.

Once you master that method, you can quickly learn to make rice at home, and you might eventually decide to experiment with different ingredients and flavors. After all, rice is an excellent side dish for serving many foods, including chicken, salmon, broccoli, pork, and more. I typically buy Jasmine rice and use a rice cooker. Rice Cooker

Here’s the deal: we can use a rice cooker, a pressure cooker, or even an Instant Pot; I get it. But, if you don’t have one, we must know how to cook rice on a Butane Stove or a gas stove in an emergency. In case you missed this post, Rice: Everything You Need to Know

Types of Rice for Your Kitchen

Long-Grain White Rice is the most common variety found in American pantries. It cooks up light and fluffy with grains that stay separate, making it perfect for everyday side dishes, fried rice, and pilaf.

Jasmine Rice is a fragrant long-grain rice native to Thailand. It has a subtle floral aroma and a slightly sticky texture when cooked, making it a favorite for Southeast Asian dishes and anyone who loves a little extra perfume in their bowl.

Basmati Rice hails from the Indian subcontinent and is prized for its nutty flavor and extra-long, slender grains that elongate beautifully when cooked. It’s the go-to choice for biryanis, curries, and Persian-style rice dishes.

Short-Grain White Rice is plump, tender, and naturally sticky, ideal for sushi, rice bowls, and Korean cuisine. Its high starch content makes the grains cling together, which is exactly what you want when eating with chopsticks.

Brown Rice is simply white rice with its bran layer intact, giving it a nuttier flavor, chewier texture, and more fiber and nutrients. It takes longer to cook but is a popular choice for health-conscious eaters.

Arborio Rice is a starchy Italian short-grain variety best known as the star of risotto. As it cooks, it releases a creamy starch that gives risotto its signature velvety texture; it’s not meant to be fluffy.

Sushi Rice is a specific type of short-grain rice seasoned with rice vinegar, sugar, and salt after cooking. While similar to regular short-grain rice, varieties labeled “sushi rice” are selected for their ideal stickiness and clean flavor.

Wild Rice isn’t technically rice at all; it’s the seed of an aquatic grass native to North America. It has a dramatic dark color, a chewy bite, and an earthy, nutty flavor that works beautifully in soups, salads, and stuffings.

How To Cook Rice

Choose the Type of Rice You’re Going to Use

The type of rice you’re using has a lot to do with whether it comes out perfectly. When you’re at the grocery store and looking at different bags of rice, you might notice that some of the bags say “short-grain rice,” “medium-grain rice,” and others say “extra long grain.” If you’re using medium-grain rice, use equal parts water and rice in the pot.

So, if you plan to cook two cups of rice, add two cups of water to your pot. If you’re using extra-long-grain rice, you’d need to use two cups of water for each cup of rice. Keep this in mind when you’re selecting the size of the rice you’re going to prepare.

The brand of the rice isn’t too important. While some people may argue that they like one brand better than the other, it’s not that big of a deal. You can use what is available to you and what you feel comfortable using.

Add Oil to Your Rice Pot

Grab a pot large enough to cook the rice. If you’re fixing enough to feed your whole family, a medium saucepan may not be large enough. In some cultures, the pot used for rice is known as a Caldero. You must have a non-stick pot with a lid to properly cook rice on your stovetop. Next, add a tablespoon of oil to the pot.

While the exact type of oil isn’t too important, it’s best to use olive or vegetable oil. Turn the stove heat to medium-high and let the oil heat. Colombian Caldero, 4.8 Quart, Silver

Rinse and Add Your Rice

Measure the rice you plan to use, pour it into a colander, and begin rinsing it with cool water in the sink. Not everyone agrees with rinsing rice, but removing excess starch is a great way to get fluffy rice and prevent a mushy texture you might not like.

Once you’ve rinsed your rice for a minute or two, be sure to hold it in place, pour out any extra water into the sink, and then add it to the cooking pot with the hot oil. Use a plastic or wooden spoon to stir the rice for a good mix.

Add Water and Salt to the Pot

Next, measure the amount of water needed to add to the pot based on your selected rice style or size and how much you’re using. Add the water to the pot, and then sprinkle a teaspoon or two of salt into it.

Remix the rice, cover it halfway with the lid, and leave it on medium-high heat. Don’t go too far away; you want to stay close to the rice pot to watch when the rice absorbs the water.

Cover and let the Steam Work Its Magic

When you notice most of the water has been absorbed, remove the lid from the pot and add a sheet of foil on top. Use the foil to cover the pot before placing the lid back on top. Lower the heat on the stove to the lowest setting possible and leave your rice alone for at least 20 minutes.

Don’t touch the lid! You may feel tempted to open the lid and look inside to see how much progress you’re making, but that can disrupt things and leave you with wet rice that doesn’t taste very good.

Remove the Lid and Foil to Fluff and Serve

After 20 minutes, remove the lid from the pot and carefully pull the foil off the top. Be careful with the foil, as a lot of steam will come from inside the pot. The steam can burn you if you’re too close.

You may notice that your rice looks perfect! Grab a fork to fluff it before serving it with a plastic or wooden spoon. It’s that simple. If you follow this foolproof method, you can easily make traditional white rice.

Another Way To Cook Rice

Deborah, one of my readers, suggests: “I do rinse the rice. But I bring the water to a boil with oil and salt added. Pour the rinsed rice in and bring it to a boil again. Boil for 5 minutes, then add the lid and turn off the heat. Let it sit for about 30-45 minutes. Usually, the rice is perfect and fluffy.”

For the past few months, we’ve been using an Aroma Select Stainless rice cooker as a new approach to cooking rice (see the “rice cooker” link above). You have the same rice-to-water ratio as explained above. It has a switch on the front to cook the rice, and then it automatically shifts to a “warm” setting. When the rice is ready, I put a paper towel over the hole in the lid so I don’t get burned when I remove the lid. This has proven to be a great rice cooker and pretty much fail-safe.

Add-Ins for Flavor

Some people like to use chicken bouillon when preparing their white rice. If you’d like to give the rice a bit more flavor, you can add the chicken bouillon as the liquid to the pot with the oil, right before adding your rice and mixing well.

The chicken bouillon doesn’t have an overwhelming taste, but it does add more flavor to the dish, so you wouldn’t need to add anything else if you didn’t want to.

Some people add corn to their rice. Yellow corn adds a sweet touch to white rice and is an excellent addition to seafood and meat meal recipes. If you’d like to add the corn to your rice, feel free to toss it in when you’re adding the white rice to the pot.

If you don’t like corn, you can consider using peas or chopped canned carrots. It depends on what you prefer and want to enjoy with your rice.

What to Eat on Your Rice

While you can eat your rice fresh out of the pot, some other ingredients taste great when added to it for a different-tasting rice recipe. Soy sauce is a popular ingredient used on white rice and fried rice. It adds a tangy taste.

Sometimes Mark will take my rice, heat it up, and add some butter, much like you’d do with mashed potatoes. He’ll also heat a bowl of rice and put milk and sugar on it for his breakfast.

Coconut Aminos are a keto-friendly option for those who like tang without excess sugar. You can also enhance the flavor of your rice by adding chopped cilantro and fresh lime juice.

How to Freeze Rice

I love rice; I could eat it at every meal. So I grabbed some of my Souper Containers, cooked the rice, filled them, and then filled the “cups,” so I could freeze some individual servings.

Final Word

Cooking rice isn’t too hard. If you follow these instructions, you can turn it into a science and always prepare delicious rice. May God bless this world, Linda

Copyright Images: Rinsing Rice AdobeStock_136870136 by Africa Studio, White Rice AdobeStock_215243566 by Kungverylucky, Different Rice AdobeStock_218205225 by Pixel-Shot.

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from Food Storage Moms