DollopSkill 4 of 16
Rice that isn’t mushy
Rinse, measure, lid on, and leave it alone.
What it means
Rinse
Rinsing means running cold water over rice or canned beans in a strainer while you swish them around. It washes off loose starch and can liquid, so rice cooks up fluffy and beans taste clean.
How you’ll know: The water running out goes from cloudy to mostly clear; it doesn’t have to be perfect.
Bring to a boil
It means heating a liquid on high until it’s fully boiling before you move on. A lid on the pot gets it there faster, which makes it a good moment to chop something.
How you’ll know: Big bubbles break all over the surface, and they keep coming when you lift the lid.
Reduce the heat
It means turning the burner down, usually to medium-low or low, so food cooks gently instead of hard. Electric burners cool slowly, so lift the pan off for a moment if it’s bubbling hard.
How you’ll know: Within a minute the bubbling calms to a gentle simmer, or the sizzle turns quiet.
Saucepan
A saucepan is a pot with tall, straight sides and one long handle. It’s for things that need depth, like rice, sauces or a few boiled eggs.
How you’ll know: The food fills it about halfway, leaving room to bubble without spilling over.
Dolly says: You pick this up just by making one of these dinners. I point it out in the steps when you get there.
14 dinners that teach it
Korean-style beef bowls
30 min
Butter soy rice with crispy fried eggs
30 min
Cucumber avocado sushi bowls
40 min
Teriyaki chicken bowls
35 min
Beef burrito bowls
40 min
Crispy chickpea rice bowls
40 min
Cheesy bean and rice burritos
45 min
Sticky crispy tofu rice bowls
45 min
Mahi mahi with mango salsa and coconut rice
45 min
Lemon oregano tilapia with Greek lemon rice
45 min
One-pot Cajun shrimp and rice
50 min
One-pot smoky chicken and rice
55 min
Hainanese-style ginger chicken and rice
60 min
Golden tilapia bowls with coconut rice and mango salsa
40 min
More skills
Learn to cook without trying to
Dollop plans dinners that teach you something new, one skill after another, and keeps track of the skills you’ve picked up.