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Don't worry, we have a fancy rice cooker that we received as a wedding gift and I still managed to mess up our rice the other day! I was sleepy and I used the brown rice setting for white rice and it was super mushy!

Rice is hard! It took me years to be able to properly make it--it was either over or under-cooked, without fail!

I usually put in about a tbsp or so more of water than usual (so my ration isn't a perfect 2-1), cover it while it's boiling before turning it down to low, make sure the heat is as low as it can be, take it off at the earliest suggested time (but don't take off the lid), and let it sit, covered, on a cool burner for about 5 minutes.

@MrsBrewer: After you add the rice to boiling water, you should let it simmer at a low temperature with the lid on!

I used to have this problem. And then I realized that I need to cook the rice for significantly less time than what is on the package. I usually babysit my rice very closely so I can pull it off the burner as soon as all the water is absored. And then I let it sit off the heat (but still covered) for a few minutes longer.

@MrsBrewer: Oh yeah, leaving the heat up will definitely burn your rice. You want to bring it to a boil, cover it, and then kick the heat down to just barely a simmer.

I would definitely lower the heat. And it never takes as long as the package says so I would watch it closely and take it off once it looks like the rice is done. Then let it sit in the pan, off the heat, for a few more minutes.

Otherwise, a rice cooker is super easy. I like how I can set a timer so that it can cook while I am out of the house and be done when I get home so I can eat it right away.

Sounds like you already figured out the high heat is your problem. Another problem might be the type of rice, do you know what kind you're using? I used to have a lot of problems before I started using a different kind. Also, I never mess up any of the Skinny Taste rice recipes, try giving one a try!

@mrbee: Years of screwing it up royally every time I tried to make it!

I think rice can be hard to make especially if you have a tendency to mess with it too much!

A good tip I learned (esp when making brown rice)- buy the frozen bags!!! Brown rice ready in 4 1/2 mins and it's never under/overcooked.

@MrsBrewer: I just looked it up. This is for brown rice, which is what we eat. I'm sure he has another recipe for white rice. I love how easy it is, I just have to plan ahead. That's the hardest part!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/baked-brown-rice-recipe/index.html

@MrsBrewer: Yes I think that's the secret to it being really good :). It turns out very sticky- which I like.