What to Do If You Burned the Rice

The bottom of the pot is scorched but the top layers might still be fine. The key rule: do NOT stir. Stirring mixes the burnt taste and smell into the entire pot, ruining everything.

Instead, place a slice of white bread on top of the rice, put the lid back on, and wait 5 minutes. The bread absorbs the burnt smell remarkably well. Then carefully scoop the unburnt rice from the top and middle layers, avoiding the bottom entirely. Transfer to a clean bowl immediately. If the burnt taste has already permeated everything, it's unsalvageable — but this bread trick saves most pots if you catch it in time.