absorption cooking In many parts of the world, rice is cooked by the absorption method: The rice is cooked (in a heavy pot or a rice cooker) in a measured amount of water that boils and then simmers until all the water has been absorbed by the rice. A variant of absorption cooking, used by some households in Thailand, steam cooks the rice by absorption: The rice is placed in several uncovered bowls with a measured amount of water. The bowls are placed in a covered steamer over boiling water, which produces an even heat. Cooking time is a little longer than with the simple absorption method.
