Why Not Everyone On TikTok Is Loving This 'Mind-Blowing' Rice Hack

Viral videos are usually one of two things: incredible or awful. On the rare occasion, they're a little bit of both. When it comes to recipes, food posts, and kitchen hacks, a video might go viral because it teaches the audience something useful such as a time-saving trick for peeling potatoes or how to make three-ingredient cloud bread. There are many times where a recipe video goes viral, is shared like crazy, and gets appreciative and awestruck comments. Unfortunately, the opposite can also occur, where a video goes viral, but people pounce on a mistake or missed step.

The latter is the case with a recent TikTok video about a white rice hack in which the poster, Kelleyoz, begins by saying, "This is gonna blow ya'alls mind." Kelley's TikTok bio states, "Spreading my love of food, tips and tricks and so much more!!" and they do indeed share that passion, as you will see from scrolling through the videos. For all we know, some of the posted recipes could really blow your mind, but as for the rice hack video, some viewers are not impressed.

Kelleyoz shares an unconventional way of cooking rice in the TikTok video. Kelley preheats the over to 375 F and talks us through the proclaimed "mind-blowing" rice hack. In this version (there is a redo), Kelley instructs viewers to "use equal parts water and rice" with some butter and salt then mix it all in a baking dish. The TikToker says to cover it with aluminum foil and bake it for about 45 minutes. When it's done simply take it out and fluff with a fork and the rice should be ready. Kelley called it "ridiculously better than any rice I've ever done."

This video has 1905 comments, more than 82,000 likes, and a whopping 1.5 million views! There were also plenty of positive comments, with one person even calling the hack "amazing." It can be exciting to have a video go viral. Unfortunately, it also garnered some serious backlash. In the comments section, Kelley admitted misspeaking in the video, accidentally saying to use a 1:1 ratio of water to rice instead of doubling the water. People noticed, and that wasn't the only issue they had. Comments flooded the post slamming the directions, the lengthy cooking time, and how Kelley handled the rice. "Get a rice cooker seriously the best also definitely not equal parts," "Wash your rice," and "You don't wash your rice (laughing emoji) You know nothing," are just a handful of negative reactions you'll find. 

Kelleyoz was not happy with the comments on the viral rice cooking video and did what any savvy TikToker would: They made another video. It begins with Kelley stating, "After all the reviews I got on my rice, I had to redo it." The new video is similar to the original, but with some tweaks and more details.

Kelley claims the rice was washed first, and then changes the directions from the original post to now using two parts water to one part rice. The TikToker also uses chicken stock, butter, salt, pepper, thyme, red pepper flakes, and onion powder this go-round and cooks it for 45 minutes at 400 F. 

This video is certainly better than the last, explaining the steps and directions with more detail, and while it has not grabbed the same level of attention (yet), it still received more than 430 likes and over 10,000 views.

Taste of Home shares that baked rice is better than stovetop rice because the heat is more evenly dispersed, making it fluffier, removing excess liquid, and cooking perfect, tender rice. Regardless of the negative commentary in Kelley's TikTok post, the final product looks delish so the next time rice is on the menu, you might want to try baking it.