Cooking brown rice can seem daunting. We caught up with Catherine Robertson, the author of The Cat Can Cook Book and the curator of CatCanCook.com who assures us that cooking brown rice doesn't have to be a challenge.

Step 1: Understand the difference between white rice and brown rice
The key to cooking brown rice properly is to know how different it is from white rice. "The most common mistake people tend to make while cooking brown rice is not cooking it long enough," says Robertson. "With brown rice, the husk remains intact, so you need to cook it for about twice the amount of time it takes to cook white rice."

Step 2: Soak the rice before cooking
Softening up the husk is essential, so Robertson suggests soaking your rice prior to cooking. "Soak it in warm tap water," she says. Soak the rice for about 30 minutes. Drain and it's ready to cook.

Step 3: Remember the ratio
The one similarity between white and brown rice is math. No matter how much rice you need to make, abide by the 2:1 ratio. "Use twice the amount of water, so if it's one cup of rice, use two cups of water," says Robertson. White rice retains a 1:1 ratio of rice to water.

Step 4: Boil, simmer and stand
"Put on the lid and bring the water to a boil," says Robertson. "Then, simmer the rice covered for about 30 minutes." Remove the pot from the heat and let the rice stand in the remaining water covered for another 10 minutes. Fluff it up with a fork, cover it again and let it stand for a final 10 minutes.

Step 5: Fluff and serve
Remove the lid and fluff the rice again with a fork. Your brown rice is now fully cooked and ready to serve.

Pair brown rice with stir-fried vegetables, meats, curries and stews, add it to soups or toss it with diced raw vegetables, fresh herbs and lemon juice to make a simple but nutritious salad.

Fast tip: When you want the delicious nutrition of brown rice, but you don't have a lot of time, try a convenient precooked variety. Look for brands that substantially reduce your cooking time while giving you options such as microwaving or cooking in a skillet.

Photography, iStockphoto.com.