1. Gently squeeze. Before cooking, gently pinch the tangyuan with clean hands to create slight cracks on the skin. This ensures that the tangyuan is thoroughly cooked through, both inside and out, preventing a raw center and resulting in a soft and delicious texture.
2. Add to boiling water. After the water comes to a rolling boil, slowly place the tangyuan into the pot. Immediately use a spoon to gently push them in the same direction to make them spin a few times, preventing them from sticking to the bottom.
3. Cook on low heat. After boiling on high heat for a moment, once the tangyuan float to the surface, quickly reduce the heat to low and simmer slowly. Otherwise, the tangyuan will roll and toss violently in the pot, leading to a cooked exterior and a raw interior, which is not palatable.
4. Add cold water. During the cooking process, add a small amount of cold water each time the water comes to a boil. This keeps the water in a state of simmering rather than a rolling boil. After repeating this two or three times, cook for a little longer, then they are ready to be served.
5. Check for doneness. To determine if the tangyuan is cooked, you can use the "look and press" method. Look: Check if the surface is smooth and they are floating on the water. Press: Use chopsticks to gently press a tangyuan; it should feel soft, consistent, and have a slight springiness. If it meets these criteria, it is ready to eat.
6. Change the water frequently. After boiling the same batch of water two or three times, you should change the water. By this time, the water will have become thick and starchy. Continuing to cook in it will not only slow down the cooking process but can also lead to a raw center.
7. Cook them promptly. The raw glutinous rice flour in tangyuan has a high moisture content. If left for too long after being made, they can spoil. If frozen before cooking, they are also prone to breaking their skin during boiling, which affects their appearance.
8. Remove from heat promptly. If the cooked tangyuan cannot be eaten all at once, remove them from the pot immediately and place them in clean, cold water. After they have cooled, take them out and arrange them on a plate.