Whenever I make rice, I’m constantly lifting the lid to peek inside the pot while it’s cooking away to make sure everything is going as planned—aka I have absolutely no patience when I’m hangry. Then, once the time is up, the rice tastes good…it’s just not anything near the fluffy perfection I had hoped it would be. Well, it turns out there’s a reason for that: All it takes is one simple mistake to keep you from getting the best possible outcome.

According to The Manual, the right way to cook super-fluffy rice doesn’t involve peeking (surprise, surprise!)—it’s leaving it completely alone the entire time it’s cooking. Like, really alone. That means not moving the pot, stirring it, or even lifting the lid even the tiniest bit. And the reason why? It’s all about the steam. When it stays locked in, your rice will actually be able to cook properly, but when you disrupt it or let it escape, you might as well say goodbye to your fluffy rice dreams for good.

The right way to cook super-fluffy rice involves leaving it completely alone the entire time it’s cooking. That means not moving the pot, stirring it, or even lifting the lid even the tiniest bit.

Aside from the whole no-peeking thing, there’s one more way to ensure your rice comes out nice and fluffy. After the time is up—and no sooner!—you’re finally allowed to lift the lid to see if the texture is on-point or if it needs more time. (If the water isn’t all soaked up, you just have to wait a little bit longer.) Once it’s ready, all you need to do is turn off the heat and let it hang out in the pot with the lid on for an additional ten minutes. Then once your timer goes off, grab a fork and fluff up the most delicious rice you’ve ever made.

Now that I’ve officially been schooled in proper rice-cooking techniques, you better believe I’ll be making the warm and cozy staple all season long—even if I have to endure the agony of not knowing what’s going on under that steamy lid.

Speaking of rice, here’s the verdict on if it’s actually healthy, including if brown or white is better for you. And once you have your perfectly fluffy rice, use it to make one of these vegan sushi rolls.