How to Cook Rice

How to cook rice perfectly on the stove! Make a note of this rice to water ratio so it’s fluffy every time.

Here’s a skill every home cook should know: how to cook rice on the stove! Of course, this seems like a simple task. But there are so many variables: what is the right ratio of rice to water? Should You Rinse Your Rice? do you cook it covered As experienced home cooks, we’ve researched all the best practices and have them for you. Here. No rice cooker or instant pot required. Here’s what you need to know for perfectly fluffy rice!

The rice/water ratio

Memorize this ratio and you’ll know how to cook a perfect casserole every time! Use the rice/water ratio 1 ½ cups of water for 1 cup of white rice. Simply multiply the cups of rice by 1.5 to find the amount of water. If you are making 2 cups of rice, use 3 cups of water. This ratio only applies to white rice. (For brown rice, go to How to Cook Brown Rice.)

How much is 1 cup of dry rice? 1 cup of dry rice is equivalent to 3 cups of cooked rice. That’s six ½ cup servings.

How to cook rice on the stove

Step 1: Rinse the rice.

Why rinse the rice? This practice is somewhat controversial in the cooking world. But it makes the best pot of rice! Throw it in a colander and run it under cold water for 15 to 20 seconds. Rinsing the rice removes the starch from the outside of the grains. This will avoid creating a sticky, gooey, gummy rice pot. Secondary benefit: Deposits can sometimes form in the rice, which can also be removed by washing.

Step 2: Cover and bring to a simmer.

Put the rice and water in the saucepan and bring to a boil. Once it boils, reduce the heat and cover. How long to cook the rice? 1 cup of white rice takes 13-15 minutes to cook. Simmer until the liquid is completely absorbed. Larger batches of white rice may take a little longer, so check and flick the rice with a fork to see when the water is absorbed.

Step 3: Rest, then season.

Here’s the important part about cooking rice: let it sit for 10 minutes after cooking! This step finishes the cooking of the rice by steaming it, which makes the grains fluffy instead of sticky or wet. Don’t skip this step!

How to season rice!

We prefer to season the rice after cooking to get the most bang for your buck: we don’t even add salt until it’s cooked. (This is another controversial rice practice: everyone does it differently!) Once you have that pot of naked rice, you can head to town. Here’s how to season rice the easy way, then some other seasoning ideas:

• Butter and Salt: Simple and classic! Add ¼ teaspoon kosher salt and 1 tablespoon butter.
• Lime Coriander: Prepare Cilantro Lime Rice by adding ¼ cup finely chopped cilantro, 1 Tbsp coconut oil or butter, 2 Tbsp lime juice, and 1 tsp lime zest.
• Coconut: Prepare coconut rice by adding 2 tablespoons unrefined coconut oil for a tropical flavor.
• Herbs: Add ¼ cup chopped fresh herbs like basil, thyme, oregano, or chives.
• Turmeric: Make yellow rice by adding 1 ½ teaspoons of ground turmeric with the water. (Note: Yellow rice may leave residue in the pan; simply wash your pan with hot water and wipe with a cloth to remove.)

Want more creative ways to use this grain? Get access to 15 Rice Recipes to Repeat or 12 Great Leftover Rice Recipes.

Other ways to cook rice

There are many more methods and types of rice! This way of cooking rice on the stove works for white rice. But there are a few other methods and types of rice, which we cover in separate articles: