How to Cook Rice

Co-authored by JoAnna Minneci

Rice is a simple, nutritious, and filling grain that can be eaten on its own, added to other dishes, served as a side, or even made into tasty desserts. There are many different ways to cook rice, and some of the most popular include boiling and steaming. One of the keys to fluffy rice that doesn’t stick together is rinsing before cooking, and this is important no matter how you plan to cook the rice.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Cooking Rice on the Stove

1
Soak and rinse the rice before cooking. Add the rice to a large bowl and cover it with fresh water. Soak the rice for about 30 minutes. Then, transfer the rice to a sieve to strain the water. Wash the rice under fresh running water for a minute.^{[1]
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- Soaking and washing rice removes dirt and excess starch, so your rice will be fluffy and not sticky.
2
Boil the water. Pour 2 cups (470 ml) or water into a medium saucepan. Put on a lid and bring the water to a boil over medium heat. Depending on the type of rice you're making, you may need to adjust the rice to water ratio. Per cup of rice (195 g), use the following water quantities:^{[2]
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- Use 2 cups (470 ml) of water for long-grain white rice, medium- or short-grain brown rice, and wild rice.
- Use 1¾ cups of water (411 ml) for long-grain brown rice or jasmine rice.
- Use 1½ cups of water (353 ml) for medium-grain white rice or basmati rice.
- Use 1¼ cups of water (294 ml) for short-grain white rice.
- You can also replace the water with chicken stock if you want to give your rice a subtle yet different flavor.
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3
Simmer the rice, salt, and oil. When the water is boiling, remove the lid from the pot. Stir in the rice, salt, and oil. Bring the water back to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Once the water is simmering again, put the lid on and turn the heat down to low. Continue cooking for 18 to 30 minutes, depending on the type of rice.^{[3]
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- White rice varieties will take around 18 minutes to cook.
- Brown rice varieties will need closer to 30 minutes.
- Don’t stir the rice or remove the lid until it’s time to check for doneness.
- The rice is done when it’s firm but tender and not crunchy.
4
Let the rice rest when it’s done. When the rice is cooked, remove it from the heat. Leave the lid on and set the pot aside to rest for at least five minutes. This will help to steam the rice, give it a chance to absorb leftover moisture, and make it tender.
- You can leave the rice to steam for up to 30 minutes.^{[4]
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5
Fluff with a fork before serving. Fluffing the rice means stirring it with a spoon or rice spatula. This lets excess moisture escape and helps to make the rice plump. After stirring, let the rice sit for another two minutes before serving.^{[5]
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Research source} Serve the rice as a side dish, add to soups, or add your favorite spices and vegetables to make a complete meal.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Preparing Pressure Cooked Rice

1
Soak and rinse the rice. Pour the rice into a bowl and fill the bowl with cold water. Soak the rice for about 30 minutes. When the time is up, drain the rice in a sieve and rinse it under running water.^{[6]
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- Rinsing will remove starch and help make the rice less sticky.
2
Combine the ingredients in the cooker. Add the rice, salt, oil, and 3 cups (705 ml) of water to the pressure cooker. For a more flavorful rice, you can also add other herbs, spices, and seasonings, such as:^{[7]
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- Chopped garlic
- Minced onion
- Bay leaf
- Dried herbs like parsley, rosemary, and thyme
- Cayenne pepper
- Paprika
3
Cook the rice on high pressure. For an electric pressure cooker, put on the lid, lock the lid, and set the rice to cook on high pressure. For a stovetop pressure cooker, put on and lock the lid. Bring the pressure cooker to pressure over high heat, then lower the heat to low. The cooking time will depend on the type of rice:^{[8]
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- Cook jasmine rice for one minute
- Cook short-grain, medium-grain, and long-grain white rice for three minutes
- Cook basmati rice for four minutes
- Cook brown rice for 22 minutes
- Cook wild rice for 25 minutes
4
Use the natural release method. When the cooking time has elapsed, turn off an electric pressure cooker or remove the stovetop cooker from the heat. Let the pressure drop naturally for the next 10 minutes, and don’t open the release valve during this time.^{[9]
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- This will give the rice a chance to finish steaming, and allow the pressure cooker pressure to drop to a safe level.
5
Relieve the remaining pressure. After 10 minutes, open the pressure valve to release the remaining pressure from the cooker. Stand back from the cooker while the steam releases to avoid burning.^{[10]
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- When the pressure has dropped to zero unlock and remove the lid.
6
Fluff and serve. Stir the rice with a spoon, fork, or rice spatula to fluff it up and release the remaining moisture. Serve the rice as part of your favorite meal, side, or add-on to other dish.^{[11]
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- Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to five days.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Steaming Rice

1
Wash the rice. Combine the rice in a bowl with enough cold water to cover the rice. Let it soak for at least 30 minutes before draining and rinsing the rice under running water.
- You can soak the rice for a couple hours before draining and rinsing, and this will result in rice that isn't sticky at all.^{[12]
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2
Combine the rice and water. You can steam rice in either a rice cooker or an electric steamer. A rice cooker is specifically for rice, whereas an electric steamer is for vegetables and other foods as well. Both come with a basket for rice. Stir together the rice and water in the basket.
- When steaming rice, always use equal parts rice and water. To make rice to serve more people, simply increase the quantities of both equally.^{[13]
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3
Add water to the basin of an electric steamer. When using an electric steamer to make rice, you also have to add extra water to the basin below the steamer basket. This is necessary to create the steam that will cook the rice.
- For smaller quantities of rice, add water to the minimum fill line. For larger quantities, add water to the maximum fill line.
- You don’t have to add extra water to a rice cooker.
4
Steam the rice. Put the lid on. Select the rice variety on a rice steamer. With both a rice cooker and electric steamer, set the cooking time to 30 to 40 minutes and cook the rice. White rice varieties will only need about 30 minutes. Brown and wild rice varieties will need closer to 40 minutes.^{[14]
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5
Fluff with a fork and then serve. When the rice is tender and cooked, open the lid and remove the basket from the steamer. Stir the rice with a spoon, fork, or rice spatula and serve.^{[15]
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Expert Q&A
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Question

How can I make my rice more flavorful?

JoAnna Minneci
Professional Chef
JoAnna Minneci is a Professional Chef based in the Nashville, Tennessee area. With more than 18 years of experience, Chef JoAnna specializes in teaching others how to cook through private cooking lessons, team-building events, and wellness and nutrition classes. She has also appeared in numerous television shows on networks such as Bravo and Food Network. Chef JoAnna received Culinary Arts training from the Art Institute of California at Los Angeles. She is also certified in sanitation, nutrition, kitchen management, and cost control.

JoAnna Minneci

Professional Chef

Expert Answer

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You can stir fry garlic and onions with oil over low heat before adding the rice. Then, add the rice and coat it with the flavor. To finish it, add water and cook as usual.
Question

How can I freeze cooked rice?

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To freeze cooked rice, first cook it as instructed above or as per your particular rice cooking method. Allow to cool down a little. Then, line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread the cooked rice across the baking sheet, over the parchment paper. Using a fork, fluff the spread-out grains to help separate as many as possible. Let cool down completely on the baking sheet, then transfer to a suitable airtight freezer container. Label with contents and date, then place in the freezer; it will stay at its best for up to 6 months. To defrost for use, put into the refrigerator about 4 to 6 hours before use, then use as required.
Question

Is rice gluten free?

wikiHow Staff Editor
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Yes, rice is gluten free, both the white and brown varieties. It also doesn't matter what type of rice (short-grained, medium-grained or long-grained rice), all of these remain gluten free. Rice can be used in a variety of savory and sweet ways to supplement a gluten-free diet.