How to Cook Rice Over a Fire

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: September 25, 2021 References

Want to learn to make dinner over a campfire? Forced to use your fireplace while your oven doesn't work? Follow the simple instructions starting with Step 1 to cook rice over an open fire.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Cooking the Rice

1
Build an even, low temperature fire. Don't use a roaring hot fire with licking flames, just one that can boil water. Keep moving the coals around to maintain as constant a temperature as you can.^{[1]
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2
Bring water to a boil. Use four times as much water as rice by volume.^{[2]
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3
Add rice and cook uncovered for 12-14 minutes. Compared to a stovetop, the higher temperature will cook the rice faster, but the rice will lose some nutrients and fluffiness. On the bright side, it's easy to check on your rice frequently using this method.^{[3]
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- Just as with any rice, you can add spices, butter, and salt to make it more exciting.
4
Remove from heat if the temperature gets too high. If you are having trouble controlling your fire, the rice can continue to cook off the flames for a few minutes, especially if you cover the pot.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Troubleshooting

1
The rice is ready to eat but there's still water left. Drain the rice in a colander or carefully tip most of the water out, using a wooden spoon to keep the rice in.
2
The rice is still chewy and hard when it should be ready. Add more water if it's boiled off and cook a few minutes longer.^{[4]
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3
The rice has burned! Remove from heat and run cold water on the outside of the pot to stop the rice cooking. Remove the good rice from the center.
4
Rice frequently burns. Boil the rice uncovered for 6 or 7 minutes, then remove it from the heat entirely and cover with a tightly fitting lid. The steam should finish cooking the rice in 10–15 minutes with no risk of burning.^{[5]
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