How to Cook White Rice

Co-authored by JoAnna Minneci

Last Updated: March 16, 2023 References

White rice is a popular staple that goes with everything: meat, vegetables, soups, and stews. Whether you cook rice on the stove, in the microwave, or in a rice cooker, you need to use the correct ratio of rice-to-water. You also must allow the rice to rest after you finish cooking it. If you don't, the grains will clump together and create a sticky, mushy mess. With the right technique, however, you'll end up with perfectly-cooked, fluffy, white rice.

Ingredients

Stovetop Rice

1 cup (225 g) of white rice
1 to 1 ¹⁄₄ cups (240 to 300 mL) of water
1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt (optional)
1 tablespoon (15 g) of unsalted butter (optional)

Serves 4

Rice in the Microwave

1 cup (225 g) of white rice
2 cups (470 mL) of water
1/8 teaspoon of salt (optional)

Serves 4

Rice in a Rice Cooker

1 cup (225 g) of white rice
1 cup (240 mL) of water
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)

Serves 4

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Steaming Stovetop Rice

1
Rinse 1 cup (225 g) of rice under cool, running water. Pour the rice into a fine, mesh strainer, then hold the strainer under cool, running water. Gently sift the rice with clean hands so that every grain gets rinsed off. Keep rinsing and sifting the rice until the water runs clear.^{[1]
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- You don’t have to dry the rice off, but it would be a good idea to shake it to dislodge any excess water.
- You can cook however much rice you want, as long as you adjust the ratio of rice-to-water accordingly.
2
Combine the water and rinsed rice in a 2 qt (1.9 L) pot. Pour the water into the pot first, then add the rice. Do not stir the rice and water. Instead, gently swirl the pot to mix them together. How much water you use depends on what type of rice you are cooking:^{[2]
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- Short-grained: use 1 cup (240 mL) of water for every 1 cup (225 g) of rice.
- Long-grained: use 1 ¹⁄₄ cups (300 mL) of water for every 1 cup (225 g) of rice.
- When you cook rice, follow the instructions on the package because it differs for different kinds of rice and recipes.
- If you cook one and a half cups of rice with three cups of water, you can bring it to a boil and turn it off. Do not remove the lid. There will be fewer chances of overcooking the rice.
- If you use more than three cups of water, you may need to let it simmer for a while.
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3
Add some salt and butter, if desired, and bring the rice to a boil. Plan on using 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and 1 tablespoon (15 g) of unsalted butter for every 1 cup (225 g) of rice. Once you have everything in the pot, bring the water to a boil over high heat.^{[3]
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- The salt and butter are there only for flavor.^{[4]
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- Do not stir the rice. Swirl the pot gently to combine everything instead.
4
Cover the pot and simmer the rice for 18 to 20 minutes. Place a tight-fitting lid on top of the pot, then reduce the heat to low or medium-low. Wait for the water to reduce to a simmer, then set the timer for 18 minutes. Check the rice; if it's not done, cook it for another 1 to 2 minutes.^{[5]
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- The rice is ready when the water disappears.
- Consider using a glass lid. This way, you'll be able to tell when the water is gone.
5
Take the rice off the burner and let it sit, covered, for 15 to 20 minutes. If there's a lot of condensation on the lid, take the lid off and place a tea towel over the pot. Put the lid back on the pot, over the towel, and wait 15 to 20 minutes. This prevents water from dripping back onto the rice.^{[6]
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- You need to let the rice rest, because if you don't, it won't finish cooking evenly; the bottom will be mushy and the top will dry.
6
Fluff the rice with a fork before you serve it. Serve the rice straight from the pot, or transfer it into a serving bowl instead. Store any leftover rice in an airtight container in the fridge. Eat it within 5 days.^{[7]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Making Rice in the Microwave

1
Rinse 1 cup (225 g) of rice with cool water. Place the rice into a fine, mesh strainer, then hold the strainer under cool, running water. Gently sift the rice with your fingers until the water runs clear.^{[8]
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- You can use less rice if you want, but don't use more than 1 cup (225 g) for this method.
2
Combine the rice and water in a 1 ¹⁄₂ qt (1.4 L) baking dish. Use 2 cups (470 mL) of water, regardless of the type of rice you are cooking (long, medium, or short grain). This sounds like a large dish for such as small amount of rice, but the rice will expand as you cook it.^{[9]
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- For extra flavor, you could add 1/8 teaspoon of salt.^{[10]
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- If you used less rice, adjust your water accordingly. You’ll need twice as much water as rice.
3
Microwave the rice, uncovered, on HIGH for 10 minutes. Check your microwave to ensure that the power is set to "high." Next, place the rice into the microwave, and cook it for 10 minutes. Do not cover it. The rice is ready when you see tiny steam holes in it.^{[11]
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- If you don't see steam holes in the rice, continue to cook it at 1-minute intervals until you do.
4
Cover the rice with a lid or plastic wrap, then cook it for 4 minutes. Use a potholder or oven mitts to take the dish out of the microwave. Cover the dish with its matching lid or a sheet of plastic wrap, then put it back into the microwave. Cook the rice on high for 4 minutes.^{[12]
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- Make sure that the lid is microwave-safe. If it isn't, use plastic wrap.
5
Let the rice sit, covered, for 5 minutes. This resting period allows the rice to finish cooking on a gentler heat. It is similar to how you'd let rice rest after cooking it on the stove.^{[13]
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- If the rice isn't done after these 5 minutes, cook it at 1-minute intervals until it is done.
6
Remove the cover, fluff the rice with a fork, and serve it. Be very careful when removing the lid or plastic wrap, as there will be lots of steam. Once you have the cover off, fluff the rice with a fork.^{[14]
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- Refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container and eat them within 5 days.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Cooking Rice in a Rice Cooker

1
Rinse 1 cup (225 g) of rice in a strainer with cool water. Use your hands to gently sift the rice so that every grain gets rinsed off. Keep doing this until the water runs clear.^{[15]
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- You may be able to cook more or less rice, but this may affect the cooking time.
2
Place the rice and 1 cup (240 mL) of water into a rice cooker. For extra flavor, stir in 1/2 teaspoon of salt. If possible, double-check the manual for your rice cooker. Some rice cookers require a different ratio of rice-to-water.^{[16]
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- If your rice cooker requires a different ratio of rice-to-water, then use that instead.
3
Turn the rice cooker on and let it cook until it turns off. Simple rice cookers typically have an on/off switch, but fancier rice cookers may have multiple cooking options. In this case, you'll need to select the correct cooking option before it starts cooking the rice.^{[17]
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- Which cooking option you select depends on the type of rice cooker you have as well as the type of rice you are using: short, medium, or long grain.
4
Leave the rice in the rice cooker, covered, for 10 to 15 minutes. This allows the steam to escape from the cooker at a slower rate, resulting in fluffier rice. If you don't do this, the grains may appear mushy, sticky, or clumpy.^{[18]
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- Do not take the lid off. If you do, the steam will escape too fast and ruin the texture of the rice.
5
Use a rice paddle or a rubber spatula to serve the rice. Don't use anything made from metal, or you'll scratch the coating inside the rice cooker. Serve the rice straight from the rice cooker, or put it into a serving bowl instead.^{[19]
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- Place any leftovers into an airtight container. Keep them in the fridge and eat them within 5 days.
- Be sure to clean out your rice cooker afterwards with a damp cloth.

Community Q&A

Question

How can I cook rice over fire?

Community Answer

Add water and rice to a cast-iron skillet and place it carefully over the fire until the rice is cooked.
Question

When I cook rice in a saucepan, should I add any oils?

Community Answer

You don't have to, but it will ease the cooking process.
Question

Can I cook rice in a microwave?

Community Answer

Yes, you sure can! Just read the instructions! Also, adding a cup of water in a glass helps.