How to Prepare Black Rice

Black rice is a medium-grain rice that is simple to make and easy to use in other recipes. Once cooked, this rice turns a deep purple color and has a nutty flavor with a soft texture. Unlike most rices, black rice does not cook well in a rice cooker. This article will guide you through easily preparing black rice and will give you some tips on what to do with it when it is made.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Rinsing the Black Rice

  1. Image titled Prepare Black Rice Step 1
    1
    Measure out two cups of water for every one cup of rice. Remember that the rice will double in volume once cooked.[1]
  2. 2
    Rinse the rice two or three times. Place the rice in a bowl and run it under cold water. Rub the rice with your hands. Let it sit and then strain the rice. Repeat this process two or three times. Doing this will remove surface starches and prevents the rice from clumping.
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  3. 3
    Cover the rice in water one more time. Let the rice sit in the water overnight. Doing this will ensure that your rice does not clump.
    • If you don't have the time, cook your rice after you have washed it two or three times.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Boiling the Black Rice

  1. 1
    Pour your measured out cups of water into a large pot. Add the rice to the water. Do not turn the stove top on until both the water and the rice are in the pot.[2]
    • If desired, you can cook black rice in stock (chicken, beef, vegetable etc.) rather than water. The stock will give the rice a saltier taste. Most recipes state that you should have 1 cup of stock for every 1/2 cup of black rice.[3]
  2. 2
    Bring the water to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover the pot, and leave to simmer for 20 to 35 minutes, or until all the water is absorbed.
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    3
    Turn off the heat and leave the pot to sit for 15 minutes. Do not stir.
  4. 4
    Fluff the rice with a fork to separate the grains and serve.
    • Be aware that although the color of cooked black rice is pretty, it may stain your ceramic or enamel cookware.[4]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Cooking with Black Rice

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    1
    Use black rice in a cold salad. Black rice is a healthy substitute for noodles and white rice.[5] If you are planning on making a cold pasta salad for a BBQ, party or sporting event, why don’t you try replacing the pasta with black rice?
    • If you’re making a cold Asian-fusion salad with noodles, why not make it with more nutritious black rice? Just make sure that the rice is fully cooked before adding other ingredients.
  2. Image titled Prepare Black Rice Step 9
    2
    Add black rice to stuffing. Adding black rice is an easy and delicious way to make stuffing. Cook the rice fully and then combine it with bread crumbs, herbs and spices, celery like you would when making normal stuffing. Place the stuffing in your turkey or chicken and then bake it as you would when making normal stuffing. Your guests at Thanksgiving will be begging for more.
  3. Image titled Prepare Black Rice Step 10
    3
    Eat black rice as a side dish. Cook the rice as directed above and then place a heaping portion of it on a plate to be served with your favorite meat, fish or poultry dish. You can also add different herbs and spices to give black rice some exciting flavors. Don’t be afraid to play around and create some interesting combinations.[6]
  4. Image titled Prepare Black Rice Step 11
    4
    Make black rice into a dessert. Next time you think about making rice pudding, use black rice! Combine the rice with cream, sugar, and cinnamon for a delicious after dinner treat. Try adding different fruits too!
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    If you forget to rinse it, is it bad to eat?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    No. It may just be a little starchier.
  • Question
    Should the rice be soaked overnight in the fridge?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Keep the rice out on your counter, soaking in water overnight at room temperature.
  • Question
    I just bought some bulk black rice and the water turned dark purple while rinsing. After 3 rinses, the water is still purple. Does this mean the rice has been dyed?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    No, the pigmentation of the rice is just very rich, as any other "black", "purple" or "blue" foods are likely to be hyper-pigmented and staining (think beets).
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Things You'll Need

  • Large cooking pot
  • Rice
  • Water

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References

  1. ↑ https://www.cooksinfo.com/rice
  2. ↑ https://www.prevention.com/food-nutrition/healthy-eating/a20963008/black-rice/
  3. ↑ http://www.thekitchn.com/weeknight-meal-recipe-black-ri-87980
  4. ↑ http://www.mynewroots.org/site/2011/05/black-rice-is-the-new-brown-2/
  5. ↑ https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/7-incredible-benefits-of-the-forbidden-rice-the-black-rice-1688420
  6. ↑ https://www.organicauthority.com/organic-food-recipes/how-to-cook-black-rice-plus-7-delicious-recipes

About This Article

wikiHow Staff
Co-authored by:
wikiHow Staff
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 551,801 times.
3 votes - 67%
Co-authors: 10
Updated: March 20, 2022
Views: 551,801
Categories: Rice and Beans
Article SummaryX

To prepare black rice, start by adding 2 parts water and 1 part black rice to a pot. You can use stock instead of water if you want the rice to have more flavor. Next, bring the pot to a boil. Once it starts boiling, turn the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer until all of the water is absorbed. Then, turn off the heat and let the rice sit for 15 minutes before serving. If you want to learn how to add black rice to a recipe, keep reading the article!

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