How to Prevent Rice from Sticking to the Bottom of a Pot

Rice is a great addition to any meal, whether it’s a side dish or part of the main course. Although rice is pretty easy to make, it can be frustrating to clean the pot afterwards if there’s a layer of rice stuck to it. Fortunately, you can do a few things before and after you cook your rice to save yourself from a tough cleanup.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Rinsing and Cooking the Rice

  1. Image titled Prevent Rice from Sticking to the Bottom of a Pot Step 1
    1
    Run the rice under cool water for 1 minute to remove starch. Put your rice into a fine mesh strainer and run it under cool water in the sink. Try to rinse it for about 1 minute, or until all of the rice gets wet.[1]
    • Rice often has a layer of starch on it that can make it super sticky when it gets wet. Rinsing this off will help prevent it from sticking to your pot.
  2. 2
    Add a 1:1 ratio of water and rice to the pot. For example, if you are cooking 1 cup (128 g) of rice, add 1 cup (240 mL) of water to the pot. If you use too little water, the rice could end up burning at the bottom and sticking to your pot. Try to leave about 2 inches (5.1 cm) of space at the top of the pot so the water doesn’t boil over.[2]
    • Using too much water can make your rice soggy and watery.
    • If you are making long grain white rice, use 1.25 cups (300 mL) of water for every 1 cup (128 g) of rice.
    • You can also add a pinch of salt to the water if you’d like to flavor your rice a little bit.
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  3. Image titled Prevent Rice from Sticking to the Bottom of a Pot Step 3
    3
    Place a tight-fitting lid over your rice to trap in steam. A lid will trap the steam inside of the pot and let the rice cook in a moist environment. Without a lid, your rice could end up burning and sticking to the bottom of the pot. Make sure your lid fits snugly on top of the pot.[3]
    • Cook your rice on low heat so the water doesn’t boil over.

    Tip: If your lid is too big for your pot, put a kitchen towel in between the lid and the pot to trap in the steam.

  4. Image titled Prevent Rice from Sticking to the Bottom of a Pot Step 4
    4
    Avoid stirring the rice while it cooks so it doesn't stick together. When you stir the rice, it releases starch that makes it sticky. Although it can be tempting to peek at your rice or stir it around, keep the lid on tight and don’t touch the rice until it’s fully cooked and rested.[4]
  5. 5
    Let the rice simmer for 18 to 20 minutes. If you cook your rice for too long, it could end up burning and sticking to the pot. Set a timer on your phone or your stove and take the rice off the heat right away.[5]
    • Your rice may still have a little bit of water on it when your timer goes off, but that’s okay. It will absorb into the rice when you let it rest.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Resting the Rice

  1. Image titled Prevent Rice from Sticking to the Bottom of a Pot Step 6
    1
    Remove the pot from the heat and let the cooked rice sit for 10 minutes. Keep the lid on top of the pot and slide it over to a burner that’s off. Allow your rice to sit for 5 to 10 minutes so it can absorb more of the steam that it’s been cooking in.[6]
    • This will help to loosen up the bottom layer of rice and make it easier to scoop out of the pot. It will also make the rice more fluffy and less crunchy.
  2. 2
    Fluff the rice up with a fork before you serve it to break up the grains. Keep the rice in the pot you cooked it in and grab a fork. Remove the lid carefully by holding it away from yourself to avoid getting burned by the steam. Stick the fork into the middle of the rice and gently pick it up to fluff the grains of rice. Keep fluffing until you’ve disturbed all of the grains of rice.[7]
    • This will help to loosen the bottom layer of rice, and it will also make your rice lighter in texture.
  3. 3
    Scoop the rice with a large spoon to reach the bottom of the pot. You can use a plastic or wooden spoon to scoop out your rice. Scrape the spoon onto the bottom of the pot to ensure you’re getting all of it off the bottom, and enjoy your delicious meal![8]

    Tip: It’s much easier to clean a pot when there isn’t rice stuck to it, so try to scoop all of it out before it hardens.

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Warnings

  • Watch your rice as it cooks to make sure it doesn’t boil over. If it does, turn the heat down slightly.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
  • Your rice will be super hot when it comes off the stove. Let it cool down for a few minutes before you eat it.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
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Things You’ll Need

Rinsing and Cooking the Rice

  • Fine mesh strainer
  • Pot
  • Lid
  • Timer

Resting the Rice

  • Fork
  • Large spoon

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References

  1. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-cook-rice-on-the-stove-44333
  2. ↑ https://www.cooksillustrated.com/how_tos/9395-science-the-secrets-of-cooking-rice
  3. ↑ https://whatscookingamerica.net/Pasta_Rice_Main/Perfect-White-Rice.htm
  4. ↑ https://whatscookingamerica.net/Pasta_Rice_Main/Perfect-White-Rice.htm
  5. ↑ https://whatscookingamerica.net/Pasta_Rice_Main/Perfect-White-Rice.htm
  6. ↑ https://whatscookingamerica.net/Pasta_Rice_Main/Perfect-White-Rice.htm
  7. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/keep-stovetop-grains-from-stic-150011
  8. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/keep-stovetop-grains-from-stic-150011

About This Article

JoAnna Minneci
Co-authored by:
JoAnna Minneci
Professional Chef
This article was co-authored by JoAnna Minneci and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. 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. This article has been viewed 99,791 times.
8 votes - 90%
Co-authors: 3
Updated: November 27, 2022
Views: 99,791
Categories: Rice and Beans
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