How to Cook Rice

Rice is one of the tastiest ingredients you can cook with. When mixed with other ingredients, it can be a satisfying main dish. It’s just as tasty served as a side to an entrée. From rice pudding to Indian dishes, the possibilities are limitless. It’s a much healthier alternative to refined white bread and a staple in many diets. Although this grain seems simple to make, learning how to cook rice can be difficult if you don’t know the proper steps.

The method that you’re cooking the rice will impact this process, as will the variety of rice that you’re making. Whether you’re looking for hacks on how to cook Basmati rice or learning how to cook rice on the stove for the first time, here are all the must-know tips and hacks for making perfectly fluffy rice every time.

Not all rice is the same

There are three different grain lengths of rice. They include:

Short-grain rice: Short-grain rice is plump with a rounded shape and has the highest starch content of all types, making the grains stick together more during cooking.

Medium-grain rice: Not too long nor too short, this rice is the perfect middle ground with medium starch levels.

Long-grain rice: This rice is much longer than it is wide and has a low-starch content, making your dried result dryer, lightweight, and less sticky.

Different types of rice

Beyond the length of the grain, there are different kinds of rice that belong to these various grain length families.

• White Rice — A milled rice that has had the germ, bran, and outer husk removed. It comes in all grain lengths and stores longer/cooks quicker than brown rice. You can find many white rice recipes on the internet and cook it perfectly every time!

• Aromatic Rice — When cooked, rice such as Basmati or Jasmine gives off a perfumey scent.

• Black Rice — One of the healthiest types of rice filled with iron, fiber, and antioxidants. It turns purple when cooked.

• Brown Rice — A whole grain rice with minimum processing, available in all grain lengths. It has a nutty taste and chewy texture, with a higher nutritional content than white rice.

• Arborio Rice — A medium to short-grain rice used to make risotto and thicken dishes due to its high starch content.

• Sticky Rice — A glutinous, short-grain rice that’s often used in Asian foods like mango sticky rice or sushi.

• Instant Rice — The most low-maintenance to make, instant rice is actually pre-cooked and then dehydrated. Although it’s the fastest method available, it doesn’t have the taste or texture that regular rice does.

A step-by-step guide on how to cook white rice and other types of rice on the stove

1. Rinse your rice.

This will help remove starch and prevent grains from sticking to each other.

2. Pay attention to the rice to water ratio.

This can ruin the texture of your rice if you don’t pay attention. The general rule of thumb is the 2:1 ratio. 2 cups of water per cup of rice. Add the rice and water together and put the heat on medium-high.

3. Bring it to a boil.

Some people like to add a half teaspoon or teaspoon of salt to add flavor. Do this once your rice and water reach a boil.

4. Let it simmer… but how long does rice take to cook?

After boiling, immediately simmer on low heat. Cook your rice too long, and it’ll end up a pile of mush. If you don’t cook your rice long enough, it’ll stay hard and tough to chew. The general rule is 18 minutes.

5. Let it rest with the lid on.

Turn off the heat and let your rice sit with the lid on for about 10 minutes. This additional steam will yield fluffier rice.

7. Fluff with a fork.

This will make sure all those little grains are preserved and perfectly plumped rather than being mashed together with a spoon.

8. How Much Rice To Cook Per Person

For an average meal, you going to need one-third cup of raw, uncooked rice per person.

Different rice cooking methods

If you don’t want to cook rice on the stove, there are a few other methods you can use. In all of them, you should rinse your rice beforehand.

Rice cooker: by reducing air pressure, this device speeds up the process and boils water way faster. In a rice cooker, you’ll want to use a 1:1 water to rice ratio, and simply press the on button!

Microwave: If you don’t want to use instant rice but are feeling lazy, use 2 parts rice and 3.5 parts water in a large microwave-safe baking dish. Microwave uncovered on high until you see steam holes and a good amount of water gone (around 10 minutes). Then, microwave with a cover and cook for another 15 minutes or so until fully absorbed.

Oven: Use 2 1/4 cups of water per cup of rice. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees °F (163 degrees °C) and butter a large baking dish. Pour your rice in. Bring the water, a teaspoon of salt, 1/4 cup of butter, and a teaspoon of white vinegar to a boil. Pour liquid mix over rice and bake for 20-25 minutes.

How to store rice

A little uncooked rice equals a lot of cooked rice. At room temperature, it can grow bacteria, so it should always be refrigerated after a couple of hours. Allow the steam to escape and store your cooked leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5-6 days. When reheating, always sprinkle water to prevent dryness.