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Want to avoid mushy, crunchy, or overcooked rice? Here’s our no-fail method of how to cook white rice that works every time.
Have you ever over-cooked rice and ended up with a glue-y mush? Under-cooked it to where it’s crunchy? Gotten it stuck to the bottom of the pan? Alex and I have seen it all.
As cookbook authors and recipe experts, we’ve found over time a method that results in tender, delicious white rice to pair with all your meals. Here’s how to cook white rice perfectly, every time.
How to cook white rice
Step 1: Rinse the rice.
Why rinse rice? Rinsing rice removes starch from the outside of the grains. This prevents getting a gooey, sticky, gummy pot of rice. Throw it in a strainer and run under cold water for 15 to 20 seconds.
Step 2: Simmer it covered.
Add 1 cup rice and 1 ¾ cup water to the pot and bring it to a boil. Once boiling, turn it down to a simmer and cover it. How long to cook rice? 1 cup white rice takes 12 to 15 minutes to cook. Simmer until the liquid is completely absorbed. Larger amounts of rice can take slightly longer, so check and pull the rice back with a fork to see when the water is absorbed.
Step 3: Rest, then season.
Here’s the important part about how to cook rice: let it rest for 10 minutes after cooking! This step finishes cooking the rice by steaming it, making the grains fluffy instead of gluey or water-logged. Then taste and add more salt, oil or butter to taste.
How much is a serving size of rice?
If you’re planning serving sizes of rice, here’s a handy cheat sheet:
- What’s the water to rice ratio? Use 6 cups of water for every 1 cup dry rice.
- How much does 1 cup dry rice make? 1 cup dry rice = about 3 cups cooked
- How much is a serving size of rice? When serving as side or as a stir fry, we usually plan for ¾ cup to 1 cup rice per serving.
- How many calories in 1 cup of cooked rice? There about 200 calories in 1 cup cooked rice.
Variation: Instant Pot white rice
Yes, you can cook white rice in an Instant Pot! Alex and I love making whole grains like farro, bulgur and quinoa in our Instant Pot because it’s totally hands off and leaves the stove free for cooking other things. Here’s our White Rice in an Instant Pot method.
Tips for seasoning
Once the white rice is cooked, you can season it in a variety of ways! Taste and add additional salt if necessary. We like stirring in 1 tablespoon butter or a drizzle of olive oil. You can also stir in herbs and spices like a hint of garlic powder, Italian seasoning or dried oregano (start very small and add more to taste).
Chopped fresh herbs are a perfect seasoning for rice! You can also make lemon rice with lemon zest or basil rice with fresh basil, or pesto rice by stirring in pesto.
Ways to use white rice
It’s hard to make a list of recipes that use white rice, because you can serve rice with almost everything. But here are some of great rice recipes where you can use this technique:
- In Fried Rice, Tofu Fried Rice or Shrimp Fried Rice
- Spinach Artichoke Rice Casserole
- As part of a Rice Bowl or Poke Bowl
- In Black Beans and Rice
- With stir fries like Shrimp Stir Fry or Broccoli Stir Fry
- With curries like Chickpea Curry or Red Lentil Curry
Dietary notes
This recipe is vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free.
How to Cook White Rice
Want to avoid mushy, crunchy, or overcooked rice? You’re in luck: here’s a no-fail method of how to cook white rice that works every time.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 3 cups 1x
- Category: Essentials
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Basics
- Diet: Vegan
Instructions
- Rinse: Rinse the rice in cold water in a strainer for 15 to 20 seconds, then shake it dry. (Here’s why to rinse rice.)
- Simmer covered: Place the water in a pot and bring to a boil. Add the rice and salt, bring back to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and cover. Simmer for 12 to 15 minutes, until the water is completely absorbed (test by pulling back the rice with a fork). Remove from the heat.
- Rest, then season: Cover and rest for 10 minutes (this allows the rice to steam and firm up in texture). Stir in the salt, and the butter or olive oil if using. Taste and add more salt if needed.
I thought there would be a pasta method to cook white rice in the variations to cook rice. I cook white rice using the pasta method, I use way more water, add some salt, bring it to a boil, throw in the white rice and cook it for exactly 16 minutes, drain it, it comes out perfect. Add a bit of butter or oil to keep it from sticking. Fluff with a fork.
No sitting time needed to steam and firm up.
Thanks, I came here from the How to Cook Brown Rice page looking for the same — appreciate your post!
I tried this method but the rice came out mushy.. any ideas?
Did you remove the rice right at 9 minutes? What style of rice did you use?
I used long grain white rice and I started timing it when it returned to boiling and it was about 10 min.. should I start timing when I put rice in pot?
Yes, you may want to start tasting at 8 minutes for doneness. Thank you for making the recipe!
I used long grain white rice and started timing it when the water returned to a boil after putting rice in.. boiled for about 10 min.. should I start timing at a diff point?
1 cup white rice (jasmine) to 2 cups of boiling water, cover & turn fire to low & cook for 12 minutes.
Take cover off, and fluff the rice….done. Perfect rice.