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Learn how to cook rice perfectly every time so it’s fluffy and soft. Say goodbye to sticky, mushy, undercooked, or overcooked rice.
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Perfect Rice & Best Rice Cooking Method
I used to struggle with cooking rice perfectly. Rice is really easy to screw up if you don’t have the right technique. If you have ever cooked rice that turned out sticky, mushy, hard or stuck to the bottom of the pan, you are not alone.
After making rice for over a decade, I’ve found my foolproof way to get it right every single time. No more guesswork – just fluffy, delicious rice! Follow my tips below for the best cooked rice on the stovetop. Here is why this rice cooking method works:
- Foolproof: This stovetop rice recipe gives you step by step instructions and tips for the perfect rice.
- Simple recipe: With this simple tutorial cooking rice is a breeze! You don’t need a rice cooker or any other special equipment.
- Perfect for meal prep & freezing: You can quickly meal prep it ahead of time and make lunch or dinner during the week a little bit easier and quicker. You could also cook a batch of rice and freeze it for months.
Be sure to check out my other popular rice recipes – Instant Pot White Rice, Instant Pot Brown Rice, Instant Pot Spanish Rice, and Cilantro Lime Rice.
Ingredients
For a full ingredients list with measurements, check the recipe card below.
- Long grain white rice: For other varieties of rice, check out the rice to water ratio below.
- Water: Water works great for cooking rice, but sometimes, I like to switch things up with vegetable or chicken broth for an extra kick of flavor.
How To Cook White Rice On The Stove
- Add the rinsed rice, 1 1/2 cups water, and salt to a medium saucepan on the stove. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat.
- Once the water is boiling, stir the rice once, reduce heat to low, cover with a lid, and simmer the rice, without uncovering the pot, for about 15 minutes.
- Remove pan from heat and let rice rest covered for about 5-10 minutes to firm up.
- Remove lid and fluff rice with a fork. Serve immediately or chill to store for later.
TIPS FROM NELI’S KITCHEN
Tips For Cooking The Best White Rice
- Rinse the rice. Rinsing the rice in a fine mesh strainer removes dusty starch that can lead to sticky or gummy grains. Make sure you rinse it until the water runs clear.
- Use the correct water to rice ratio. Generally, use the 1:1½ rice to water ratio when cooking rice. Some types of rice require more water (like brown or wild rice) because they cook longer while other types of rice require a little bit less water (sushi rice). Check the section below for more details on the rice to water ratio for each rice type.
- Add rice to cold water and bring to boil. Some sources recommend adding the rice to boiling water but I find that cooking rice this way, leaves it hard and crunchy plus it takes longer to cook. If you want soft and fluffy rice, you should add the rice to cold water and bring it to a boil.
- Use a tight-fitted lid. Use a good lid so the steam and moisture don’t escape during the simmering cook time.
- Cook the rice on low heat. Cooking rice on low or simmer guarantees that you will have well-cooked rice that is not over- or undercooked, and doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan.
- Don’t uncover or stir the rice during cooking. It’s very important not to uncover or stir the rice once it starts simmering because otherwise the steam will escape and the rice won’t cook properly. Be patient and don’t mess with the steam.
- Let the rice rest covered for at least 5 minutes. Turn off the heat, move the saucepan aside and let it sit covered for 5-10 minutes. While the rice rests, its grains cool off slightly and firm up. If you stir the rice as soon as it’s cooked, while it’s still very hot and moist, the grains can break up and get mushy.
- Fluff the rice with a fork. After the rice has rested, you can fluff it up with a fork gently without squishing the rice. Keep it covered until you are ready to eat.
- Add a pinch of salt and butter, or cook in broth. If you want to add some flavor to your rice, you can add a pinch of salt, 1 Tbsp butter or even cook it in broth instead of water. This is optional but it guarantees delicious flavor!
The Best Rice to Water Ratio
My biggest game-changer for cooking the best rice was learning the perfect water-to-rice ratio. Once I figured that out, making rice became second nature. Generally to cook rice, I use a 1 to 1½ rice to water ratio (for every cup of rice, use 1½ cups of water). Different types of rice require slightly different water to rice ratios though.
- Long-grain rice, Basmati rice or Jasmine rice: 1 cup of rice to 1½ cups of water
- Sushi rice: 1 cup of rice to 1 1/4 cup of water
- Brown rice: 1 cup of rice to 2 1/2 cups of water
- Wild rice: 1 cup of rice to 3 cups of water
If you like firmer, drier rice, reduce the water by a few tablespoons and reduce the cooking time by a few minutes. For softer rice, add a bit more water. Some varieties, like wild and brown rice, need longer (40-45 mins) – check the package instructions for details.
Serving Suggestions
Rice is one of those foods that my family never gets tired of. Whether it’s a simple side dish or part of a cozy dinner, it’s on our table every week! To enhance the flavor, I sometimes infuse the rice with aromatic spices like dill, cumin, or turmeric, or cook it with chicken broth, depending on what I’m serving it with. I also love adding coconut milk for a creamy, slightly sweet touch— the coconut rice pairs perfectly with curries or my favorite Chicken Tikka Masala.
I love to serve it with this easy Mahi Mahi recipe, Instant Pot Honey Sesame Chicken, Thai Basil Chicken, Baked Cod, or I use it when I make this delicious Chicken Fried Rice.
Storing & Reheating Rice
I love making a big batch of rice on the weekends for meal prep—it saves so much time during the week! I also freeze extra portions, so I always have rice ready to go when I need it. Nothing beats having cooked rice ready to go! Here is how to best store rice:
FRIDGE: You can store cooked rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 4-6 days.
FREEZER: Store any extra rice in the freezer in a freezer-safe zip-loc bag for about 6 months. Rice freezes well and holds up its texture even after thawing and reheating.
REHEAT: To reheat the rice place the rice in a pan with a few tablespoons of water, using a fork break up any large clumps of rice. Cover the pan with a lid and warm the rice over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the rice is heated through.
More Cooking Tutorials
If you loved this cooking guide for perfect white rice, be sure to check out my other how-to cooking guides:
- How to Cook Quinoa
- How to Cook Pasta Perfectly
- How to Peel Tomatoes
- How to Mince Ginger
- Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs
- How To Cut Garlic
If you enjoyed this tutorial or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
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How To Make Fluffy Rice
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Instructions
- Boil. Add the rinsed rice, 1½ cups water, and salt to a pot on the stove. Bring to a boil over high heat.
- Simmer. Once the water is boiling, stir the rice once, reduce heat to low, cover with a lid, and simmer the rice, without uncovering the pot, for about 15 minutes.
- Rest. Remove pan from heat and let rice rest covered for about 5-10 minutes to firm up.
- Fluff. Remove lid and fluff rice with a fork. Serve immediately or chill to store for later.
Notes
- Rinse the rice. Rinsing the rice in a fine mesh strainer removes dusty starch that can lead to sticky or gummy grains. Make sure you rinse it until the water runs clear.
- Use the correct water to rice ratio. Generally, use the 1:1½ rice to water ratio when cooking rice. Some types of rice require more water (like brown or wild rice) because they cook longer while other types of rice require a little bit less water (sushi rice). Check the section below for more details on the rice to water ratio for each rice type.
- Add rice to cold water and bring to boil. Some sources recommend adding the rice to boiling water but I find that cooking rice this way, leaves it hard and crunchy plus it takes longer to cook. If you want soft and fluffy rice, you should add the rice to cold water and bring it to a boil.
- Use a tight-fitted lid. Use a good lid so the steam and moisture don’t escape during the simmering cook time.
- Cook the rice on low heat. Cooking rice on low or simmer guarantees that you will have well-cooked rice that is not over- or undercooked, and doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan.
- Don’t uncover or stir the rice during cooking. It’s very important not to uncover or stir the rice once it starts simmering because otherwise the steam will escape and the rice won’t cook properly. Be patient and don’t mess with the steam.
- Let the rice rest covered for at least 5 minutes. Turn off the heat, move the saucepan aside and let it sit covered for 5-10 minutes. While the rice rests, its grains cool off slightly and firm up. If you stir the rice as soon as it’s cooked, while it’s still very hot and moist, the grains can break up and get mushy.
- Fluff the rice with a fork. After the rice has rested, you can fluff it up with a fork gently without squishing the rice. Keep it covered until you are ready to eat.
- Add a pinch of salt and butter, or cook in broth. If you want to add some flavor to your rice, you can add a pinch of salt, 1 Tbsp butter or even cook it in broth instead of water. This is optional but it guarantees delicious flavor!
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer: Nutritional values are estimates and may vary with ingredients, brands, and portion sizes. For accuracy, use your preferred nutrition calculator.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this recipe is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical or nutritional advice. I am not a doctor or a dietitian. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized guidance regarding your diet or health. For more details, please read my full disclosure page.
Great post! I am super picky about white rice. I like mine fluffy and what I call on the dry side. I hate sticky rice. Great post with a lot of helpful tips.
I have to be honest. I have an embarrassingly tough time cooking rice on the stovetop!! I don’t know what it is that gives me so much trouble… But thank you for sharing this tutorial! So helpful.
This is a really comprehensive guide on all things rice! I especially liked the instructions on all the different ways to reheat. Thanks for the tips!
I struggled with rice for so long! If it wasn’t one of those flavored boxed rice mixes, I wouldn’t make rice.
This recipe takes all the trouble out of preparing rice.
-trick – don’t mess with the steam!
When I first learned how to cook, rice was always a challenge for me. This is a great tutorial for beginners!
These are great tips! I always buy the steamer bags from the frozen section because I always mess my rice up! I’ll have to try it this way!
The perfect, one-stop resource for cooking perfect rice! Thank you for compiling this!
Rice is a great addition to many meals and it is awful when it goes wrong. Having a trusted method to get it right every time is essential. You have some good advice and easy to follow recipe.
So many great tips here! Why are the simplest things (hello, rice and hard boiled eggs) so easy to mess up!
Rice is such a great staple we eat a lot of it here in Italy although mainly risotto rice. I didn’t realize that different types of rice require different quantities of water. Good to know!