How to Cook Rice: A Step-by-Step Guide

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Get perfect rice every time with these instructions for the classic method, the pasta method, the
pilaf method and more.

There’s lots of info out there on how to cook rice — perhaps because it's such a simple and
inexpensive staple. But the back of the rice package says one thing about how to cook it, and your
favorite blog says something else. Good news — you've landed on our tried-and-tested guide. We'll
walk you through all the different ways to make different varieties of rice, and ensure it never
comes out mushy, gummy, or burnt. Looking to cook brown rice specifically? Check out our story
How to Cook Brown Rice.

First and Foremost: Always Rinse Rice Before Cooking

No matter how you're cooking your rice (or which variety you're making), it's important to rinse
those grains. Doing so removes excess starch. Left on the rice, the starch results in unappealing,
gummy results. Some recipes will tell you to place the rice in a bowl and change the water several
times, but we think the easiest technique is to rinse it in a fine mesh strainer. Agitate the grains
with your hands as you run water over them to shower them evenly. When the water runs clear,
you're done rinsing. Having trouble seeing whether or not it's clear? Put a clear bowl underneath
the water draining off the rice, let any bubbles settle away and then take a look.

Consider Toasting the Rice

Full disclosure: This step isn’t necessary. But if you have the time, it enhances the natural flavor of
the rice. Simply heat a teaspoon of butter or olive oil over medium heat in the pot you’re going to
cook the rice in. Add the rice and stir it frequently until it starts smelling nutty — a bit like
popcorn. If you’re toasting white rice, you’ll see it turn pale tan.

Don't Forget to Season the Water

Adding a big pinch of salt to the cooking water goes a long way in making your finished rice taste
balanced. If you forget and season the rice after it's done cooking, you'll notice an unpleasant bite
of salt.

What the Heck Does It Mean to "Fluff Rice?"

Many rice recipes conclude with the simple instructions: "fluff rice." This just means you should
stick a fork into the rice and break up any grains that have clumped together. The step literally
makes your finished dish fluffier.

How to Cook Rice on the Stove

Read the back of every rice package in your pantry, and you'll realize that there's no one way to
make rice on the stove. The technique changes based on which type of rice you're making. But
have no fear, we've broken down everything below.

The Classic Method

When you think about making rice, this is the technique that probably comes to mind because it's
the most classic. It works fantastically with typical long-grain white rice. If you're face-to-face with
something like a short-grain rice, you can always check the package instructions for how to tailor
this technique to the variety.

Rinse the rice.

Use the right ratio of water. Add 2 parts water and 1 part rice to a large pot. For slightly firmer
rice, use 1 part liquid to 2/3 parts rice.

Bring the water to a boil. Once it's boiling, add a big pinch of salt.
Maintain a simmer. Reduce heat to low, cover the pot with a tight fitting lid, and maintain a
gentle simmer.

Cook without peeking or stirring. Cook until the water is absorbed, about 18 minutes. Try not
to peek until the end of the cooking time so the steam doesn't escape. Whatever you do, don't mix
the rice while it's cooking — this will lead to gummy rice.

Let the rice rest covered. Turn off the heat and let the rice sit, covered, for 10 minutes. During
this time, the rice will steam for extra fluffy results.

Fluff the rice with a fork.

The Pasta Method

Surprise, you can cook rice like pasta in an unmeasured amount of water. This is a great technique
for varieties like brown rice and wild rice that take a long and sometimes unpredictable amount of
time to cook. It's also a smart way to cook a gigantic batch of any sort of rice without a rice cooker.
It can be tricky to nail big batches of rice cooked using the classic method because there's so much
more water that needs to be kept at a constant simmer. Here's what to do instead.

Rinse the rice.

Bring water to a boil, then add the rice. Fill the pot with water (no need to measure) and salt
it — just like you do with pasta water. Bring it to a boil and then carefully add your desired amount
of rice.

Maintain a boil. Boil uncovered without stirring until the rice is softened through but still a tad
al dente (read: not mushy).

Drain the rice. Drain the rice through a fine mesh strainer.

The Pilaf Method

When you're cooking aromatic varieties of rice like Basmati and Jasmine, there are a few smart
techniques you can use in this method to enhance their naturally nutty flavor.

Rinse the rice.

Toast the rice to complement the nuttiness. We love toasting all sorts of rice, but when you
toast aromatic rice, the results pay off exponentially. Add 1 part rice to a pot with a dab of oil or
butter and cook over medium until it looks toasted and smells nutty, 2 to 3 minutes.

Bring water to a boil before adding it to the rice. Meanwhile, bring 2 parts of water to a
boil. Pouring already boiling water on top of the rice helps control the exact amount of water
you're adding, something that's important for basmati and jasmine rice because they're on the
starchy side and can end up gummy. You're aiming to achieve separate grains.

Simmer the rice. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer until the liquid is absorbed, about
18 minutes.

Let the rice rest covered. Turn off the heat and let the rice sit, covered, for 10 minutes to allow
it to steam.

Fluff with a fork.

How to Cook Rice in a Rice Cooker

Rice cookers work swiftly by reducing air pressure above the liquid, encouraging it to boil faster.
Brilliant. For even more info, check out our story How to Cook White Rice In a Rice Cooker.

Rinse the rice.

Use a 1:1 water to rice ratio. This ratio applies to larger batches too. While it can be used with
smaller amounts, the water doesn't absorb at the same rate, which could affect your end result.
You'll have to play around a little with the cooker, using your manual's guidelines, to see what
works best with different recipes and for your individual needs.

Let the rice cooker do all the work for you. Press the "on" button and the cooker will handle
the cooking time.

Let the rice rest covered. Let it rest, covered, for about 10 minutes for fluffy results.

How to Cook Rice In the Microwave

This technique works for long, medium and short grain rice. It's fast and produces fluffy results.

Rinse the rice.

Use a large heat-safe container. A large bowl square baking dish works perfectly. Keep in
mind that the rice will expand as it cooks.

Use 2 parts rice to 3 1/2 parts water.

Microwave on high uncovered first. Microwave until steam holes appear and a lot of the
water has disappeared. If you're using 2 cups of rice, this will be for about 10 minutes.

Microwave covered on medium-low. Use heat-safe plastic wrap and cook until the liquid is
completely absorbed (about 15 minutes for 2 cups of rice).

Fluff and season before serving. Use a fork to fluff the grain, seasoning as you do this.

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