How to Cook Rice

Everyone should know how to cook rice. Most cuisines of the world are cooking rice in one way or another — from sushi to arroz con pollo, rice puddings to paella, and dolmas to dirty rice and jambalaya. We're also drinking our fair share of rice — in sake, horchata, rice milk, and even beer. All told, we humans get more than 20 percent of our calories from this small but mighty grain.

There are many varieties of rice: white rice, brown rice, short-grain rice, long-grain rice; and different ways to cook rice: stovetop, rice cooker, multi-cooker (Instant Pot), microwave, and oven-baked. Here's an overview of the many different varieties of rice you can buy, along with tips for how to cook different kinds of rice so it turns out perfectly every time.

Know Your Rice

There are three basic kinds of rice: short-grain, long-grain, and medium-grain. Among them you'll find hundreds of different varieties.

Short-grain rice is rounded and plump, with a high starch content that makes the grains stick together when cooked, especially if the rice has been milled to make white rice.
Long-grain rice is much longer than it is wide. Its lower starch content makes the cooked grains lighter, dryer, and more easily separated.
Medium-grain rice slots right between short- and long-grain rice both in shape and starchiness.

Types of Rice

White Rice has been milled to remove the outer husk, the bran, and the germ. Though less nutritious, white rice has some advantages over brown rice: it stores longer and cooks faster. White rice comes in short-, medium-, and long-grain varieties.
Brown rice has been given the lightest touch in terms of processing. It is the whole grain version with just the outer husk removed, leaving the nutrient-rich bran and germ. It is nutty, chewy, and more nutritious than white rice. Brown rice comes in short-, medium-, and long-grain varieties. Sweet brown rice is a short-grain, starchy brown rice that becomes very soft and sticky when it's cooked, and is popular in Asian cuisines.
Black rice is a highly nutritious source of iron, vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber. It actually turns purple when you cook it.
Aromatic rices have a distinctive perfumy aroma when cooked. Popular examples are basmati (India) Jasmine (Thailand), Texmati (Texas), and Wehani and pecan wild rice (both from Louisiana).
Arborio rice is a medium-short-grain, starchy white rice, used most famously to make risotto. Continuously stirring risotto helps the rice give up starch that helps thicken the dish. Arborio rice is most easily found in the market, but other risotto rice varieties include Carnaroli, Vialone Nano, and Baldo.

Sticky rice, or "glutinous rice," is a short-grained rice that is typically used in Asian specialties such as sushi. And no, there's no gluten in glutinous rice.
Wild rice is actually the seed of a grass plant, and so not a "true" rice, though it is often found in rice blends and pilaf mixes. Wild rice has a nutty flavor and a chewy bite.
Instant or quick rice is cooked before being dehydrated and packaged. While it's fast, it lacks the flavor and texture of regular rice.

How to Cook Rice

There are many different ways to cook rice. Let's start with the most basic method: cooking rice in a pot on your stovetop.

How to Cook Long-Grain White Rice on the Stove

For this demo, we'll use long-grain white rice. This type of rice is highly refined and polished, and doesn't require washing before cooking, although it's a good idea to rinse away dust and other impurities by measuring the rice into a strainer and running cold water over it for a few moments. Recipes using other types of rice, such as basmati, sometimes call for soaking or rinsing the rice before cooking to remove extra starch.

To cook long-grained white rice on the stove, use a 2 to 1 water to rice ratio. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a small saucepan with a tight-fitting lid. You can add an optional pinch of salt if you wish. Add 1 cup of rice, stir briefly to break up clumps of rice, cover the pot with the lid, and reduce the heat to its lowest setting to help the rice cook evenly. If the temperature is too high, the bottom of the pan of rice can scorch while the rice at the top is still undercooked.
Set a timer for 20 minutes. A little steam will escape the covered pot while the rice cooks–this is normal. Resist the temptation to lift the lid and peek before the timer runs out, otherwise too much moisture will escape and your rice will be too dry.
When the timer rings, turn off the burner and remove the pan from the heat. Let the rice sit, covered, for an additional five minutes. No peeking! Let the steam finish doing its work to plump and cook the rice.
After five minutes, remove the lid and fluff the rice with a fork to separate the grains.

Notes

You can serve the rice immediately, or put the lid back on to keep it warm while you finish cooking the rest of your meal.
To chill rice for a salad, spread it out on a sheet pan to cool quickly.
For food safety reasons, rice should never be left out at room temperature longer than two hours.

How to Cook Short Grain Rice on the Stove

Short grain white rice is often covered with a starch that you can rinse off if you don't want your rice to be too sticky.

To wash away excess starch, measure rice into a pot and pour in enough cold water to cover the grains. Gently swish the rice with your fingers and rub lightly. Pour out the starchy water (you can pour through a sieve so you don't lose any grains). Repeat one or two times, depending on how starchy the rice is. The water does not have to be completely clear after the final wash.
After pouring out the water for the last time, add clean water to the pot (add 1½ to 2 cups of water for 1 cup rice).
Cover the pot and bring to a boil, then turn down the heat to its lowest setting. Let the rice gently simmer for 18 to 20 minutes.
Remove the pot from the heat and let the rice continue to steam in the covered pot for five minutes.

How to Cook Brown Rice on the Stove

Brown rice still retains the bran and germ, so you need to use more water and a longer cooking time than for white rice. Basic recipe: Rinse 1 cup of rice in a strainer and put into a pot with 2 cups of water. Cover and bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer on very low heat for 45 minutes. Let stand, covered, for 10 minutes before serving. See more tips for cooking brown rice and get recipes for brown rice.

More Ways to Cook Rice on the Stove

You can cook rice in plain water, but cooking rice in broth adds more flavor. Follow directions on the package or recipe, or use these guidelines:

Black rice: Use 1½ to 2 cups liquid to 1 cup rice. Rinse rice in a colander until the water runs clear. Bring water and rice to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to low. Cook for 30 to 35 minutes, or until most of the liquid has been absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand for five minutes. Uncover and fluff with a fork. More: Black Rice Pudding.
Basmati or Jasmine rice: Follow the instructions for long-grained white rice (above). Watch: How to Make Indian-Style Basmati Rice. Get more tips for cooking jasmine rice.
Wild rice: Use 3 cups liquid to 1 cup rice. Bring the liquid to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 45 minutes. Let stand, covered, for 10 minutes before serving. Get more tips for cooking wild rice, and get recipes for wild rice.
Rice pilaf: Use 2 cups liquid to 1 cup rice. Rice is sautéed in oil in order to keep the grains separate during cooking. Cook the rice, stirring constantly, for two to three minutes or until the rice becomes translucent before adding the cooking liquid. Pilafs can be made on the stovetop or in the oven. Get more recipes for rice pilaf.

Risotto: Use 3 cups liquid to 1 cup rice. Like rice pilaf, rice is first sautéed in oil to lightly toast the grains. Hot liquid is then gradually added while the rice is stirred to release the starch. Get more recipes for risotto.
Sushi rice: Use 1¼ cups water to 1 cup rice. Bring short grain rice to a boil and reduce heat, covering for 20 minutes. Once the water has been absorbed, the rice is seasoned with a mixture of sweetened vinegar, which is carefully mixed in as the rice cools. In traditional Japanese kitchens, one cook fans the rice while another stirs. The result is a slightly sticky rice that's the foundation for raw fish or vegetables. Learn how to make perfect sushi rice at home.

Cooking Rice in a Rice Cooker, Instant Pot, or Oven

Rice cookers and Instant Pots make cooking rice extra easy. You don't have to watch the pot like you do with stovetop methods, and there's no mess to clean up from a boiling pot of rice. For best results, follow the guidelines that come with your appliance. And did you know you could cook rice in your oven? Talk about easy!

Rice Cooker Rice Recipes

Instant Pot Rice Recipes

Oven-Baked Rice Recipes

Did You Know?

If you're eating (or photographing) a bowl of rice and chopsticks, don't stand your chopsticks up the bowl. Also, don't cross the tips. Both are considered bad luck. Just lay them parallel without crossing, and you won't accidentally commit a rice photo no-no.

How to Store Rice

Oftentimes we cook our rice in large batches, leaving us with a heaping pot of leftovers to store. But storing rice can actually be quite tricky—rice left at room temperature can cause dormant spores called bacillus cereus to awaken, producing bacteria and causing food poisoning.

To avoid this, don't leave cooked rice out at room temperature for more than an hour after cooking. Once cooked, allow some of the steam to escape before storing it in an airtight container in the fridge. Cooked rice will last up to six days in the refrigerator.

So what's the best way to reheat rice? Refer to our simple guide on how to reheat rice to learn the best ways.

Can You Freeze Cooked Rice?

Yes! Just like when you refrigerate rice, it's best to freeze rice as soon as possible after cooking to avoid producing harmful bacteria. To freeze cooked rice, simply pack the rice into an airtight container and freeze for up to one month for best results. To reheat, microwave from frozen, making sure rice is piping hot before eating.

Related

Here's a cool trick for measuring the perfect rice-to-water ratio using only your fingertip as a guide.
Got leftover rice? Turn it into a warm, delicious breakfast, or a satisfying bowl of fried rice.
Find recipes for rice main dishes and side dishes.

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