Easily Cook Perfect Steamed Rice Every Time

You don’t need a rice cooker to make perfect steamed rice. You can get tender, fluffy, perfectly cooked rice on the stove top every single time!

You can also cook rice in the instant pot or pressure cooker. Check out how to cook rice in an instant pot (pressure cooker).

Why does this recipe work?

1. Make perfectly cooked steamed rice easily on the stovetop.
2. No need for a rice cooker!
3. It’s a quick and easy-to-make recipe.
4. Get the perfect rice-to-water ratio for all types of rice (details are shared below in the “rice-to-water ratio” section). You can use water, chicken stock, or instant pot chicken bone broth to cook rice.

Ingredients

Additional ingredients

Both these ingredients are optional.

• Pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoon oil or butter

Using the right pan and cooking at the correct temperature are two crucial steps when you cook rice on a stovetop. Use a heavy heavy-bottomed stainless steel saucepan with the lid on(glass lid pans are best to keep a watch while rice cooks).

Step-by-step instructions

Step 1: Rinse rice in water until it runs clear.

Step 2: Combine the water and rice in a saucepan (that has a lid)

Pro-Tip: If you want to add flavor to rice, cook rice in chicken stock or vegetable stock.

Optionally add 1 teaspoon of oil. This will help rice not stick to the bottom of the pan and keep rice moist. If you want to store rice for many days, highly recommend you add oil to keep it moist.

Stir rice well in water to distribute evenly in the bottom of the pan.

Step 3: Cook rice over medium heat. Bring the water to a boil and cook rice uncovered, until the water level drops below the surface of the rice. It will take about 5 minutes. Lower the heat if water spills over.

Step 4: When almost all water (about 90%) is absorbed by the rice, cover the pot with a lid tightly. Reduce heat to low and cook for about 12 minutes.

Note: Do not stir rice in between. Leave it untouched.

Do not remove the lid while steaming as it will make the heat vapors escape thus reducing the amount of water the rice will absorb. Use a glass lid if you want to watch rice as it cooks.

Step 5: When done, remove the pot from the heat and let it rest on the counter for 10 minutes. This helps the rice absorb any remaining moisture.

Step 6: Open the lid, using a silicon spatula or fork gently fluff the rice so it doesn’t stick into one big mound.

Use cooked rice in your favorite preparation. You this rice to make Thai Pineapple Fried Rice, bacon fried rice, kimchi fried rice, hibachi fried rice, and shrimp fried rice.

Rice-to-water ratio

1. Long-grain rice: Start with a 1:2 ratio, for 1 cup of long-grain rice, use 2 cups of water and cook for about 12 to 15 minutes. If rice is too mushy, use 1 ¾ cup water for 1 cup of long-grain rice the next time.
2. Medium-grain rice: Use a 1:2 ratio. For every 1 cup medium grain rice, use 2 cups water. Pro-Tip: If you do not want rice to be sticky, rinse rice 2 to 3 times or until the water in the bowl is clear before cooking.
3. Short-grain rice: Use 1:1.25. For every 1 cup short grain rice, use 1.25 cups of liquids and cook for approximately 15 minutes. Rice varieties like Hitomebore Koshihikari or sushi rice are short-grain rice. This is short and plump.
4. Brown rice: Use a 1:1.5 ratio. For every 1 cup of brown short-grain rice use 1.5 cups liquids. Cook for 25 to 30 minutes approximately.

Expert Tips

1. Use vegetable stock or chicken stock instead of water to add more flavor to the rice while cooking. You can also season rice with a pinch of salt.
2. Use oil to prevent rice from cooking at the bottom of the pan.
3. Use the correct size pan when you cook rice, it’ll double in quantity once cooked.
4. DO NOT stir rice in between. Do not open the lid in between during cooking. Leave it untouched.
5. Use a pan with a glass lid if you want to keep a watch on the rice.
6. It’s important to let cooked rice rest for about 5 to 10 minutes before you open the lid and stir. This will help rice absorb all moisture and cook to a soft texture.