How to Cook Rice

by Carly

Guide Note

Rice complements almost any meal well, but it can be a lot harder to cook than most people believe. But, by learning a little bit about it and following these steps, you'll be on your way to making a great pot of rice in no time!

Introduction

(Creative Commons photo by Jess Lander)

Cooking rice is deceptively tricky. One might think there's nothing more to it than combining rice, water, and heat, and indeed, that is the basic idea. But without specific knowledge about how much rice to use, how much water to use, how high to set the heat, and how to treat the pot, your rice could come out too watery, too sticky, or too dry.

Getting perfectly fluffed rice every time takes practice as well as a bit of specific knowledge. But, don't worry. This guide will walk you through getting that perfect pot of rice every time.

What You'll Need

(Creative Commons photo by JW)

To cook a simple, no-frills pot of rice, you'll need dry rice and water. Equipment-wise, you'll need a spatula or wooden spoon and a pot that will fit the amount of rice you're making.

To give the rice a little more flavor, you can also use butter, salt, or milk.

Types of Rice

There are lots of different rice varieties, and you have to know your type before you start cooking with it. Here are a few of the most common:

White Rice
White rice is simply rice without its husk (outer shell of the rice), bran (hard outer layer milled from the grain), and germ (an oil byproduct of rice milling). It's the most common rice used in cooking and is a staple of many diets the world over.

Jasmine Rice
Jasmine rice traces its origins to Thailand and is a long-grain type of white rice with a somewhat nutty scent and subtle taste. It's served alongside many Thai dishes.

Basmati Rice
From India, basmati rice is a long-grain variety of rice that extends when cooking. It can be white or brown and is noted for its fragrance and firm grains. It's also particularly starchy, so it should be rinsed or soaked before cooking.

Brown Rice
Brown rice is white rice without the bran and germ removed. It comes in many varieties, as any type of white rice can be partially milled to become brown rice. It's generally chewier, nuttier, and healthier than white rice.

Wild Rice
The seeds of four specific species of grasses grown in shallow water can be harvested for wild rice grains. Most wild rice is denser than true rice and needs to be cooked longer (45-60 minutes instead of 15-30 minutes) with more water (a ratio of 1-3, rice to water, instead of 1-2).

The Basic Process

(Creative Commons photo by madaise)

Here’s a step-by-step guide to making a great, fluffy pot of rice.

Measure the rice.
- One-fourth cup of dry rice is one serving, so a full cup will serve four people. If you're making a dish where rice is the base or main ingredient (fried rice, for example), you'll want to use more than 1/4 cup for each person.
Rinse the rice.
- To get rid of excess starch and make sure the rice is clean, rinse it several times or soak it for at least 15 minutes.
Measure water.
- Unless you're cooking brown rice or wild rice, use twice the amount of water as you have dry rice. For brown rice, use about two and a half times the amount of water as rice; for wild rice, use three times the amount of water.
Add salt, butter, or milk (optional).
- A little salt (about 1/8 teaspoon per single serving) and butter to taste can be added to the pot of rice and water just before it's put on the heat to give the cooked rice more flavor. For rice with a stronger, creamier taste, milk can be substituted for a bit of the water.
Bring rice and water to a boil.
- Uncovered, cook the pot of rice until it reaches a boil.
Reduce heat and cover.
- As soon as the rice begins to boil, reduce the heat to low and cover the pot.
Remove from heat when water has evaporated.
- When no more water is left in the pot, turn off the heat and leave the pot covered. You may need to uncover the pot and check the rice to find out when the water has evaporated, but you can also sometimes tell from a change in the sound the rice makes.
- For a single serving of white rice, it will take 10-15 minutes for the water to evaporate. More servings may take longer.
- Brown rice will take about 10 minutes longer than white rice, and wild rice will take about three times as long.
Let sit, covered.
- Keep the cover on the pot and let it sit with the heat turned off for 5-7 minutes.
Serve.
- Fluff the rice with a fork, and use a spatula or wooden spoon to remove it from the pot and serve it.

Variations

(Creative Commons photo by d&e)

Rice Cooker
Though the method described above is the most common way to cook rice, there are several variations and other cooking styles as well. Using a rice cooker is a simple way to cook many kinds of rice well. With a rice cooker, simply pour dry rice into the bowl, add the correct amount of water, and turn the device on. It will steam the rice, regulate the temperature, let you know when the rice is done, and keep the rice warm.

Spaghetti Method
A less common method of cooking rice is to prepare it in a similar way to pasta, using the ”spaghetti method.” Boil the rice in a large pot of water for a set amount of time (about 15 minutes for white rice, longer for brown or wild rice), then drain the water through a strainer and serve the rice.

Microwave
Rice can also be cooked in the microwave. Using twice the amount of water as rice, microwave the rice and water for about 10-15 minutes (longer for white rice). Then cover the container you are using with a plate or other cover and microwave for an additional 3-8 minutes until the rice is fluffy.

Risotto
A common way to cook rice in Italy is to prepare it in a risotto. Risottos generally use Italian types of rice and are made by first toasting the dry rice, then cooking it on the stove with frequent stirring and several additions of water. A risotto will be creamy due to the rice’s starchiness, and each grain will remain firmer than it would in steamed rice.

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Resources for How to Cook Rice

- Mahalo's Guide to Rice
The Food Network: Culinary Q&A: Rice
AllRecipes: Whole Grains
About.com: Chinese Food: How to Cook Rice
Fine Cooking: How to Cook Rice Perfectly
Epicurean: Risotto
WikiHow: How to Cook Rice in a Microwave
Wikipedia: White Rice, Wild Rice
The Cook’s Thesaurus: Rice
The Kitchen: How to Cook Rice on the Stove
HowStuffWorks: How to Cook Rice
Start Cooking: How to Cook White Rice, How to Cook Brown Rice