To cook rice on the stove perfectly, follow these steps:
- Measure Ingredients
Use 1 cup of white rice (long grain, medium grain, or short grain) and 1.5 to 2 cups of water depending on the rice type and recipe. For most white rice, 1 cup rice to 1.5 cups water works well; for basmati or jasmine rice, 1 cup rice to 2 cups water is common
- Optional Rinsing
Rinsing rice is optional. Some methods recommend rinsing until water runs clear to remove excess starch, which helps prevent stickiness. However, many modern recipes advise no rinsing for fluffier rice
- Bring to a Boil
Place the rice and water in a medium saucepan with a tight-fitting lid. Bring the water to a gentle boil over medium-high heat. You may see some foam forming
- Simmer
Once boiling, reduce the heat to the lowest setting to maintain a gentle simmer. Cover the pot with the lid and cook without stirring or lifting the lid. Cooking time is typically about 13 to 18 minutes for white rice, depending on the variety
- Rest
After cooking time, remove the pot from heat but keep the lid on. Let the rice rest and steam for about 10 minutes. This step allows the rice to finish cooking evenly and absorb any remaining moisture
- Fluff and Serve
Remove the lid and fluff the rice gently with a fork to separate the grains before serving
Summary of Key Tips:
- Use a 1:1.5 or 1:2 rice-to-water ratio depending on rice type.
- Do not stir rice while cooking.
- Cook on low heat with the lid on.
- Let rice rest off heat for 10 minutes before fluffing.
- Optional: rinse rice for less starch or skip rinsing for fluffier texture.
This method yields tender, fluffy rice suitable for many dishes like curries, stir-fries, or as a side
