How to Cook Rice on the Stove - Love and Lemons (2024)

Say goodbye to scorched pans and gummy grains, and learn how to cook rice like a pro! These easy stovetop methods yield tender, fluffy rice every time.

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How to Cook Rice on the Stove - Love and Lemons (1)

How to Cook Rice on the Stove - Love and Lemons (2)

Rumor has it that you need a rice cooker or an Instant pot to cook fluffy, tender rice at home. Well, I’m here to tell you that the rumors aren’t true. Cooking rice on the stove is quick and easy, and if you do it the right way, it works every time. Below, I’m sharing 2 foolproof stovetop methods for how to cook rice in under 30 minutes. Without fail, the rice comes out light, fluffy, and not at all gummy. So skip the fancy gadgets, and grab a saucepan with a lid! A steaming pot of perfect rice is just half an hour away.

How to Cook Rice on the Stove - Love and Lemons (3)

How to Cook Rice on the Stove

These methods for how to cook rice will work with short, medium, or long grain white rice, such as jasmine or basmati. Note: they will NOT work for brown rice! If brown rice is what you have on hand, head over to this post to learn how to cook it.

Option 1: Steaming

  • First, rinse the rice.Do not skip this step! It washes away starches that will cause the rice to clump together, so it’s key for cooking soft, fluffy rice. Add the rice to a fine mesh strainer set over a large bowl, and rinse until the water in the bowl runs clear.

How to Cook Rice on the Stove - Love and Lemons (4)

  • Then, measure the proper water to rice ratio.Measure 1 1/2 cups of water and 1 teaspoon olive oil for every cup of uncooked rice. (1 cup dry rice yields about 3 cups cooked.) Combine the rice, oil, and water in a medium saucepan, and stir to combine. Bring to a boil over high heat.
  • Next, simmer.When the water starts boiling, cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid, and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 15 minutes.
  • Finally, let it steam.Turn off the heat and let the pot stand, covered, for 10 minutes. Remove the lid and fluff the rice with a fork. That’s it!

Option 2: The Pasta Method

  • First, rinse the rice. For this method, add the rice to a fine mesh strainer and rinse it under cool running water. Unlike with the steaming method, a quick rinse is fine here.
  • Next, boil it.Add the rice to a pot filled halfway with cool water, and set a timer for 15 minutes. Bring the water to a boil, and test the rice for done-ness when the timer goes off.
  • Finally, rinse it again.When the rice is tender, drain the pot, and rinse the drained rice under cold water. In this method, this second rinse is the one you don’t want to skip. It will wash away starches that will cause the rice to clump together. Set the rinsed rice aside to dry for a few minutes in the strainer. Then, enjoy!

How to Cook Rice on the Stove - Love and Lemons (5)

Rice Serving Suggestions

Rice is at home in Asian dishes, Mexican recipes, and more, so it’s impossible to run out of new ways to use it. Serve it on its own as a side dish, or dress it with lime and cilantro to make cilantro lime rice. Toss it into a stir fry, or use it as the base for a healthy grain bowl. Try it in any of these recipes:

  • Bibimbap
  • Mango Ginger Rice Bowl
  • Tamago Kake Gohan
  • Best Buddha Bowl
  • Portobello Burrito Bowl
  • Or make your own bowl! Top the rice with a protein like baked tofu or tempeh, roasted veggies like broccoli or cauliflower, and a flavorful sauce like peanut sauce, chipotle sauce, or gochujang sauce.

For a lighter variation on any of these recipes, use a 50/50 mix of regular rice and cauliflower rice.

Store leftover rice in the fridge for up to 2 days. It will dry out with time, so reheat it with a splash of water on the stove or in the microwave. I also like to cook rice in advance and freeze it for longer storage. Check out this post for my best tips on how to freeze grains.

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More Cooking Basics

If you loved learning how to cook white rice, learn how to cook one of these plant-based basics next:

  • Quinoa
  • Farro
  • Lentils
  • Couscous
  • Creamy Polenta

How to Cook Rice

rate this recipe:

5 from 28 votes

Prep Time: 2 minutes mins

Cook Time: 25 minutes mins

Total Time: 27 minutes mins

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Learn how to cook rice on the stove! This easy 30-minute method yields soft, fluffy white rice every time - no rice cooker or Instant pot required.

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Combine the rinsed rice, water, and olive oil in a pot and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat, and simmer for 15 minutes.

  • Remove from the heat and let it sit, covered for 10 more minutes. Fluff with a fork.

Notes

This rice-to-water ratio also works in a rice cooker using the white rice setting. If you're using a rice cooker to cook your rice, skip the olive oil.

How to Cook Rice on the Stove - Love and Lemons (2024)

FAQs

How to cook the rice step by step? ›

How to Cook Rice on a Stove
  1. Wash your rice. Before you do anything, rinse your rice off. ...
  2. Measure your rice and water. For most types of rice, you can use a water to rice ratio of 2:1. ...
  3. Combine the rice and water in a pot. Stir it and then put a lid on before turning the burner on high.
  4. Wait for it to boil. ...
  5. Let it cook.
Aug 20, 2021

How many cups of water for 2 cups of rice? ›

The rule of thumb for white or brown rice is 2 parts water to 1 part rice. So 4 cups of water for 2 cups of rice. I usually add an extra 1 or 2 tablespoons of water to my brown rice, and check it periodically to make sure it hasn't absorbed all the water while cooking it on the stove.

How much water for 1 cup of white rice? ›

Rice to water ratio – 1 cup of rice to 1.5 cups of water for rice cooked on the stove. Increase to 2 cups of water per 1 cup of rice for oven and microwave. How long does rice last in the fridge?

How to cook rice step by step 5 steps? ›

Bring the water to a boil, and then reduce the heat to a simmer and cover the pot. Cook white rice for 18 minutes and brown rice for 30 minutes or until all of the water in the pot is absorbed. Finally, turn off the heat and let the rice sit for 5 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork and enjoy!

Do you cook rice before adding water? ›

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.

Should water cover rice when cooking? ›

The secret to making perfectly steamed rice is to make sure you cover the rice with 1 inch of water above the surface of the rice. The OCD side of you may want an exact ratio of water to rice, but trust me… this method works!

Does 1 cup of rice need 2 cups of water? ›

What is the ratio of water to rice? For basmati and all kinds of white rice, we recommend a ratio of 1:2 when cooking on the stove. So this would mean for every 1 cup of rice, you add 2 cups of water.

How many cups of water do I put for 1 cup of rice? ›

For tender grains of rice that easily separate, such as in a pilaf, use 2 cups of water for every 1 cup of rice. You can also use another liquid like stock in this 2:1 ratio. For slightly chewier, fluffy white rice, use 1 1/2 cups of water for every cup of rice, or a 1.5:1 ratio.

How many cups of water for rice on the stove? ›

Combine rice and water in a pot: For most long-grain and medium-grain rice, pair 1 cup rice and 1⅓ cups water. For short-grain rice, use 1 cup rice and 1 cup water. For most brown rice, combine 1 cup rice and 1¾ cups water.

What are the 4 steps to cooking rice? ›

There's only four steps to cooking rice on the stove: Rinse, Boil, Simmer, Steam. Let me explain. Start with rinsing your rice. This removes excess starch from the surface of the rice, and ensures that the cooked rice is not clumpy or mushy.

How to cook rice Step 1? ›

Directions. Step 1In a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring water to a boil. Add rice, butter, and a large pinch of salt. Step 2Bring pan back to a simmer then lower heat and cook, covered, 18 minutes, or until rice is tender and water is absorbed.

What are the 4 different ways to cook rice? ›

There are generally four different methods for cooking rice: steaming, boiling, pilaf and risotto, all of which produce very different results. For many cultures, cooking rice is a sacred and daily ritual.

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