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    You are here: Crunchy Creamy Sweet / Side Dish / How to Cook Rice on the Stove

    How to Cook Rice on the Stove

    Published: Nov 10, 2022 by Anna Leave a Comment · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Learn how to easily cook rice on the stovetop, no rice cooker needed! You can properly cook fluffy rice in under 30 minutes, but if you toast it in butter or oil first, it comes out extra tasty!

    Cooked white rice in a saucepan with wooden spoon inside.
    Jump to:
    • Why This Method Works
    • Ingredients:
    • How to cook rice on the stove?
    • Water to rice ratio:
    • How to use cooked rice?
    • Helpful Tips!
    • Recipe FAQs:
    • More cooking basics:
    • How to Cook Rice

    Why This Method Works

    Everyone should know how to cook rice. It's very easy and requires only 3 steps! This technique is what I have been using for 15 years and the rice is always fluffy and very tasty.

    My secret is to toast the rice in melted butter or olive oil which gives it an almost nutty flavor. Then add hot water, bring the mixture to a boil and finish it cooking covered, off heat. It changed the game for me when it comes to cooking rice. It never failed!

    This method works for short, medium or long-grain white rice.

    I often use my Instant Pot to cook rice, but if you don't have a pressure cooker or a rice cooker, this stovetop method is worth saving. It's fail-proof and the result is tasty and fluffy rice!

    Ingredients:

    • rice: I used white long-grain;
    • water: hot, from a tap;
    • butter or olive oil: for toasting the rice;
    • salt: to season.

    How to cook rice on the stove?

    • Start by melting butter in a saucepan.
    • Add rice and stir in.
    • Let it toast in butter until you see the grains turn light brown.
    Melted butter in a pot and dried rice added to the pot.
    • Add hot water to the pot and stir in with the rice.
    • Bring the mixture to a boil. The rice will start to cook.
    Water in a pot with rice.
    • Cover the pot and remove it from the heat.
    • Let the rice sit in the pot for 15 to 20 minutes, covered.
    • Remove the lid and fluff the rice with a fork right away to prevent clumping.
    Photo collage with an image of cooked rice in a pot and an image of fluffed rice with a fork.

    Water to rice ratio:

    If you want fluffy rice, the perfect ratio of water to rice is 2 cups of water per 1 cup of rice. If you are cooking a larger batch, multiply, so if you are cooking 2 cups of rice add 4 cups of water, etc. If you are rinsing your rice first, you need to thoroughly dry it. Wet rice won't toast. You will also be adding water to the mixture which can result in gluey rice.

    How to use cooked rice?

    Rice is a classic side dish to many Asian dishes. Here are just a few from our site:

    • Quick Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowls
    • Kimchi Fried Rice
    • Sheet Pan Stir Fry
    • Shrimp Fried Rice or Chicken Fried Rice (the rice needs to be cooked the day before and chilled in the fridge);
    • Sweet and Sour Chicken
    • Easy Sesame Chicken.

    You can add cooked rice, still cold from the fridge, along with cooked ground meat (beef or turkey), tomato sauce or salsa to make a quick casserole. Perfect for those days when you are tired of pasta!

    Helpful Tips!

    • Use hot water to prevent the shock! The rice is toasted so along with the pot you are cooking it in, it will be hot. You don't want to shock it by adding cold water. Hot water from the tap is just fine here.
    • Season rice after cooking. Add salt, herbs, or any other seasoning you prefer after the rice is cooked and fluffed with a fork.
    • Fluff the rice! Right after you remove the lid from the pot, fluff the rice with a fork. You want to do it before it cools down to prevent it from sticking.

    Recipe FAQs:

    Should I rinse the rice before cooking?

    I never rinse rice before cooking it. The opinions on this subject vary. If I bought rice from out of the country or from a street market, I would rinse it simply to clean it. It will remove the starches but it will not make the rice more fluffy. That depends on the water-to-rice ratio.

    How long should I boil rice?

    In this method, you only need to bring the mixture to a boil after adding water to toasted rice.

    Should I boil the water first?

    My technique does not require boiling water before cooking rice.

    How long does cooked rice last in the fridge?

    You should store rice in a container with a lid, in the fridge, for up to 4 days.

    How do I reheat rice?

    To reheat cooked rice, place it in a pot or skillet and add 2 to 3 tablespoons of water. Heat up over medium heat, stirring often so it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pot.

    How much rice does 1 cup of uncooked rice make?

    One cup of rice makes 3 cups of cooked rice. One serving is ½ cup of cooked rice.

    Cooked rice in a blue pot with a wooden spoon inside and a blue napking on the side.

    More cooking basics:

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    If you like this recipe and make it, let me know in the comments below! Don't forget to rate it if you enjoyed it!

    Cooked white rice in a saucepan with wooden spoon inside.

    How to Cook Rice

    Author: Anna
    Learn how to easily cook rice on the stovetop, no rice cooker needed! You can properly cook fluffy rice in under 30 minutes, but if you toast it in butter or oil first, it comes out extra tasty!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 25 mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 129 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil
    • 1 cup long-grain white rice
    • 2 cups water hot from tap
    • ½ teaspoon salt

    Instructions
     

    • In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
    • Add rice and stir in. Toast the rice, stirring once in a while, until you see some grains turn light brown.
    • Add hot water from tap to rice. It will steam up so be aware. Stir everything together.
    • Bring the mixture to a boil. This will take about 5 to 7 minutes. You will see that the rice is starting to cook.
    • Remove the saucepan from heat, cover with a lid and let sit for 15 to 20 minutes.
    • Remove the lid and make sure all the water was absorbed by the rice. The surface of the rice will be flat. Immediately, fluff the rice with a fork. If you let it cool, it will stick.
    • Season the rice with desired seasonings or simply with salt.

    Notes

    • I don't rinse rice before cooking. In my experience, it does not make the rice fluffy. I rinse rice only to clean it.
    • Store rice in a container with a lid, in the fridge, for up to 4 days.
    • To reheat rice, place it in a pot or a bowl and add a splash of water (2 to 3 tablespoons). Heat up on the stove or in the microwave.
    • One cup of rice makes 3 cups of cooked rice.
    • One serving of rice is ½ cup.
    • Please note, that the nutrition value can vary depending on what product you use. The information below is an estimate. Always use a calorie counter you are familiar with.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 129kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 214mg | Potassium: 36mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 0.04g | Vitamin A: 58IU | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 0.2mg
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment with rating below!

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