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Kitchen Know-How: The Fluffiest Rice Ever

Published: Apr 30, 2012 · Modified: Jan 7, 2020 by Anna 32 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.

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How to make the perfect fluffy rice without the rice cooker! It's so easy!!

Side shot of cooked rice in a gray bowl.

How many times you have you cooked rice to find that it was still crunchy? I have been there...
There is nothing worse than crunchy rice. If you don't have a rice cooker, you can still make the best fluffy rice in a saucepan right on your stove. This simple method ensures the best results. It also works in the Instant Pot!

THE FLUFFIEST RICE EVER

Toasting the rice before adding water and cooking on a low-temperature setting is my secret to making the best rice every single time. I use this rice with so many dishes, like the Quick and Easy Teriyaki Chicken, other Asian dishes as well as my Mexican Casserole.

HOW TO COOK FLUFFY RICE?

Two rules to remember when cooking rice:
1. Rice to water ratio is always 1:2. That means 1 cup of rice to 2 cups of water. Always!
2. If you toast the rice before adding the water, it will always cook fluffy. Always!

I have been cooking rice this way for several years now and it always works.

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter.

Add the rice and toast it until it looks like this.
You don't want all the grains to be browned, but a mix of both.

Add the water. Pour slowly as it will steam up. Be careful!
The pot is hot at this point so the water will start cooking right away.

Bring it to a boil.

Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot and let cook until the water is absorbed and rice is cooked. It takes about 10 - 12 minutes.

Easy-peasy!

I hope you will try this tip and enjoy the fluffiest rice ever! Let me know, if you do. 🙂

Close up shot of cooked rice in a bowl.

 

 

 

 

 

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FLUFFIEST RICE EVER RECIPE

Cooked rice in a gray bowl.

Fluffiest Rice Ever

Author: Anna
How to make the best fluffy rice without a rice cooker. 
5 from 15 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 25 minutes mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 193 kcal
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 cup rice
  • 2 cups water

Instructions
 

  • In a medium saucepan, melt the butter. Add the rice and toast it until it looks like this. You don’t want all the grains to be browned, but a mix of both.
  • Add the water. Pour slowly as it will steam up. Be careful!
  • The pot is hot at this point so the water will start cooking right away. Bring it to a boil.
  • Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot and let cook until the water is absorbed and rice is cooked. It takes about 10 – 12 minutes.

Notes

This recipe can be doubled as needed.

Nutrition

Calories: 193kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 8mg | Potassium: 53mg | Vitamin A: 90IU | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 0.4mg
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment with rating below!

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Comments

    5 from 15 votes

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Jazzy says

    August 27, 2020 at 4:31 am

    Tried this recipe today and it came out so fluffly! First recipe that I followed and didn’t fail me ☺️ Thank you!

    Reply
    • Anna says

      August 31, 2020 at 9:56 pm

      Yay! That's fantastic! I am so glad it was a success!

      Reply
  2. Kristina says

    May 02, 2012 at 3:15 pm

    5 stars
    I love your kitchen know-how series you're doing! And I'm really not even kidding... I cannot make rice. I mess it up every. time. I can bake cakes and cookies...but rice and macaroni cheese are over my head...Love your step by step! I won't give in to the microwave next time and try it in a pot again 🙂

    Reply
    • Crunchy Creamy Sweet says

      May 03, 2012 at 4:07 am

      Ohh, I can't wait for you to try it this way! Let me know how it goes, Kristina! Thank you 🙂

      Reply
  3. Beth Michelle says

    May 02, 2012 at 12:05 pm

    5 stars
    Love the idea of the kitchen know how series!!!!

    Reply
    • Crunchy Creamy Sweet says

      May 03, 2012 at 4:04 am

      I am so glad! Thank you, Beth Michelle!

      Reply
  4. Zoe says

    May 01, 2012 at 11:41 pm

    5 stars
    Thanks for all these valuable tips!

    I usually don't add butter in my cooked rice and I can't wait to use your recipe for my cooking.

    Reply
    • Crunchy Creamy Sweet says

      May 03, 2012 at 4:03 am

      Thank you, Zoe! Let me know how you like it!

      Reply
  5. Mary says

    May 01, 2012 at 4:52 pm

    5 stars
    Those instructions will be helpful to many cooks and they can't go wrong following you directions. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary

    Reply
    • Crunchy Creamy Sweet says

      May 03, 2012 at 4:02 am

      Awww, thank you so much, Mary 🙂

      Reply
  6. Natalie Atick says

    May 01, 2012 at 3:38 pm

    5 stars
    I am using this recipe for my brown rice!

    Reply
    • Crunchy Creamy Sweet says

      May 03, 2012 at 4:00 am

      Mmmmm, brown rice 🙂 Enjoy! Thank you, Natalie!

      Reply
  7. Hester @ Alchemy in the Kitchen says

    May 01, 2012 at 3:29 pm

    5 stars
    Hi Anna, I agree - that's a great way to cook rice. This is how my mother taught me and it has never failed. On the other hand, I have run out of chocolate - do you have any tips to stop that happening? 🙂

    Reply
    • Crunchy Creamy Sweet says

      May 01, 2012 at 4:03 pm

      Ooooh, I wish I had! 🙂 Thank you, Hester!

      Reply
  8. Soni says

    May 01, 2012 at 3:24 pm

    5 stars
    Perfect rice and we make this all the time too :)Goes so well with our Indian Curries :)Yours is the perfect texture!

    Reply
    • Crunchy Creamy Sweet says

      May 03, 2012 at 3:58 am

      Yay! Thank you, Soni 🙂

      Reply
  9. Angie's Recipes says

    May 01, 2012 at 11:11 am

    5 stars
    It looks very fluffy. What kind of white rice did you use?

    Reply
    • Crunchy Creamy Sweet says

      May 01, 2012 at 4:02 pm

      Thank you, Angie! I used good ol' long grain white rice.

      Reply
  10. Marina@Picnic at Marina says

    May 01, 2012 at 3:33 am

    5 stars
    Fluffy rice is good! Great post!

    Reply
    • Crunchy Creamy Sweet says

      May 03, 2012 at 3:57 am

      Thank you, Marina!

      Reply
  11. Anne@FromMySweetHeart says

    May 01, 2012 at 3:03 am

    5 stars
    Anna...I love rice so much and love it in so many dishes. But it's one of those things that should be easy for me...but I always have my fingers crossed when it's time to dig in! Great tips and I will have to keep in mind the toasting beforehand! Looking forward to your chocolate treat! : )

    Reply
    • Crunchy Creamy Sweet says

      May 03, 2012 at 3:56 am

      Yay! I am so glad you like my tip, Anne! Thank you so much!

      Reply
  12. Terry says

    May 01, 2012 at 2:52 am

    5 stars
    Made some disappointingly crunchy rice last week so you know I WILL be trying this. Don' know why I've never thought of trying this, it works for rice-a-roni. Thanks for the tip.

    Reply
    • Crunchy Creamy Sweet says

      May 03, 2012 at 3:55 am

      You are most welcome, Terry! Enjoy the fluffy rice! Thank you 🙂

      Reply
  13. Jenn Kendall says

    April 30, 2012 at 8:40 pm

    5 stars
    great tip! i usually use a rice cooker, but it is definitely good to know how to actually make it on the stove!

    Reply
    • Crunchy Creamy Sweet says

      May 03, 2012 at 3:54 am

      Thank you, Jenn!

      Reply
  14. Choc Chip Uru says

    April 30, 2012 at 8:10 pm

    5 stars
    Thank you for the wonderful tips - your rice indeed does look wonderfully soft 🙂
    We also usually make it on the stove at home but it certainly has never turned out as beautiful as yours!

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

    Reply
    • Crunchy Creamy Sweet says

      May 03, 2012 at 3:53 am

      Aww, thank you 🙂

      Reply
  15. S.V. says

    April 30, 2012 at 7:35 pm

    5 stars
    I have never made rice on the stove. Being half Asian I have always owned a rice cooker, that being said it's actually good to know how to make rice on the stove top as a rice cooker isn't always handy.

    Reply
    • Crunchy Creamy Sweet says

      May 03, 2012 at 3:52 am

      I agree! Thank you, S.V.!

      Reply
  16. Tina Bk says

    April 30, 2012 at 7:13 pm

    5 stars
    I really like finding a post that has a good recipe and I can walk away with more knowledge! The tip about the toasting is good to know. I do like to eat seasoned rice dishes now and again, so this will benefit me. Thanks for sharing this.

    Reply
    • Crunchy Creamy Sweet says

      May 03, 2012 at 3:51 am

      I am so glad that you find it useful! Thank you, Tina!

      Reply
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