How to Make White Rice

5 from 6 reviews

Learn how to cook white rice on the stove top perfectly in just a few simple steps. This foolproof recipe makes tender and fluffy rice every time.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American, Asian

Keyword How To Cook Rice, How to cook white rice, How to cook white rice on the stove top, White rice recipe

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 16

Resting time 5

Total Time 26

Servings servings

Calories 60kcal

Pick rice through to remove any debris or small stones. Place the rice in a fine-mesh sieve and rinse it under cold running water, swishing with your hands, until the water starts to run clear.
In a saucepan over medium-high heat, pour the water, rice, salt and oil and stir to combine. Bring mixture to a boil and immediately lower the heat.
Close the lid and cook, undisturbed over very low heat for 15 to 20 minutes or until the rice is tender and the water has been completely absorbed. During the cooking time, don’t open the pot or stir the rice. Only open the lid towards the end of the cooking time to check for doneness.
Remove from the heat and allow to sit, covered for 5 minutes. Uncover and fluff the rice with a fork. Serve.

Rinse the Rice: Rinse rice under cool running water to remove excess starch which prevents the rice grains to stick together in big clumps.
Use A Pot With A Tight-Fitting Lid: Keep heat and steam inside the pot to prevent evaporation. This is key for perfectly cooked rice.
Ratio: Using the correct ratio of water to rice ensures tender rice with a fluffy texture. Too much water or excess moisture results in mushy rice. Too little water on the other hand, results in rice that is hard or al dente (that’s never a good thing).
Low Heat: Cook rice over very low heat to allow proper cooking. Cooking rice over medium-high heat usually scorches the rice at the bottom of the pot before the rice becomes tender.
Rice Rest: After the cooking time is done, remove the pot from the heat and let the rice rest covered, for about 5 minutes.
Fluff With A Fork: For best results, fluff rice with a fork before serving.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5 days.