How to Cook Rice Perfectly Every Time

Rice, rice, baby! Everything you need to know for how to cook rice perfectly every time on the stovetop, in the Instant Pot pressure cooker and rice cooker.

Rice is one of the most versatile grains around and is used in nearly every style of cuisine. Whether it’s featured in all-in-one healthy rice bowls, added to comfort food chicken and rice soups, spicing it up in gumbo or paella-style style one pot meals, or served plain with a melting pat of butter and a sprinkling of kosher salt, rice is definitely nice.

Upon first glance, rice seems like the most basic thing to cook. But not always. Sometimes we’ve either managed to undercook it to an inedible, crunchy state, or overcook it to an unappetizing, sloppy mush.

Cooking rice the right way simply comes down to ratio, timing, and a pinch of patience. Whether you’re using the good old-fashioned stovetop method, a rice cooker, or an Instant Pot, this is everything you need to know about how to cook rice right every time.

Types of Rice

Likely the most common cooked grain found around the world, rice is healthy to eat and rich in vitamins and minerals like calcium and iron. Brown rice is often considered a more healthy option, but white rice is often the most popular.

These days, rice is widely available in many types and flavors, from mild white rice to more fiber-rich brown rice:

• long grain rice
• basmati rice
• medium grain rice
• short grain rice (clumps more than long grain or basmati)
• sushi rice (used for sushi, clumps more)
• wild rice
• brown rice
• parboiled rice (rice that has been boiled briefly prior to being redried and then husked and milled, and works well for large batches)
• red or black rice
• calrose rice, and more
• arborio rice used in risotto recipes

Note: Some types of rice require a longer cook time than others, so always check the package instructions, do the math, and adjust as needed.

What’s the Best Way to Cook Rice?

The best way to cook rice is totally dependent on your preference. I go back and forth between making it on the stove top or prepping it in my Instant Pot.

How to Cook Rice on the Stovetop

Use 1 cup rice to 1 ½ cups liquid when cooking on the stovetop. 

1. Ratio, ratio, ratio. Having an incorrect liquid to rice ratio is almost the culprit for rice gone wrong, and while this ratio varies on package instructions, depending on the variety of rice you’re using, a 1 : 1 ½ ratio of stock, broth, or water to rice works consistently well.
2. Rinse and swirl. Combine the rice with a few cups of cool water in a bowl. Swirl the rice in the water with your fingers to remove excess starch. Drain, then rinse once more, and drain again.
3. Boil, baby, boil. In a pot large enough to hold the amount of rice you’re cooking, bring the liquid to a boil. A two-quart pot is sufficient unless you’re using more than two cups of rice.
4. Add the rice and kosher salt. Stir in the rice and kosher salt. Bring back to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer, and cover with a lid.
5. Wait for it. Cook for 20 minutes (depending on the type of rice and the package instructions). Resist the urge to remove the lid or stir your rice before it’s done. You’ll know your rice is done when the timer is up and the liquid has been absorbed.
6. Drape it. Remove the rice from the heat. Sometimes I place a dish towel over the pot and replace the lid to absorb residual moisture. Always allow the rice to rest for 10 minutes before fluffing with a fork.
7. Fluff and eat. Before serving, fluff rice with a fork to break up the grains. Store cooked rice in the fridge for several days.

How to Cook Rice in the Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker

Use one part rice to one part water for all types of rice.

TIP: For each cup of rice cooked in the Instant Pot, add 1 teaspoon of oil (this will help keep the rice from sticking to the bottom of the pot)!

1. Measure. Use a 1:1 water and rice ratio for all types of rice. Use at least 1 cup of rice in the pressure cooker or Instant Pot. Add both your water and rice to the inner pot with the kosher salt.
2. Rinse and swirl. Combine the rice with a few cups of cool water in a bowl. Swirl the rice in the water with your fingers to remove excess starch. Drain, then rinse once more, and drain again.
3. Natural is better. Pressure cookers can be released either by “natural release” or by “rapid release.” For rice, select “natural release,” or the rice will be underdone.
4. Lock, set, steam.
   For any rice in the Instant Pot, lock your lid and set the steam release valve to “sealing.” Select cook time. The “rice” button should be used for white rice only.
5. Fluff and eat. Before serving, fluff the rice with a fork to break up the grains. Store cooked rice in the fridge for several days.

How Long to Cook Rice In the Instant Pot

The “rice” button on the Instant Pot should be used for white rice only. Other cooking times are listed below:

• Basmati rice in pressure cookers, set on high for 4 minutes, then natural release for 10 minutes.
• Brown rice, set your cooker on high for 22 minutes, then natural release for 10 minutes.
• Jasmine rice, set your cooker on high for 1 minute, then , then natural release for 10 minutes.
• Wild rice, set your cooker on high for 25 minutes, then natural release for 10 minutes.
• For all other types of rice, set your pot to “manual” and enter in the amount of cook time for the variety of rice you’re using.

How to Cook Rice in the Rice Cooker

Use one part rice to one part water for all types of rice.

1. Measure. Use the 1:1 ratio for rice and liquid here. Combine and add salt.
2. Rinse and swirl. Combine the rice with a few cups of cool water in a bowl. Swirl the rice in the water with your fingers to remove excess starch. Drain, then rinse once more, and drain again.
3. Cook and rest. Turn your cooker on and select the cooking option according to your cooker’s manual. After your rice has finished cooking and the cooker automatically turns off, let your rice rest with the lid on for 10-15 minutes (this will keep your rice from getting mushy or sticky). You can leave the rice in the cooker like this to keep it warm for up to 30 minutes before serving.
4. Fluff and eat. Before serving, fluff your rice with a fork to break up the grains. Store cooked rice in the fridge for several days.

How to Make a Large Batch of Rice

For large batch cooking of rice, keep the rice to liquid ratios the same depending on your cooking vessel.

TIP: To ensure fluffy rice that isn’t mushy or gummy, consider using parboiled rice. Parboiled rice is boiled briefly prior to being redried, then husked and milled. This process makes it a good candidate for larger batches.

5 Ways to Jazz Up Your Rice

• Add lemon zest and lemon juice to the cooking water and top sprinkle with parsley.
• Toast rice grains in olive oil or butter before cooking them. This boosts their flavor and brings out nice nuttiness.
• Cook the rice with chicken stock instead of water.
• Stir in homemade pesto to give your rice a colorful look and fresh taste.
• Eat your rice with cinnamon, brown sugar (or maple syrup), and milk for a quick and easy take on rice pudding.

More Rice Recipes

If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a  rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #foodiecrusheats.