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Cook rice to perfection every time following my guide on How to Cook Rice Perfectly! This is a foolproof rice recipe that will give you the fluffiest, softest stove-top rice in only 30 minutes. No need for a rice cooker to make perfectly cooked rice! All you need is a deep pan or pot with a lid, a spatula or spoon, and a few super simple ingredients.
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Best Way to Cook Rice
There are so many ways to prepare rice, and you may think you can only cook the perfect rice using a rice cooker. The truth is, though, it's easy to cook rice perfectly on the stove! I've been making it on the stove for years, and grew up eating rice made this way. It makes the most incredible, fluffy rice.
Growing up, my mother would make this rice for me, and my friends who visited were always so surprised by how much they enjoyed it compared to rice they'd had prepared in other ways. Making this rice for my kids and their friends had the same result - they were always surprised by how good it is!
The secret to perfect rice is in the ingredients and the cooking method used. This is a classic Portuguese rice recipe made on the stove, using a few pantry staples that make all the difference. If you're used to bland white rice without any flavor of its own, this recipe will change the way you eat rice!
FAQs for How to Cook the Perfect Rice
Rinsing rice before cooking it washes away the surface starch, and will result in a crisper rice. For best results, rinse rice in a fine-mesh strainer under the tap until the water runs clear. You do not need to use this method when making Instant Pot rice.
How long it takes to cook rice depends on the type of rice used, how much rice you're making, and what pot you're using. However, in general, stove-top rice will take just 30 minutes to make.
To reheat rice, place it in a microwave-safe bowl and cook on high for 1-2 minutes. Add a little extra water or butter when reheating and mix it through to keep the rice fluffy and soft.
Rice is best left in the refrigerator in an airtight container after it is cooked, where it will last up to 4 days.
All natural forms of rice - white, brown, or wild rice - are gluten-free.
Perfectly Cooked Rice Ingredients
- Water
- Chicken bouillon cubes or powdered chicken bouillon
- Onion
- Uncooked long grain rice
- Butter
- Salt
You may wonder... onion and chicken bouillon to cook rice? Yes, it's true! These two ingredients, along with butter, are the secret that makes Portuguese rice so tasty. You can make my rice recipe without them, but trust me - you're going to want to try it with the onions and bouillon, first.
The onion does not get mixed into the rice - the trick is adding the onion whole to the pot while the rice cooks, so the rice absorbs all of the flavor without it being overly strong. Then, you can either discard the onion or fry it up on the stove to make caramelized onions to enjoy another time.
Bouillon adds so much flavor to the rice. If you're preparing this as a vegan or vegetarian dish, replace the chicken bouillon with vegetable bouillon or another meat-free alternative.
Rice to Water Ratio
The key to perfectly cooked rice every time is making sure to use the proper equipment, and to always measure out the best water to rice ratio. For perfect rice, use a 2-1 water for rice ratio.
As an example, for 2 cups of long grain rice, I use 4 cups of water. This is a good way of knowing how much water to use for rice, no matter what portion size you’re making!
We also want to be mindful of our heat source and to pay attention to how quickly the water is evaporating from the pot. Perfectly cooked rice is never boiled until it is cooked; steaming the rice is what gives it the perfect texture.
If your water is evaporating too quickly, the rice could burn from lack of water, and if there is too much water in the pan, it will either take longer to steam the rice or it may not steam the rice at all. Bring your water to a boil, then reduce it to a simmer and make sure to keep it at a simmer, not boiling.
Different Types of Rice
There are many different kinds of rice, and using my method, you can make any kind you like best! Here are several options to choose from so you can pick the rice best suiting your meal:
- Long grain rice contains less starch than other varieties of rice, and becomes light and fluffy when cooked.
- Medium grain rice is shorter and wider than long grain rice, and tends to stick together more easily due to it being more moist and tender.
- Short grain rice is short and sticky, making it the best choice for sushi rice.
- Brown rice is typically considered a more wholesome option than white rice, with a higher nutritional value, though it takes longer to cook than white rice. It has a chewier, more dense texture than white rice, and is a perfect choice for making soup or stew.
- Basmati rice is a variety of long-grain rice with a nutty flavor and strong aroma. It is very flavorful on its own and is popular in Indian cuisine.
- Jasmine rice is another variety of long grain rice that becomes somewhat sticky when cooked. True to its name, it has a jasmine flavor and aroma. It pairs very well with stronger flavors, such as Thai curry or Mediterranean kebabs.
- Arborio rice is a medium grain rice with a high starch content, making it somewhat chewy and sticky. It becomes creamy when cooked, making it an ideal choice for risotto!
How to Make the Perfect Rice
- In a deep pan or pot on the stove, bring water to a boil. Once boiling, add in chicken bouillon and give the water a good stir.
- Add your onion to the center of the pan.
- Reduce the heat to low, then add in the rice. Make sure to surround the onion; don't pour the rice over the top of it.
- Cover the pan and do not touch it for 30 minutes, until the rice is fully cooked and tender. I know it's tempting to stir, but it's crucial you leave it alone and don't touch it!
- Once 30 minutes is up, take off the lid, then remove and discard the onion.
- Stir in butter until melted and fully combined.
- Your rice will be fluffy and beautiful. Serve, and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Always pay attention to the size of pot you are using. For instance, if you are only making one portion of rice, there is no need to use a large 4-quart pot. Instead, make sure to use a pot which "comfortably" holds the amount of water needed with about 1-2 inches left between the water and lid. This will give enough room for the water to evaporate.
- Rinsing the rice before cooking will eliminate the extra surface starch on the rice, which keeps the extra starch from staying in the cooking liquid.
- Always use a pot with the correct fitting lid.
- Salt your water before boiling.
- Cook rice without peeking or stirring! This is crucial. You don't want to disturb the rice while it cooks.
- Be sure to maintain a gentle simmer over low heat while the rice is cooking. The water does not need to be at a hard boil.
- Always let your rice sit and rest after cooking.
- Fluff rice with a fork before serving for best results.
Making Rice in the Instant Pot
Can you believe you can have perfect rice in 15 minutes? My instructions for Instant Pot Rice are a flawless way to make easy rice in no time! I find this recipe just as buttery and flavorful as when it is cooked on the stove. I use just 2 cups of water and 1 cup rice for Instant Pot white rice!
- Add water and rice to your pressure cooker.
- Place a whole small onion or half of a large onion in the center of the pot. Sprinkle chicken bouillon in the water with the rice.
- Close and seal the lid. Cook on high pressure for 5 minutes, then let it naturally release pressure for 10 minutes.
- Remove the onion and add butter. Stir through until all the butter melts. Serve, and enjoy!
More Easy Side Dish Recipes
Try more of the best side dishes:
- Mexican Street Corn Recipe
- Homemade Rice-a-Roni
- Sauteed Garlic Mushrooms
- Mushroom Risotto
- Cauliflower Rice Recipe
- Grilled Corn Ribs Recipe
- Instant Pot Rice
- Mediterranean Bean Salad
- Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Yorkshire Pudding Recipe
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How to Cook Rice Perfectly
Equipment
- pot with lid
Ingredients
- 4 cups water
- 2 chicken bouillon cubes or 2 tablespoons powdered chicken bouillon; vegetable bouillon may also be used
- 1 small onion whole
- 2 cups long grain rice uncooked
- 4 tablespoons butter salted, or vegan alternative
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- In a deep pan on the stove, bring water to a boil. Once boiling, add in chicken bouillon and give the water a good stir.4 cups water, 2 chicken bouillon cubes
- Add your onion to the center of the pan.1 small onion
- Reduce the heat to low, then add in the rice. Make sure to surround the onion; don't pour the rice over the top of it.2 cups long grain rice
- Cover the pan and do not touch it for 30 minutes, until the rice is fully cooked and tender. I know it's tempting to stir, but it's crucial you leave it alone and don't touch it!
- Once 30 minutes is up, take off the lid, then remove and discard the onion.
- Stir in butter until melted and fully combined.4 tablespoons butter
- Your rice will be fluffy and beautiful. Taste to see if you need to season with salt. Serve, and enjoy!1 teaspoon salt
Video
Notes
- Always pay attention to the size of pot you are using. For instance, if you are only making one portion of rice, there is no need to use a large 4-quart pot. Instead, make sure to use a pot which "comfortably" holds the amount of water needed with about 1-2 inches left between the water and lid. This will give enough room for the water to evaporate.
- Rinsing the rice before cooking will eliminate the extra surface starch on the rice, which keeps the extra starch from staying in the cooking liquid.
- Always use a pot with the correct fitting lid.
- Salt your water before boiling.
- Cook rice without peeking or stirring! This is crucial. You don't want to disturb the rice while it cooks.
- Be sure to maintain a gentle simmer over low heat while the rice is cooking. The water does not need to be at a hard boil.
- Always let your rice sit and rest after cooking.
- Fluff rice with a fork before serving for best results.
- Add water and rice to your pressure cooker.
- Place a whole small onion or half of a large onion in the center of the pot. Sprinkle chicken bouillon in the water with the rice.
- Close and seal the lid. Cook on high pressure for 5 minutes, then let it naturally release pressure for 10 minutes.
- Remove the onion and add butter. Stir through until all the butter melts. Serve, and enjoy!
Nutrition
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