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How to Cook Perfect Rice
01:37Cook perfect, fluffy rice every time with our basic techniques.
There’s lots of info out there on how to cook rice — perhaps because it's such a simple and inexpensive staple. But the back of the rice package says one thing about how to cook it, and your favorite blog says something else. Good news — you've landed on our tried-and-tested guide. We'll walk you through all the different ways to make different varieties of rice, and ensure it never comes out mushy, gummy, or burnt. Looking to cook brown rice specifically? Check out our story How to Cook Brown Rice.
Food Network Kitchen’s How to Cook Rice: A Step-by-Step Guide.
Photo by: Matt Armendariz
Matt Armendariz
First and Foremost: Always Rinse Rice Before Cooking
No matter how you're cooking your rice (or which variety you're making), it's important to rinse those grains. Doing so removes excess starch. Left on the rice, the starch results in unappealing, gummy results. Some recipes will tell you to place the rice in a bowl and change the water several times, but we think the easiest technique is to rinse it in a fine mesh strainer. Agitate the grains with your hands as you run water over them to shower them evenly. When the water runs clear, you're done rinsing. Having trouble seeing whether or not it's clear? Put a clear bowl underneath the water draining off the rice, let any bubbles settle away and then take a look.
Food Network Kitchen’s How to Cook Rice: A Step-by-Step Guide.
Photo by: Matt Armendariz
Matt Armendariz
Consider Toasting the Rice
Full disclosure: This step isn’t necessary. But if you have the time, it enhances the natural flavor of the rice. Simply heat a teaspoon of butter or olive oil over medium heat in the pot you’re going to cook the rice in. Add the rice and stir it frequently until it starts smelling nutty — a bit like popcorn. If you’re toasting white rice, you’ll see it turn pale tan.
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Photo by: Zero Creatives/Getty
Zero Creatives/Getty
Don't Forget to Season the Water
Adding a big pinch of salt to the cooking water goes a long way in making your finished rice taste balanced. If you forget and season the rice after it's done cooking, you'll notice an unpleasant bite of salt.
Photo by: Matt Armendariz
Matt Armendariz
What the Heck Does It Mean to "Fluff Rice?"
Many rice recipes conclude with the simple instructions: "fluff rice." This just means you should stick a fork into the rice and break up any grains that have clumped together. The step literally makes your finished dish fluffier.
Food Network Kitchen’s How to Cook Rice: A Step-by-Step Guide.
Photo by: Matt Armendariz
Matt Armendariz
How to Cook Rice on the Stove
Read the back of every rice package in your pantry, and you'll realize that there's no one way to make rice on the stove. The technique changes based on which type of rice you're making. But have no fear, we've broken down everything below.
The Classic Method
When you think about making rice, this is the technique that probably comes to mind because it's the most classic. It works fantastically with typical long-grain white rice. If you're face-to-face with something like a short-grain rice, you can always check the package instructions for how to tailor this technique to the variety.
Perfect Long-Grain White Rice
Cooking rice is simple to do but there is a trick to getting it to come out just right. Follow this foolproof technique and you'll end up with rice that's wonderfully tender, never mushy.
Photo by: Matt Armendariz
Matt Armendariz
The Pasta Method
Surprise, you can cook rice like pasta in an unmeasured amount of water. This is a great technique for varieties like brown rice and wild rice that take a long and sometimes unpredictable amount of time to cook. It's also a smart way to cook a gigantic batch of any sort of rice without a rice cooker. It can be tricky to nail big batches of rice cooked using the classic method because there's so much more water that needs to be kept at a constant simmer. Here's what to do instead.
Perfect Brown Rice
Though it's easy to do, preparing brown rice can seem daunting when you're trying to get that perfect not-too-chewy, not-too-soggy texture. Learn how to make brown rice with flawless results every time!
The Pilaf Method
When you're cooking aromatic varieties of rice like Basmati and Jasmine, there are a few smart techniques you can use in this method to enhance their naturally nutty flavor.
How to Cook Rice in a Rice Cooker
Rice cookers work swiftly by reducing air pressure above the liquid, encouraging it to boil faster. Brilliant. For even more info, check out our story How to Cook White Rice In a Rice Cooker.How do you cook rice in a rice cooker?
How many steps do we need to cook rice by using rice cooker?