How to Make Perfect White Rice

Say goodbye to mushy rice! Learn how to make tender, fluffy white rice every time, no rice cooker needed. This white rice recipe is foolproof and easy.

I've finally mastered white rice.

This may seem unimpressive, but if you cook stovetop rice often, then you know perfect rice is worth celebrating!

I've tried a LOT of recipes with the promise of perfect rice, only to end up with white mush or worse, part mush, part crunch. How is that even possible??

So I did what any desperate cook would do, I bought a buttload of rice, experimented, and figured it out!

I now use this method every time I cook rice and the best part is - you don't have to measure! I know I'm blowing minds here. (Although for the sake of this recipe I did indeed measure.)

Key Ingredients & Equipment

You only need three kitchen tools:

• Hand-held sieve (strainer) - If you don't have one, it's worth the investment. You can buy one for less than 10 bucks on Amazon. It's great for draining beans, pasta, and rice.
• Saucepan - To boil the water and cook the rice in. If you're only cooking a small amount of rice, a medium saucepan works great. If you plan to cook more, you need a large saucepan.
• Medium/large bowl - To soak the rice. The water should cover the rice by at least an inch, so keep that in mind.

And three ingredients:

• Long grain white rice - Short grain rice is meant to be sticky (think risotto or sushi!). Long grain rice is meant to be fluffy! Basmati or jasmine are both types of long grain rice.
• Water - To boil the rice in! You need at least 6 cups per cup of rice.
• Kosher salt - To season the rice at the end.

How to cook white rice on the stove

You've probably never tried doing it this way before.

Most recipes call you to simmer rice in a liquid until it absorbs all of the liquid. Not this recipe! I boil the rice in a large pot of boiling water like pasta, then drain it like pasta.

Here's the method:

1. Soak white rice in a large bowl with cold water. Soaking rice removes the surface starch, which causes rice to get mushy.
2. Meanwhile bring a sauce pot of water to a boil. You don't need to measure. It just needs to be a full pot of water, like you do when you boil pasta.

1. Once the water is boiling, drain the water from the soaking rice.
2. Carefully transfer the strained rice into the boiling water.
3. Boil until it's perfectly cooked - for me this was exactly 11 ½ minutes. You can test how long to cook rice by trying a grain or two. Simply use a slotted spoon to catch a few pieces of rice.

1. Carefully pour the pot of rice into the strainer letting the hot liquid drain into the sink.
2. Place the strainer on top of the pot and allow the rice to cool for 5 minutes. Fluff it with a fork and enjoy!

It really comes together quickly.

Storage Tips

Rice can last up to four days in the fridge if stored in an airtight container. You can learn more about storing rice here.

• Don't put the rice in the fridge while it's piping hot! Let it cool for 30 minutes, then transfer it to an airtight container and place it in the fridge.
• Don't let cooked rice sit out at room temperature for a long time! It should be stored quickly so it doesn't perish or make you sick from bacterial growth.
• Reheat the rice in a microwave-safe bowl until hot throughout. I do this all the time and it doesn't affect the taste or texture of the rice!

White rice is meal-prep friendly! I like to make a big batch of white rice at the beginning of the week and pull it out for saucy dishes.

You typically get three times the amount of dry rice you cook with. For example, this recipe calls for 1 cup of rice, which yields about 3 cups of cooked rice.

Serving Suggestions

Cooked rice goes with nearly everything! It's a blank slate for bowls, saucy dishes, and stir-fries.

Here's a few ideas to get you started:

• Serve with a fried egg, sesame seeds, furikake, and crispy chili oil. Super easy and delicious!
• Mix the hot rice with butter and freshly minced herbs.
• Make it into a burrito bowl. If you buy a rotisserie chicken, you don't even have to cook! Top the rice with shredded chicken, guacamole, salsa, black beans, and cheese.
• Enjoy it with baked salmon and roasted veggies!

Easy Side Dishes

• How to Cook Tri-Color Quinoa
• Easy Brown Rice & Quinoa
• Crispy Roasted Potatoes & Broccoli
• Herb Rice with Peas