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Learn how to cook white rice on the stove top, rice cooker, Instant Pot, microwave, and slow cooker! Here are the instructions for all 5 ways to make it and end up with perfect results every time. Plus get leftover rice recipes and ideas for what to serve with it.
White Rice – a staple side dish!
Technically classified as a refined cereal grain, white rice is actually a type of grass seed. Because it is inexpensive and easy to grow, it’s a staple in the diet of people all over the world.
White rice can be the base for grain bowls like Beef Burrito Bowls. Spoon dishes like Bourbon Shrimp over the top so it soaks up all of that sauce. Or simply serve it alongside Baked Blackened Chicken Breasts. You can even make rice pudding with cooked rice for a classic dessert.
Is white rice healthy?
When you cook it using plain water without any butter or oil, there are approximately 200 calories in 1 cup of white rice. The proper portion size is 1/2 cup of cooked white rice.
Unlike brown rice, white rice is milled to have the exterior husk, bran, and germ removed. After milling, polishing takes place, giving the white rice a shiny appearance.
Although not as healthy as brown or wild varieties, white rice is a good source of certain vitamins and minerals. Many manufacturers artificially fortify white rice with nutrients to replace some that are lost in the milling process, including:
- Calcium – essential for bone strength, and a healthy heart and nervous system
- Iron – helps with memory retention and focus, as well as general energy. It also helps the body regulate temperature
- Magnesium – contributes to the overall health of most biological functions
- Folate – this B-vitamin assists in blood cell production, and it’s an important nutrient for pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers.
Is white rice gluten free?
I cover this topic in-depth in my article Is Rice Gluten Free?, but rest assured that rice on its own is a gluten free grain. Just pay attention to flavored rice mixes that contain gluten and/or other ingredients with gluten in the dish. This may be in the accompanying seasoning packets or sauces.
Some prepackaged side dishes may also be multigrain mixes that have pasta, barley, couscous, freekeh, bulgur, or other gluten-containing grains.
How to cook white rice
Learning how to make fluffy white rice is very easy to do.
Make white rice using the cooking method of your choosing. For most recipes and cooking methods, you will need 1 and 1/2 cups of liquid for every 1 cup of dry white rice. You can use water, any type of cooking stock or broth, or even milk. Traditionally it is cooked in a pot on the stove. However, modern appliances like the microwave, crockpot, Instant Pot, and rice cooker can make it quicker and more convenient. Choose your preferred method and keep reading for the specific instructions.
You’ll find instructions below for each of these five methods.
- Stovetop – the traditional way of making it in a pot which gives you control over the texture.
- Slow Cooker – a great way to use your crockpot for a hands-off method that cooks itself all day, and you can easily make two or three times as much.
- Instant Pot – an electric pressure cooker is also hand-off, but do not use this method for instant rice.
- Microwave – doesn’t require extra pans or equipment and you can serve it in the container you cook it in.
- Rice cooker – the easiest method because all you have to do is push a button.
Fluff and serve. When the rice has finished cooking, you’ll always want to fluff it up with a fork. Then serve it with many of your favorite meals.
How to Make Rice on the Stove
This is the most straightforward method of cooking white rice. Many people prefer it because it allows more control over the texture of the rice.
- Combine 1 cup rice with 1 and 1/2 cups water in a saucepan.
- Bring contents to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer with the lid on.
- Cook until all of the water is absorbed, about 25 minutes. If you notice that the water is almost absorbed and the rice is still raw, add another 1/4 cup of cooking liquid.
- Remove from heat, keep the lid on, and let it sit for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.
If your stove runs hot, you might find that you need to add extra cooking liquid if it evaporates too quickly before the rice is fully cooked.
Rice Cooker White Rice
This is certainly the easiest method for cooking rice. Simply push a button and the cooker handles the rest of the work!
- Add 1 cup white rice and 1.5 cups water to the rice cooker.
- Place the lid on the top and turn the cooker on.
You really don’t need anything fancy if you don’t cook big batches of rice. There are certainly larger high end rice cookers, but an inexpensive one still does the job perfectly.
Pressure Cooker White Rice
This method works well with any type of white rice EXCEPT for parboiled rice (i.e. Minute Rice).
- Add 1 cup white rice and 1 cup water to the electric pressure cooker.
- Attach the lid, seal the vent, and set the unit to cook on High for 3 minutes. It will take 5-10 minutes to come to pressure first.
- After the cooking ends, use a Natural Pressure release for 10 minutes, then manually release the rest.
- Remove the lid and fluff the rice before serving.
Coating the liner with cooking spray or oil will help prevent any sticking or foaming. when making Instant Pot white rice.
Cooking Rice in a Microwave
When you microwave white rice, you won’t need any extra pans or equipment. Plus, you can serve it in the same dish you cooked it in!
- Combine 1 cup of brown rice with 3 cups of water in a microwave-safe dish.
- Microwave uncovered for 10 minutes on high.
- Reduce the power to 50%, cover the dish, and cook for another 20 minutes.
- Let sit for about 5 minutes, then fluff and serve.
Make sure you use a large enough bowl so it doesn’t boil over and splatter all over the microwave.
Crock Pot White Rice
This method is perfect for when you need to “set it and forget it.” Easily double and triple the amounts to make large batches of slow cooker rice.
- Add 1 cup white rice and 1 and 1/2 cups water or cooking broth to the crock. If desired, add a tablespoon of butter or oil to prevent sticking.
- Stir to combine, then attach the lid.
- Cook on Low for 2 hours, or until all of the liquid is absorbed.
If your slow cooker is larger than 3 quarts, you’ll want to make a larger batch so that it cooks properly. Use at least 2 cups of raw rice.
Storing Leftovers
Somepeople are concerned about storing leftover white rice because of the risk of the growth of Bacillus cereus which is a heat-resistant toxin. But as long as you cool it quickly and don’t leave it at room temperature, you will minimize the risk
After cooking, be sure to allow rice to cool before transferring it to a food storage container or Ziploc bag. If you want to cool it quickly, you can spread it in an even layer on a cookie sheet. Then immediately refrigerate the containers and consume or freeze the rice within five days.
How to Freeze Cooked White Rice
Cooked rice freezes beautifully, making it perfect for meal planning and easy meal prep! As a result, you can make a double batch so you have leftovers to freeze for later use.
Again you’ll want to be sure it is cooled before transferring it to the airtight container or freezer storage bag. Squeeze all the air out of the bags, and be sure to label everything because you’ll want to consume it within a month. After that, it starts to dry out.
Thaw the frozen rice in the refrigerator before reheating it.
How to reheat white rice
Cooked rice typically loses moisture in the refrigerator. As a result, before reheating, you’ll want to add a tablespoon of cooking liquid per cup of cooked rice.
- Microwave: Put the rice in a microwave-safe container and sprinkle the liquid over the top. Cover with a lid, then heat for 1-2 minutes on high power to warm it through.
- Other cooking methods: Add the rice and liquid to a saucepan and use a fork to break up any large clumps.
Cover the pan with a lid and cook on the stove top on low for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Make it a Meal
Rice Bowls
Top a bowl of white rice with your favorite protein and maybe some veggies or sauces for a meal in a bowl.
- Breakfast bowls with Hawaiian Scrambled Eggs
- Tex-Mex bowls with Chicken Enchilada Skillet
- Summery bowls with Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Pulled Chicken
- Seafood Bowls with Honey Lime Shrimp
Asian-Inspired Dinner
Rice is a traditional accompaniment to many of your favorite Chinese, Indian, Thai, Japanese or other Asian meals or those inspired by the flavors of those cuisines.
- Mongolian Beef Stew
- Lightened Up Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
- Pineapple Teriyaki Turkey Meatballs
- Sesame Maple Glazed Salmon
Simple Sides
Enjoy it with your favorite main dish that cooks quickly enough that you can make it while the rice cooks.
- Chili-Lime Steak Bites
- Lemon Herb Marinated Grilled Chicken Breasts
- Greek Beef Souvlaki
- Moroccan Chickpea Stew
Recipes with Cooked Rice
If you have extra, recipes for leftover white rice are a great way to use it up or for an easy way to make many dishes.
Chicken Fried Rice
Cheesy Zucchini Casserole with Rice
Cilantro Lime Rice
Asian Beef Lettuce Wraps
Chicken and Rice Soup
How to Cook White Rice
Ingredients
- 1 cup white rice
- water (or another liquid such as chicken or vegetable broth, amount varies based on cooking method)
Instructions
How to cook white rice on the stove
- Combine 1 cup rice with 1 and 1/2 cups water in a saucepan.
- Bring contents to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer with the lid on.
- Cook until all of the water is absorbed, about 25 minutes. If you notice that the water is almost absorbed and the rice is still raw, add another 1/4 cup of cooking liquid.
- Remove from heat, keep the lid on, and let it sit for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.
How to cook white rice in a rice cooker
- Add 1 cup white rice and 1 1/2 cups water to the rice cooker.
- Place the lid on the top and turn the cooker on.
How to make Instant Pot rice
- Coat the liner with cooking spray or oil to help prevent any sticking or foaming.
- Add 1 cup white rice and 1 cup water to the electric pressure cooker.
- Attach the lid, seal the vent, and set the unit to cook on High for 3 minutes. It will take 5-10 minutes to come to pressure first.
- After the cooking ends, use a Natural Pressure release for 10 minutes, then manually release the rest.
- Remove the lid and fluff the rice before serving.
How to make white rice in a Microwave
- Combine 1 cup of brown rice with 3 cups of water in a microwave-safe dish.
- Microwave uncovered for 10 minutes on high.
- Reduce the power to 50%, cover the dish, and cook for another 20 minutes.
- Let sit for about 5 minutes, then fluff and serve.
How to make white rice in a slow cooker
- Add 1 cup white rice and 1 and 1/2 cups water or cooking broth to the crock. If desired, add a tablespoon of butter or oil to prevent sticking.
- Stir to combine, then attach the lid.
- Cook on Low for 2 hours, or until all of the liquid is absorbed.
Did you make this?
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