How to Cook White Rice

photo of cooked white rice in a tan bowl on a marble surface

5 from 5 votes

This easy stovetop white rice recipe is a simple, reliable method for making fluffy, perfectly cooked rice every time. With the right water ratio and a little patience, you’ll have a comforting side dish that pairs beautifully with just about any meal.

Prep Time8

Cook Time22

Total Time30

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 194kcal

Author: Ebony Robinson

Ingredients

1 cup Long-grain rice
2 cups Water
1 tbsp Butter
1 tsp Salt

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

In a medium saucepan (stainless steel is my fave), combine the water, salt, and butter. Bring to a rolling boil over medium-high heat.
Rinse the rice in a bowl with cold water, gently swirling and draining until the water runs clear. This removes excess starch and cleans the rice grains.
Upon water coming to boil, stir in the rinsed rice. Once the water returns to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, cover with a tight-fitting lid, and cook for 12 minutes without lifting the lid. This step is super important. Do not touch the lid, do not stir the rice, let it simmer untouched. Check after 12 minutes.
After 12 minutes, check your rice, turn off the heat, and return the lid back on top of the pot. Allow the rice to steam for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, take a fork, fluff gently and serve warm. Enjoy!

Notes

Rinsing the rice until the water runs clear helps remove excess starch and creates fluffy rice with separate grains.
Keep the lid closed while the rice cooks and steams to prevent steam from escaping.
Letting the rice rest for 10 minutes after cooking helps finish the steaming process and improves the texture.
Long-grain white rice, jasmine rice, and basmati rice work best for this stovetop method.
Avoid using short-grain or medium-grain rice for this recipe, as they tend to cook up softer and stickier.
For extra flavor, swap the butter for olive oil or add a bay leaf while cooking.
Store leftover rice in an airtight container
Leftover rice is perfect for fried rice, stir-fries, rice bowls, and quick weeknight meals.

Nutrition