How to Cook Rice on the Stove (VIDEO)
Learn how to cook rice perfectly every time. This is our go-to method to make fluffy white rice and it doesn’t get any easier. No more gummy or hard rice! To cook rice on the stove, all you need is a medium saucepan with a tight-fitting lid.
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Watch How to Cook Rice:
Anyone can make this easy white rice! It is perfect for any recipe that calls for cooked white rice like our Fried Rice and is excellent served under saucy Chicken Broccoli Stir Fry. If you aren’t able to see the video below, make sure to turn off your adblocker.
- Add white long-grain rice, salt, and butter (if using) to a medium saucepan.
- Pour in water and bring to a boil over medium heat.
- Reduce heat to a low simmer, cover and cook with the lid on for 18 minutes.
- Check rice. If there’s any water on the bottom, cover and let it rest 5 minutes off the heat to absorb then serve.
White Kind of Rice Should I Use?
This tutorial is written for long-grain white rice. Our go-to rice is Jasmine rice, but Basmati long-grain white rice will also work here. We prefer long-grain white rice because it stays fluffy and the grains remain separate after cooking.
Should I Rinse or Soak Rice?
- Rinsing is optional and we usually skip that step. Rinsing removes the extra starch on the outside of the rice, making it slightly less sticky. To rinse, place rice in a fine mesh colander and rinse 20 seconds or until the water runs clear underneath.
- Soaking Jasmine rice or white rice is not recommended because it is naturally soft and can result in mushy rice.
How do you know when the rice is cooked?
- Set a Timer: For consistent perfectly cooked rice every time, our best advice is to set a timer while cooking. Fully cooked rice will be fluffy and tender all the way through.
- Listen for Simmering Sounds: You should hear the rice simmer and hiss while the lid is on and when the sounds stop, the rice has absorbed the water and should be removed from heat.
- See that water is Absorbed: When you take off the lid, fluff with the fork and you should not see any pooling of water at the bottom. If you see any water, cover with the lid and let rest 5-10 minutes off the heat until water is fully absorbed.
How to Freeze Cooked Rice:
Having portioned rice in the freezer is great for quick weeknight meals like Shrimp Fried Rice. Frozen cooked rice can be heated directly from frozen without needing to thaw. Here is the process we use to freeze rice.
- Cook and Cool rice to room temperature.
- Portion into freezer-safe zip lock bags, removing as much air as possible.
- Freeze, laying flat, for up to 3 months in the freezer. Sprinkle 1 Tbsp of water over the rice and reheat portions covered in a microwave-safe container for 2-3 minutes.
To Cook 2 Cups of Rice:
1 cup of uncooked rice will yield 3 cups of cooked rice. If you need more, you can easily scale the recipe up or down, just keep in mind the rice to water 1:2 ratio (1 cup rice to 2 cups water). To double the recipe, use 2 cups of rice and 4 cups of water.
Can I Substitute the Water?
For more flavorful rice, you can substitute water with chicken broth or vegetable broth. We love to use chicken broth in our Creamy Chicken and Rice recipe to amp up the flavor.
Cook’s Tip: My mother’s rice was always so buttery and wonderful growing up. You can amp up the flavor of rice by stirring in softened or melted butter to taste after the rice is cooked.
What to Serve with White Rice:
Rice is so versatile. You can put it into rice soup, serve it as a plain buttery side, and it’s also amazing served under stir fry. Some of our favorite recipes to serve over rice are:
- Chicken Stir Fry – easy and so saucy
- Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry – loaded with tender beef
- Beef Stroganoff – the creamy sauce is excellent over rice
- Sweet & Spicy Chicken – shredded baked chicken breast
- Beef Stir Fry – with bell peppers and mushrooms
How to Cook Rice (Easy VIDEO Tutorial)
Learn how to cook rice perfectly every time. This is our go-to method to make fluffy white rice and it's so easy. To cook rice on the stove, all you need is a medium saucepan with a tight-fitting lid.
Ingredients
- 1 cup long grain white rice (we used Jasmine rice)
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1 Tbsp butter optional, or added to taste
Instructions
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In a medium saucepan, add 1 cup rice, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1 Tbsp butter (if using) to the pan.
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Add 2 cups water and bring to a boil, uncovered, over medium heat.
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Reduce heat to a low simmer, cover with a tight fitting lid and cook for 18 minutes. You should hear faint simmer and hissing sounds while it's cooking.
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After 18 minutes, remove lid and check rice. If there is any excess liquid on the bottom, remove from heat, cover and let it rest 5-10 minutes to absorb then serve hot.
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
Natasha Kravchuk
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Hi! I'm Natasha Kravchuk. Here you'll find delicious, trusted recipes with easy step-by-step photos and videos. 
Is this rice a better option for fried rice dishes versus the jasmine rice? my jasmine rice comes out clumpy or mushy. Also, if using this long grain rice is chilling the rice still best for stir fry dishes.
Hi, yes you definitely want to chill the rice before using in stir fry, otherwise, it will be mushy like you described.
Great tips – nothing beats perfecly cooked rice!
Isn’t it the best! Thank you for that great review Erin!
Turned out perfectly. Fluffly, light and not sticky and mushy. Easy to follow directions.
I’m so glad you enjoyed that Lisalia!
Seriously this is now the only way I will make rice. It comes out perfectly every time!
Sounds like you found a new favorite! That’s so great!
This is such a great tutorial! So easy to follow! Thanks for the tips!
I’m so glad you enjoyed that!
Thank you so much for this recipe. It came out perfect. I struggled learning how to make rice because my mom doesn’t use measurements. She was taught to cook just by eyeballing everything. That’s always been hard for me to do. I do better with measurements lol I tried it with her ingredients but using your measurements and time. It came out perfect. She even loved it. Thank you.
I’m so glad you and your mom enjoyed this Tiffany! Thank you for that great review!
This rice comes out great. If I am making red curry, I add 1 Cup water and 1 cup Thai coconut milk. Yum
That sounds delicious! Thank you for sharing that with me!
Hi Natasha
Love your cooking videos!
I have always cooked my rice this way but lately I have been adding a can of coconut milk and adding enough water for the required amount of liquid. It is so good. I also grew up with my Mom putting butter on the rice and love it. Thanks for all your delicious recipes and your fun videos.
You’re welcome! I’m so glad you’re enjoying our recipes and videos! That’s so great!
re Perfect rice….Exactly as Natasha says, but put it in a lidded dish in microwave for 20 Min. And let stand maybe 10 Min. Never burns or sticks.
Thank you for sharing those tips with us Cynthia!
Hi please send me the recipes how to cooking chicken biryani in a rice cooker please thank
Hello Ken, I don’t have a recipe for that yet but I’ll take that as a suggestion!
Hola Natasha, tu arroz luce delicioso! Otro tip es ponerle un ajo picadillo y si quieres una cebolla de verdeo picadita, solo la parte blanca. Se sofrien en la mantequilla o aceite y luego el arroz y el agua y se cocina a fuego bajo.
Great idea! Thank you for sharing that with me, Clara!
You can’t mess this rice up! It’s perfect, fluffy, & great for so many recipes!
Super love it! Thanks for your short but sweet and awesome review!
Shared this my college son! Learning to make rice is a very important skill! Thanks for the easy recipe.
I’m so glad this rice cooking tutorial was helpful! I agree – and I love how easy it is.
Thanks for the tips!
You’re welcome! I’m so glad that was helpful!