The most frequently used appliance in a typical Chinese kitchen is the rice cooker. It is simple, effective, and capable of producing quality steamed rice.
But do you know how to cook rice without a rice cooker? A lidded pot, salt, running water, and of course a large bag of rice are all that is actually required. Additionally, you’ll need some knowledge of how to prepare rice, which we’ll cover in a moment.
This post will show you how to cook rice without a rice cooker by using either a non-stick or a cast iron pot. With this technique, you can quickly make perfect springy rice. Let’s start!
Table of Contents
What Is A Good Water To Rice Ratio?
Depending on the type of rice and who you ask, there isn’t a single magic number for the ideal water-to-rice ratio, so there will be a lot of variation here. Generally speaking, you should aim for a ratio of one and a half to one and a third cups of water to one cup of rice when cooking rice.
For almost all types of white rice, from basmati to jasmine, Stone advises using a rice-to-water ratio of one to barely under two. To prevent her rice from becoming overcooked, she will use one and three-quarter cups of water for white rice. About 1.5 cups of water to 1 cup of white rice is the general ratio used by Le.
When in doubt, Stone advises using less water because you can always add more if needed later. Once the water has been absorbed, she continues, “If the rice is still undercooked, I’ll add one or two tablespoons of hot water and steam it over low heat until it is thoroughly cooked. In a similar vein, if the rice isn’t quite soft enough for Yeung’s tastes, she will add a splash of water and let it cook for an additional few minutes (with the lid on).
Brown rice or other minimally processed whole grain rice, on the other hand, requires slightly more water to be absorbed before it is fully cooked than refined carbohydrate rice. (More water is required for outlier wild rice specifically.) In general, Stone advises using two complete cups of water for every cup of this kind of rice. Le nevertheless sticks to about 1.5 cups.
As you can see, a lot of this depends on taste and prior knowledge. Remember that you can modify a ratio based on how chewy or soft you typically prefer your rice to be. Use less water to achieve an al dente texture (closer to one and a quarter cups water to one cup rice) and more water to achieve a softer texture (roughly two cups water to one cup rice).
How To Cook Rice Without A Rice Cooker?
- Take a measurement of the desired amount of rice and record it. (You can complete this step without any specialized measuring equipment. Use any cup or mug you have, really. Place the rice in the pot and add just 2 inches of water to cover it. On the counter, leave the rice to soak for 15 to 20 minutes. Drain the water from the rice after it has soaked for however long it took. You should only have a pot of rice that has been soaked at this point.
- Now consider the quantity of rice you added to the pot. Pour fresh water in the same quantity into the pot (adding a little more water for brown rice).
- Set the pot’s heat to medium-high. Cook the rice for about 10-15 minutes (for white rice) or 20-25 minutes (for brown rice) after the liquid comes to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and cover. And that’s it!
Tips & Notes:
First of all, a regular pot takes 15 minutes to cook versus 12 minutes for a cast iron pot.
Note 2: You can see this by looking through a transparent cover or by observing the water vapor. You can smell the aroma of rice and the vapor should be very faint.
Note 3: While the food is still hot, gently break the grains up. This can aid in removing any remaining water and prevent the rice from becoming sticky at the bottom after cooling.
What Types Of Rice Are Most Common?
The most popular types of rice in the store are brown, jasmine, and basmati, but there are many others as well. In addition, there are numerous sub-varieties of white rice from various parts of the world, including wild, black, red, sushi, and arborio varieties.
Based on the length of the grain, rice can be divided into three general categories: short-grain, medium-grain, and long-grain rice. Due to their varied textures, they go well with a variety of dishes. Because they yield creamy, stickier, starchier final products, shorter rice varieties like Calrose and arborio are used for sushi- and risotto-style dishes. Long-grain rice varieties are dryer and better at fluffing and crisping, making them more suitable for both delicately steamed rice recipes and crunchy fried rice dishes. Medium-grain rice falls somewhere in the middle.
Is Rinsing Rice Necessary?
Although it’s not a requirement, it is strongly advised to rinse rice. According to Maxine Yeung, RD, trained chef, and owner of The Wellness Whisk, rinsing your rice before cooking is a good idea because it removes dirt and starch that could otherwise cause your rice to become sticky or gloopy when it should be fluffy. The process is also quick and simple.
How To Rinse Rince?
There are a few straightforward techniques for quickly rinsing rice in your kitchen sink. You can either pour water directly over a sieve full of rice or fill a large pot with rice and water, stir the mixture to remove any remaining debris, and then drain the dirty water.
Anyone who has ever tried to rinse rice knows that it can be challenging to avoid letting all the individual grains slip down the drain. Mina Stone, chef, owner of Mina’s at MoMA PS1, and author of Lemon, Love, and Olive Oil, tells SELF that her preferred approach only needs a little patience. In order to start, she adds the grains directly to a pot, adds a little water, and stirs the mixture until the water turns cloudy. “The water is then poured down the drain, and Stone says she stops and refills the pot with water if she notices a grain of rice moving toward the edge. She goes through this process three or four more times to ensure that the water is crystal clear.
A large, fine-mesh sieve will be useful if you want to rinse rice more quickly; just shake the rice around with your hands under running water for a minute or two. (For added protection against losing stray grains when using Stone’s rinsing method, you can also use a sieve when draining the water.
How Long Does It Take To Cook Rice?
Based on a few variables, the amount of time needed to cook various types of rice varies slightly. “According to Stone, the cooking time of rice can vary depending on the variety and its age. You may require a few practices runs to get it just right because it also depends on the precise brand of rice, the fit of your lid, and how much water you use.
That said, you don’t need to get too fixated on exact cooking times. Le says you can cook different types of white rice for between 15 and 20 minutes using the same timing. According to Stone, because many of the tougher components of refined white rice are removed during the refining process, they generally cook faster. (The two notable exceptions to the quick-cooking white rice rule are arborio and sushi rice, which are not included in this.)
On the other hand, whole grain varieties of rice like brown and wild rice take longer to cook—typically about twice as long, according to Le. They still have their rigid, fibrous exteriors, which explains this. These grains should be cooked for at least 30 to 45 minutes.
A good place to start is the time specified on the bag. Alternatively, when unsure of how long to cook rice in a pot, use these times as a general guide.
- Basmati rice: 15 to 20 minutes
- Jasmine rice: 15 to 20 minutes
- Wild rice: 40 to 45 minutes
- Sushi rice: 25 to 35 minutes
- Brown rice: 30 to 40 minutes
Read More: How Long Does Brown Rice Last?
Extension: How To Cook Rice On The Stove?
- No rinsing is necessary! Place 1 cup of rice.) and 1.5 cups of water in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high – no lid;
- Turn heat down to low, cover with lid, and leave for 13 minutes;
- With the lid still on, remove saucepan from the stove and stand for 10 minutes; and
- Fluff with a rice paddle, rubber spatula, or fork, and marvel at perfect fluffy rice!
Extension: How To Cook Rice In The Oven?
efficient for cooking rice in large batches without human intervention.
- Place rice and boiling water* in a small casserole with a lid (or use a pan and foil);
- Cover with lid, bake at 200°C/390°F (180°C fan) for 35 minutes;
- Remove from oven and stand for 10 minutes; and
- Rice baked in the oven to perfection will fluff up easily with a fork. {For a good close-up, watch the recipe video!}
* Rice cooks more evenly in the oven when the water is boiling because it doesn’t need to warm up in the oven, which can take up to 10 minutes.
FAQs
Why is my rice so mushy?
It’s likely that you’re using far too much water if your rice consistently comes out mushy.
The next time, use much less than you usually would, and keep in mind that you can easily save undercooked rice. You can almost always achieve the desired fluffy texture by adding a few extra tablespoons of water and cooking the food for an additional few minutes.
What can I add to plain white rice?
Now that you are familiar with the fundamentals of making rice, let’s discuss how to dress it up. After the rice has been cooked, there are practically countless ways to spice it up. Rice’s unassuming flavor and absorbent texture make them particularly amenable to a wide range of flavorings.
How long does the rice stay edible?
In the refrigerator, cooked rice will keep for up to five days (or six months in the freezer), according to the USA Rice Federation, a trade association. This is consistent with recommendations from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service that store-bought cooked rice be consumed within four to six days (or within six months if kept in the freezer) after it is stored in the refrigerator. To prevent bacterial growth and lessen the risk of foodborne illness, just make sure to store any leftover rice in a sealed container within two hours of cooking and maintain your refrigerator at 40 degrees Fahrenheit (and your freezer at zero). According to Food and Drug Administration advice.