How to Cook 1 Cup of Rice

Knowing how to cook 1 cup of rice is a must have kitchen skill. After all, making perfectly cooked and fluffy rice as a side dish is one of the best ways to create a hearty and filling meal.

Rice is so versatile, it’s an essential ingredient to a lot of recipes and it makes a delicious side dish as well. From eggs to meat, seafood, and veggies, everything just seems to go well with rice.

If you can’t figure out how to cook 1 cup of rice perfectly, this cooking guide is here to help! Here, I’ll walk you through the step by step process of cooking rice and also share some awesome but simple cooking hacks that are sure to make your rice fluffier and more scrumptious.

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Pin showing the title How to Cook 1 Cup of Rice

Most Popular Types of Rice

As you probably already know, rice comes in many types. Before you start learning how to cook 1 cup of rice, you should know the most popular types of rice first so you can choose which rice is best for you and your recipe.

Here are some of the most common types of rice you can find and buy:

White or milled rice is the most commonly used rice. It cooks faster and can also be stored longer than other types of rice. Plus, it comes in short, medium, and long grain varieties.
Brown rice is known to be richer in nutrients than milled rice because it’s less processed. It also comes in short, medium, and long grain varieties but brown rice is only good to consume for three to six months because its bran coating will oxidize.
Black or purple rice contains more protein than brown rice and offers a lot of health benefits.
Aromatic rice varieties include Jasmine, basmati, Texmati, Wehani, and more. They are known for their fragrant aroma and light and fluffy texture.
Risotto rice also comes in different varieties such as Arborio, Nano, Baldo, Carnaroli, and more.
Sticky or glutinous rice is short grained and best used for Asian cuisines like sushi.
Wild rice takes the longest time to cook but it’s nutty and chewy.

How to cook 1 cup of rice:

There are lots of ways to cook rice. You can use the stove top, Instant Pot, rice cooker, microwave, and even the oven to cook rice.

Every household may have its own way of preparing rice, but there are key points that you have to take note of to ensure that your rice will turn out perfect every time. Whatever cooking method you’ll use it’s important to take note of the following:

Rinsing

This step is necessary to remove small debris as well as the surface starch that can cause the rice to be gummy and sticky. You can skip this step if you want but don’t be surprised if your rice didn’t turn out as fluffy as you thought it would be.

The ratio of water to rice

This ratio will vary based on the type of rice you’ll use.

Temperature

Do not over boil your rice. Cooking your rice in high temperatures will highly likely get it undercooked.

Resting time

The resting time will allow the excess water to be absorbed while the rice achieves its perfect texture.

Must-have Kitchen Essentials to Cook Rice

Learning how to cook 1 cup of rice will be much easier if you have the right kitchen tools. Before you proceed with making them, check out these items first.

Apart from being wonderful additions to your kitchen, these kitchen essentials are also excellent gift ideas for your cooking-obsessed friends!

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How much water for 1 cup of rice:

There are lots of factors that can affect how the rice cooks. There will also be slight differences in the rice to water ratio and cooking times depending on the type of rice you cook.

The rule of thumb is two cups of water to one cup of rice for white and aromatic rice. This combination will make three cups of cooked rice in 15 to 20 minutes.

On the other hand, a cup of brown rice takes longer to cook (about 35 to 45 minutes) but it also only calls for two cups of water. A cup of wild rice requires three cups of water and about 45-60 minutes to cook.

For two cups of sticky rice, you will need two cups of water and 15-20 minutes of cooking time as well. Lastly, a cup of risotto or Arborio rice requires three cups of water and the cooking time will be up to your recipe.

How to Cook 1 Cup of Rice Featured Image

How to cook rice on the stove

There are lots of ways to cook rice but let’s start with the most basic, using the stovetop. The method below will work for all kinds of white and aromatic varieties of rice.

First things first, rinse your rice. Place the rice grains on a strainer, rinse them until the water runs clear.
Bring two cups of water to a boil in a small saucepan and add one cup of rinsed rice. If you want a bit of flavor, you can also use broth instead of water. Some recipes also suggest using a little salt and butter or oil.
Reduce the heat once it’s boiling and just let it simmer for the rest of the cooking time. The average cooking time of a cup of white rice is about 15 to 20 minutes.
Once cooked, remove the saucepan from the stove. Let the rice rest for another 10 to 12 minutes.

Looking for creative and easy recipes for rice?

Rice is a versatile kitchen essential that can be easily prepared. If you want to aim for hearty and filling meals, making rice as a side dish is the right decision. You can check out these recipe collections to get a dinner idea that the whole family will love!

How do I cook 1 cup of rice in a rice cooker?

Cooking rice in the rice cooker is of course much simpler than on the stove. If you have an Instant Pot, you can also use it as a rice cooker.

Since these kitchen appliances come with rice cooking settings, you don’t have to worry about adjusting the temperature or the cooking time. But of course, cooking in the rice cooker requires different rice to water ratios. A cup of white or aromatic rice needs only a cup of water, while a cup of brown rice needs 2 and 1/4 cups of water.

To make sure, you can also check the guidelines that come with your appliance. You can also try cooking rice using the microwave or oven. However, these methods require a little bit longer cooking time.

How to Store Cooked Rice

You can store your leftover rice in the refrigerator for up to six days or freeze them for up to one month. Once the leftover rice reaches room temperature, put it immediately in an airtight container and place it in the refrigerator or freezer to avoid the build up of bacteria.

You can reheat your leftover rice using the microwave or stovetop. Make sure that your reheated rice is completely warm before serving. Plus, do not refreeze or reheat rice more than once as it can lead to bacterial growth and things like food poisoning.