Learn how to make rice perfectly with this tutorial featuring steps to make any type of rice you can think of from basmati to brown over the stove, in a rice cooker or even in the microwave!
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Who doesn’t love a fluffy, tender bowl of warm rice?!
Cooked rice is king across so many cultures and cuisines. Your dinner table is probably begging for this savory side, so you need to know the best way to cook it!
Follow along with me as we dive into how to make delicious rice in the comfort of your own home.
If you’re eager to try your hand at making rice with me, my Dirty Rice, Spanish Chicken and Rice, and Shrimp Curry Over Cauliflower Rice are amazing places to start!!
Different Types of Rice
So, how many types of rice are there? 40,000. Before today, I only knew of about 8!! There are literally thousands of types to choose from. I don’t know about y’all but that is mindblowing.
You’re probably used to seeing the top choices in the grocery store: long-grain white rice, short rice, and medium rice. Long grain, short, and medium rice all differ in length, taste, and prep time. While these three are the most common, clearly there are loads more that we never even knew about!
If you’re new to the rice game, you might be wondering how in the world you could choose a type to try.
Lucky for y’all, I’ve got a list of some of my favorite types!
Basmati
Basmati rice is one of the most popular rice across the globe. You see it in nearly every rice-heavy meal nowadays thanks to its long shelf life, cultural history, and taste.
From stews, curries, masalas, or salads, it’s easy to incorporate this enriching, long-grain into your diet. Take note to be mindful of how much white rice you consume though. Because white rice is a refined grain, there can be fewer nutrients and long-term health risks.
But, as long as you’re eating responsibly or choose to opt for brown basmati rice, you are in for a treat. You can use basmati rice to make my Cajun Dirty Rice!
Brown Rice
A true heart-healthy recipe for flavor! Unlike white rice, brown rice is a whole grain, meaning all the best nutrients are intact!
Some of the health benefits of this type of rice are sprinkled across nutrients like magnesium and even weight loss support! Not to mention, it tastes so good!
My Spanish Chicken and Rice has you covered for brown rice!
Cauliflower Rice
If you’re looking for a carb-friendly, healthier alternative to traditional rice, cauliflower rice is here for you! You don’t even have to think twice about what cauliflower rice is since it’s exactly what it sounds like: rice made of cauliflower.
Chop up a head of cauliflower, throw it in a blender or food processor, and there you have it! Nutrient, antioxidant-rich goodness.
Taking care of our health and eating good is a must-have for 2022. So, next time you feel guilty for skipping out on a meal to keep those carbs from hitting the waist, know that cauliflower rice is an amazing option! Try my Shrimp Curry Over Cauliflower Rice!
Make Rice 3 Ways!
By now, you’re probably anxious to get into how to make rice on your own. I’m anxious to tell you! Assuming you have rinsed your rice first in a strainer to remove extra starch or debris, get your bags of rice, measuring cups, and water ready to serve!
How to Make Rice in a Pot
This is one of the most classic ways. There’s nothing like watching a big pot of firm rice slowly expand and rise to the top.
- For every 1 cup of rice, use about 2 cups of water
- Pour the water into a pot first to a medium boil
- Slowly stir in the rice and any desired seasoning
- Cover with lid and let simmer for about 15-20 minutes and reduce the heat to low
- Turn off the heat and let the rice sit for about 10 minutes
- Fluff it with a fork or ladle
Time for you to enjoy!
How to use a Rice Cooker
Rice cookers are a game-changer y’all. Setting up a rice cooker to let your rice boil for half an hour frees up so much time!
- Use the 1:1 ½ method for measuring out cups of rice and cups of water
- Pour the contents into the cooker and turn it on
- Rice cookers internally determine the time needed to fully cook rice
- Let the rice sit for an extra 15-30 minutes to avoid that mushy texture
- Stir the rice around to fluff it up with a fork or ladle
And there you have perfectly fluffy rice!
How to Microwave Rice
For those of you short on time or maybe a little lazy, (no shame in that) cooking rice in a microwave is probably the easiest route to go.
- Use a microwave-safe container large enough to hold the rice
- For every 1 cup of rice, use about 2 cups of water
- Microwave on high, uncovered, for 10-15 minutes or until fully cooked
Easy!
How to Store Leftover Rice
One thing about rice is it can cook up a lot of food for leftovers! Because of this, I always get the question, “How long can rice be stored?”
Most experts agree on about 4 days for maximum flavor. While we rarely see it, rice can go bad after a while, so don’t forget it in the back of the fridge for too long!
On the plus side for my meal prepping fans, you can actually freeze rice for up to a month! The best way to store rice, whether frozen or not, is to keep it in a tightly closed container, such as airtight Tupperware, in a refrigerator or freezer.
Whatever you come up with, I hope you love it!!
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You’re right! This rice is absolute perfection!
It’s hard to get rice the perfect texture. I’ll be using this tutorial often. Thanks
So many awesome tips on how to make rice. This is exactly what I’ve been looking for!
I often struggle to get the right texture for rice. Who knew you had to let the rice sit for an extra 15-30 minutes once done cooking!? Thank you for all the helpful tips!