For me, this is just one of those things that I was constantly looking up because it seems like every rice company wants you to do things their way. I’ve come to find out that there’s pretty much one way to cook white rice, despite what Uncle Ben wants you to believe! Of course, these directions don’t apply to minute rice, brown or wild rice, or rice in a bag. Just regular old white rice.
One thing to remember is that this is just a general way of how to do things for those times when a recipe tells you to make x amounts of rice. If your recipe tells you to do things differently, follow those directions.
The Rules of Rice
1. Generally, you can plan on 1/2 c. of cooked rice per person if you’re serving it as a side dish or with something on top of it (like stir fry or Stroganoff). And really, if you’re not in dire circumstances, when else would you eat plain white rice?
2. The jury’s out on whether you should rinse your rice before cooking it. On one hand, if you rinse it, you get rid of some of the starchniess and you run less of a risk of your rice turning out gummy. However, when you’re rinsing it, you also rinse away some of the nutrients. I don’t rinse my rice unless I have a specific reason behind it.
3. Cooked rice is double what it was uncooked; for example, 1 cup of uncooked rice will yield 2 cups of cooked rice.
4. To cook rice, combine 1 part rice with 2 parts fluid like water, broth, or coconut milk (for example, 1 c. rice with 2 c. water). Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and serve!
5. You can add a lot of things to the rice while it’s cooking; salt, butter, black pepper, etc. If you add a little white vinegar to the water, it will keep the rice from sticking to itself.
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I have never heard of cooking rice with coconut milk… what kind of taste does it give to it??
Kirsten–If I’m making 2 c. cooked rice, then I use 1 can of coconut milk and enough water to make up the difference so I can get 2 c. of liquid. Add about 1-2 tablespoons of sugar and cook it normally. When it’s done, toss in a handful of chopped green onions and add some salt and pepper. It’s a little sweet and exotic and really yummy with Asian/Polynesian type things. Oh, with this, you definitely WANT to rinse the rice first or you’ll end up with a globby mess. And make sure you’re getting coconut milk, not cream of coconut. I’ll shut up now. :)
Thanks for the recipe for Brazilian style black beans. My hubby went there too and I've been trying to duplicate for years! But I can't seem to get the rice "just right" yet. I've heard they sauted the rice before they actually cook it with liquid? Wondering if you remember or know?
Simplyneat- yes, Brazilian rice is actually really easy! Just heat a little olive oil in a pan (a tablespoon or so) and saute some chopped onion and garlic for a few minutes, just until the onions are tender. Then add in your rice, dry. You saute the rice grains until they start to become translucent and then slightly golden. At this point you add the water like normal (it helps to add really hot or boiling water) cover, and cook like normal. Add salt to taste after cooking.
My dad used to serve us white rice for breakfast, with butter and cinnamon sugar. I haven’t done it since I left home, but I definitely liked it more than the oatmeal, bear mush, or other hot cereal concoctions he fed us!
Thanks for the coconut milk rice recipe: my buddies mom is Guatemalan and makes an identical dish and I’ve been curious how…on a side note, sauteing the rice with chopped garlic and onion in oil or butter until the grains are translucent is also the first step for making Mexican rice.
Next diced, canned or fresh tomatoes may be added for flavor and color, along with chicken stock as the cooking liquid and salt to taste. Just stick with the plain, white rice recipe for ratio and cooking time.
Would love to see you guys come out with homemade enchilada sauce how to and recipe and that dang good dessert that I ate at a Thai place in American Fork, UT. called something like Coconut Rice Mango dessert.
Thanks, Kate. I always forget how I made it last time, and I always come to this page to remember. And the rice always turns out perfect. Cheers.
i in middle school and we are doing chief competition and i need a way to make something with white rice that’s is amazing that will help me win. so please in 1 hour or less please
Hi AJ! Visit our recipe index, and look for the rice dishes under “sides” there are lots there that can be made in under an hour and taste really great!