Learning how to cook rice is an essential skill in the kitchen. And the good news is that it’s quite easy to master. All you need is a pot, water, rice, and a bit of patience. No fancy rice cookers or equipment are needed to make perfectly fluffy and tender rice.

A humble pot of rice can easily turn any meal into a scrumptious feast. It’s the perfect blank slate – so use it as a side dish or the base of a healthy dinner. And yes, you can even meal prep it (we’ll get to that part).

Rice has over 15 vitamins and minerals including B-vitamins that help with metabolism, as as well as iron and zinc to help keep our bodies running as they should. The brand I personally use and love, Lundberg Farms, has been growing healthy, great-tasting rice since 1937 while respecting and sustaining the earth for future generations. I also love that they’re a leader in organic farming.

Today, I’ll walk you through two easy methods of cooking rice that work every time. The traditional method and the pasta method. I’ll also share some fun facts and tidbits about rice, because the more you know the better! Now grab a pot with a lid, your bag of rice, and let’s get cooking.

Short vs Medium vs Long Grain Rice

There are more than 40,000 varieties of rice in the world. That’s a lot. So to make things easier they’re classified by grain length – short, medium and long. The length of the grain is also an indicator of the final texture of the cooked rice. Here’s a few examples:

• Short Grain: Chinese black rice, American short-grain and sushi rice. This rice will be stickier and clump together when cooked. Perfect for sushi and using chopsticks.
• Medium Grain: Arborio, valencia and bomba. This rice will be fluffy, moist and tender with a little bit of stickiness. Perfect for risotto and paella.
• Long Grain: Basmati and jasmine. This rice is lower in starch and won’t clump together, it will be light and dry. Perfect for pilaf and biryani.

Now that you know that the length of the grain translates to a specific texture, you can choose the right rice for the right recipe.

Brown vs White Rice

Rice can be found in numerous colors, including red, black, and purple (yes, purple). But let’s chat about the two most common colors – brown and white rice.

• Brown Rice: Brown rice has its outer hull removed, but keeps its bran and germ layers intact. These layers give it the brown color and make the texture a bit chewier, with a nuttier taste. It’s considered a whole grain and has more fiber and nutrients, with a lower glycemic index.
• White Rice: White rice undergoes the entire milling process. This removes the husk, bran, and germ layers, leaving you with the endosperm, which is bright white in color. It’s considered a processed grain and doesn’t have quite the nutritional profile as brown rice, but some may find it easier to digest. It also cooks faster.

Aromatic Rices: Basmati vs Jasmine Rice

You now know that basmati and jasmine are two varieties of long grain rice. But certain rice varieties give off pleasing fragrances while being cooked so they’re considered aromatic rices. Here’s what makes them unique.

• Basmati Rice: Very long and slender and notable for its intense flavor and aroma. It’s dry, nutty, earthy, and has hints of popcorn-like aroma. It originates from India and Pakistan.
• Jasmine Rice: Slightly shorter and rounder than Basmati. It’s a bit softer and plumper with a more light, sweet and floral fragrance. It originates from Thailand.

Both of these varieties can be found in brown and white versions.

What About Wild Rice?

Wild rice is not a true rice, it’s a grain produced from an aquatic grass that grows primarily in the Great Lakes region in North America. It’s quite long and has a firm, chewy and nutty texture. I love wild rice and use it all the time in salads, like my wild rice and arugula salad. And you can often find it in rice blends with other rice varieties, for a tasty and colorful option.

How To Cook Rice

To get started, just memorize this sequence: Rinse, cook, rest and fluff.  Below are two variations of this sequence, and they’ll generally work with short, medium, or long grain white rice. Note that this will not work with brown rice. See my tip for brown rice below.

Traditional Method

1. Rinse the rice. Make sure to always rinse your rice before you begin cooking. This will wash away dusty starches that could result in your rice sticking together in clumps. All you need to do is rinse your rice in a fine mesh sieve until the water runs clear.
2. Combine in a pot. In a pot add 1 cup of rice plus 1 1/2 cups of water, then bring to a boil. Once it’s boiling, cover with a lid.
3. Let it simmer. Once you add the lid, turn the heat to low and let it simmer for about 15 minutes. Check to see when all the water has been absorbed and the rice is tender.
4. Steam and fluff. Turn off the heat and let the rice simmer, covered, for about 5 minutes. Then uncover, fluff it up and serve.

The Pasta Method

1. Rinse the rice. Add the rice to a fine mesh strainer. Then rinse it under running water until the water runs clear.
2. Boil water. Fill a pot halfway with water and bring it to a boil. You don’t have to measure the water but you want about 4-5 times as much water as rice. Just eyeball it.
3. Let it cook. Stir in the rice and drop the heat to medium-low. Let it cook uncovered for about 15 minutes while stirring occasionally. Use a spoon to check your desired doneness of the rice.
4. Drain and fluff. Once you feel the rice is cooked all the way through, drain the pot and let it sit for about 5-10 minutes to steam. Then fluff it up right before serving.

Brown Rice Cooking Tips

Because of the outer bran, brown rice typically requires more water and a longer cook time. Always check the backside of your packaging because each variety may be different. But generally, for one cup of brown rice you’ll need 1 3/4 cups of water (if using the traditional method) and cook for 40 minutes.

Because brown rice can often be undercooked or overcooked and gummy, it’s an ideal candidate for cooking as per the pasta method. Just use a spoon to take a few grains out, let them cool a bit and taste to see if the rice is done. If it’s not, just keep cooking until it is.

Should You Add Butter, Oil or Salt to the Water?

It’s completely optional and certainly not needed to make perfectly fluffy, tender rice. But it’s does give it a nice flavor, if you’re not adding additional flavors or spices. Try it out for yourself. Just add one tablespoon of butter, ghee or oil to the water next time and 1/2 teaspoon of salt for one cup of rice.

Want to know another way to add flavor? Swap out the water for chicken or vegetable broth. Or replace some of the cooking water with coconut milk to make coconut rice.

How to Cook Rice – Step-by-Step Video

Want to see exactly how I cook rice? Watch the video below as I walk you through both methods and share two tasty rice recipes!

How To Store And Freeze Rice

The best thing about making a big pot of rice is that you can portion it for meal prep or store in the freezer for later. The key to storing rice is to cool it quickly and then place it in the fridge immediately. You can cool it faster by spreading it on a plate or baking sheet. You just don’t want it sitting at room temperature for more than two hours, as that can breed bacteria.

Cooked rice can store in the fridge for up to 5 days. Note that it may get a bit dry after awhile, so splash a little water before reheating.

For freezing, store the rice in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to eat, you can thaw it in the fridge overnight or pop it right into the microwave. Make sure to stir halfway if you’re microwaving.

Turning Rice Into Easy Dinner Ideas

The options are really limitless, but here’s a few of my favorite dinner ideas:

• Coconut Curry Chicken
• Chicken Teriyaki
• Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl
• Cilantro Lime Rice topped with Carnitas
• Mexican Rice served with Shredded Chicken
• Customize your bowl. Make a side of veggies such as broccoli, bok choy or sweet potato. Then add some salmon, chicken, or other protein of your choice. To tie everything together, drizzle on some teriyaki sauce, tahini sauce or top it with a poached egg.

For a classic rice based beverage, you can’t beat horchata. And for dessert… don’t forget rice pudding!

I’m happy to partner with Lundberg Family Farms on today’s post. They’re a brand I’ve loved and used for years.