How to Cook Rice

Cooking rice with parboiled rice[1] is not difficult; It’s basically the same as cooking regular rice. Bring 2 parts water and a pinch of salt to a boil, add 1 part rice, cover the pot and reduce the heat to low. Some types of rice require a 45-minute simmer, but American parboiled rice is ready-to-cook and only needs to cook for 20-25 minutes. ^{[1] X Research Source} You can also cook rice in the microwave or use a rice cooker. Although parboiled rice is a specific type of rice, the name also refers to partially cooked white or brown rice. If you want plain rice, cook it until it’s al dente , which means it’s still a bit lumpy, and then make it into soup, pilaf or risotto.

Table of Contents

Ingredient

1 cup (240 ml) parboiled rice or converted rice
2 cups (480 ml) water
1 pinch salt (optional)

Prepare 4 servings

Cooking rice on the stove

Soak rice for 30 minutes to reduce cooking time and preserve flavor. If you like, you can use warm water to soak the rice under 2.5 – 5 cm of water. Soak the rice for 20-30 minutes, then pour the rice through a sieve to drain all the water. ^{[2] X Research Source}

You don’t necessarily need to soak the rice, but this step will reduce the cooking time by up to 20%. The rice will be more flavorful if it is cooked for a shorter time.

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Boil 2 parts water with a pinch of salt. Use a ratio of 2 parts water to 1 part rice. For example, if you wanted to cook 1 cup (240 ml) of rice, you would use 2 cups (480 ml) of water. Pour water into a medium saucepan, add a pinch of salt, then bring the water to a boil over medium heat. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

To prepare 4 servings, you will use 1 cup (240 ml) of rice and 2 cups (480 ml) of water. Divide the ingredients by half if you want to cook 2 servings, or double for 8 servings. Just use the correct ratio of 2 parts water and 1 part rice.

Put 1 part of parboiled rice in the pot. Pour the rice into the pot when the water is just boiling. Stir to spread the rice evenly. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

If the rice has been soaked before, be sure to pass the rice through a sieve before adding it to the boiling water. Slowly pour the soaked rice into the pot to prevent the water from splashing. Soaked rice grains have soaked in water, so they will be heavier than dry rice.

Cover and cook American parboiled rice for 15-20 minutes. Stir the rice once, turn the heat down to medium low, and cover the pot. Un-soaked rice needs to cook for about 20-30 minutes. If using soaked rice, you only need to cook for 15-20 minutes. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

American parboiled rice is pre-cooked, so the cooking time will be shorter.

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Cook south Indian parboiled rice for up to 45 minutes. Stir in the rice, turn the heat to low and cover the pot. Unlike cooked American parboiled rice, other types of parboiled rice take longer to cook than regular white rice. ^{[6] X Source of Research} These types of rice require about 45 minutes of cooking time. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

If using soaked rice, check it after 35 minutes of cooking.
Read the instructions on the product packaging if you’re not sure what type of rice you’re using.

Turn off the stove and use chopsticks to stir the rice. When the rice is cooked, turn off the heat and let it sit for 5 minutes. Open the pot lid, lightly stir the rice with chopsticks and serve immediately. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Cook rice in the microwave

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Place the water, parboiled rice, and salt in a microwave-safe container. Use 2 parts water, 1 part rice and add a pinch of salt. Stir all ingredients in the container. You need to cover while cooking rice, so choose a container with a lid. ^{[9] X Research Source}

The rice will expand as it cooks, so be sure to only fill the container with rice and water.
Use 1 cup (240 ml) of rice and 2 cups (480 ml) of water to cook 4 servings. Remember the ratio of 2 parts water to 1 part rice if you need to cook less or more than 4 servings.
You don’t have to soak the rice first, but if you want, you can soak the rice in warm water for 15 minutes to reduce cooking time.

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Heat the rice in an uncovered container in the microwave for 5 minutes. Set the power to high when cooking for the first 5 minutes. If the water has not boiled after 5 minutes, cook for another 2-5 minutes on high power. ^{[10] X Research Source}

You will close the lid at a later stage, but for now just open the lid.

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Cover and cook for 15 minutes on medium power. Once the water comes to a boil, close the lid and microwave on medium power. Cook for 15 minutes, then check to see if the rice is cooked.

American parboiled rice will cook in 15 minutes. If you are cooking Indian parboiled rice, the cooking time will be at least 5-10 minutes longer.

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Cook in the microwave for an additional 5 minutes, if needed. After 15 minutes, check to see if the rice has fully bloomed and test its texture. If the rice is not cooked, you need to cook for another 5 minutes on medium power.

Cook and check every 5 minutes until rice is cooked through.
If the rice grains are soft but there is still water in the bowl, drain the excess water.

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Toss the rice and serve. Use chopsticks to stir when the rice is cooked and serve. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Cook with rice cooker

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Read the user manual of the rice cooker. Most rice cookers have the same basic instructions for use. However, each product is a little different, so you should carefully read the instructions for the ratio of water to rice, cooking time, and other details. ^{[12] X Research Source}

Read the instructions to see if the manufacturer recommends pre-soaking the rice and whether the cooking setting needs to be adjusted for the soaked rice. Some manufacturers recommend soaking brown rice first. If they recommend soaking brown rice, you can also soak Indian parboiled rice according to the instructions.

White rice and brown rice dishes

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Boil 2 parts water and a pinch of salt . Use a ratio of 2 parts water and 1 part rice. Bring water and a pinch of salt to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. ^{[17] X Research Source}

With 4 servings, you will cook 1 cup (240 ml) of rice with 2 cups (480 ml) of water. Adjust the amount of rice and water if you need to cook more or less rice, remembering to use a ratio of 2 parts water to 1 part rice.

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Add regular white rice or brown rice to the pot when the water starts to boil. Stir the rice while adding it to the pot to spread evenly, then reduce the heat to medium low and cover the pot. ^{[18] X Research Sources}

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Cook white rice for 5-10 minutes. If the recipe uses white rice, reduce the heat and simmer until the rice has reached al dente , which means it’s still a bit lumpy. ^{[19] X Research Source}

White rice is a common technique in many cuisines, including Nigerian and Middle Eastern cuisine.

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Brown rice 20 minutes. If you use brown rice, it will reach al dente in 20 minutes. This technique is useful when you want to cook brown rice in soups or want to substitute for white rice. For example, if you want to make risotto with brown rice instead of Arborio rice, you’ll have to cook the rice first. ^{[20] X Research Source}

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Remove the rice cooker from the stove and drain the water. Remove the pot from the heat when the rice is cooked to al dente, meaning that the rice has not fully bloomed. Pour the rice into a sieve to drain the water. Leave the rice in the sieve after draining the water. ^{[21] X Research Source}

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Pour cold water over the rice to stop the cooking process. After draining the cooking water, dip the rice sieve into the bowl of ice water. This step will prevent the rice from becoming mushy after finishing the soup or stew. ^{[22] X Research Source}

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Incorporate rice into recipes. Add rice to recipes according to recipes or to dishes 15 minutes before finishing. For example, if your soup requires about 25 minutes of simmering, you would cook the soup for 10 minutes, add the rice, then cook it all together for another 15 minutes. ^{[23] X Research Sources}

Advice

You can store uneaten rice in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months. ^{[24] X Research Source}

Things you need

Cook rice on the stove

Pot
Rice for sale at the store
Water
Salt
Big spoon
Chopsticks

Cook rice in the microwave

Containers that can be used in the microwave
Rice for sale at the store
Water
Salt
Big spoon
Chopsticks

Cook rice in a rice cooker

Electric cooker
Rice for sale at the store
Water
Salt
Big spoon
Chopsticks

White rice and brown rice

Pot
White rice or brown rice
Water
Salt
Big spoon
Sieve
Mixing bowl (for dipping ice)

Ingredient

Steps

Cooking rice on the stove

Cook rice in the microwave

Cook with rice cooker

White rice and brown rice dishes

Advice

Things you need

Cook rice on the stove

Cook rice in the microwave

Cook rice in a rice cooker

White rice and brown rice

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