This simple and easy-to-follow step-by-step process to cook perfect rice is guaranteed to make the perfect rice every time. Let’s dive into a set-it and forget-it rice-making lesson to make a bowl of consistently perfect, fluffy and delicious rice every time.
Cooking perfect rice should be the easiest part of cooking your meal on a busy weeknight and should be stress-free and require no attention. Let’s walk through the simple 3 step process to get your perfect rice cooked.
Type of rice for the type of meal matters
According to USA rice, there are more than 120,000 varieties of rice in the world. Where the rice is categorized by various qualities such as degree of milling, kernel size, starch and flavour.
However, there are three main types of rice most commonly used today. I will break it down by the grain size.
Classifying rice by grain size
Short grain rice (Japanese short grain, glutinous rice) is sticky and will clump together well. The most common rice that comes to mind is sushi rice. It is short, round and ideal for clumping or sticking together to make sushi. Commonly used in Chinese sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaf(lo mai gai) since short grain rice absorbs flavour well.
Medium grain rice (Calrose, Risotto) is creamy and has a lower starch content compared to short grain rice.
Long grain rice (Basmati, Jasmine) is dry and distinct grains when cooked. Long grain rice has the lowest starch content and results in dry grains perfect for making fried rice. Jasmine rice is most commonly used in Thai and Chinese dishes. It has a light floral aroma and pairs well with Chinese main dishes or light Thai curries.
To wash or not wash the rice?
Yes! Washing the rice is highly recommended. It removes the starch from the rice to create fluffy and perfect rice every time.
I recommend using a rice washing bowl with a strainer like this. This prevents scratching the rice cooker’s inner cooking bowl. It also helps reduce losing those rice grains down the sink for those who are inexperienced at washing rice.
Place the rice into the rice washing bowl and use your hands to wash the rice in a circular motion. Tip the rice washer bowl down where the strainer side. Repeat 2 to 3 times.
Pour the rice into the rice cooker’s inner metal bowl and add the appropriate amount of water.
Using the right amount of water and the correct cup size to cook perfect rice
To my surprise, the cup provided when you purchase a rice cooker is not 1 cup. It’s 180ml or ¾ cup – which causes confusion if you use the rice scoop cup the measure the rice and an actual cup of water.
If you use different cup sizes the rice will turn out soft and mushy because the water and rice ratio will not be 1:1. it is important to use the correct water ratio to get the rice consistency in the rice. For different varieties of rice read the cooking instructions for the correct amount of water.
I use the same cup that I use to measure the rice. This ensures the rice is cooked perfectly.
The importance of a rice cooker to make perfect rice
An electric rice cooker is an essential appliance in every Asian household. Cooking perfect and fluffy rice is a right of passage in my household. Every person in the household at the bare minimum should be able to cook the perfect rice with a rice cooker.
When I was younger and growing up in a low-income family we used the basic Tiger brand rice cooker that had one function and only one button to start the rice cooker and had the warmer function. It cooked jasmine rice quickly and was a workhorse. Lasted for 20 years.
Now that there are many more advanced technology rice cookers out on the market we upgraded to the Zojirushi 5.5 cup induction heating system rice cooker. It makes perfect rice each and every time and has different cooking functions for the various types of rice.
The inner metal bowl has different water lines for the different types of rice to help make the perfect rice. This is a great feature of the new rice cookers if you do not like to use the cup that the rice cooker comes with to measure the correct amount of water.
The inner metal bowl has water lines for jasmine, sweet, brown, sushi and porridge rice cooking. If time is limited or you are lazy feel free to use the water lines instead. However, I can not promise you the rice will be cooked perfectly.
How much does dry rice yield once cooked?
In my household, we have 2 adults and 2 young children who eat rice. For dinner, I will cook 1.5 rice cups (180ml or 3/4 cups) of white jasmine rice. I do eat less than my husband so for myself I would consider 1/3 cup of uncooked rice enough. On average 1 serving of rice would be equivalent to 1/3 uncooked rice.
See below for a chart to help you figure out how much rice you need to cook if you are cooking for a big party.
| Number of adults | Rice cooker cup (180ml or 3/4 cup) |
| 3 | 1 cup |
| 4 | 1 1/3 cup |
| 5 | 1 2/3 cup |
| 6 | 2 cup |
Frequently Asked Questions
How to store extra rice?
Making extra rice is actually pretty standard in our household. Why?? Well, it is the easiest way to have rice ready for fried rice for the next day. Try this Thai Pineapple Fried Rice recipe with cold overnight rice. Take the rice and cover it in an airtight container and keep it refrigerated for up to 3 days.
How long does uncooked rice last?
Growing up my family would purchase rice on sale and would have upwards of 5 bags in the basement. We went through a lot of rice! Rice can be kept for unto a year under dry and cool conditions.
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How to cook perfect rice in a rice cooker
Equipment
- 1 Rice cooker
- 1 Rice washer strainer
Materials
- 1 cup Jasmine rice rice cooker cup = 3/4 cup or 180ml
- 1 cup water rice cooker cup = 3/4 cup or 180ml
Instructions
- Pour the rice into the rice washer strainer and run it under cold water. Using your hand wash the rice in a circular motion. Pour the white cloudy water out on the strainer side. Repeat this step 2 to 3 times or until the water is no longer white and murky.
- Add the clean rice and water into the rice cooker’s inner bowl. Return the metal inner bowl to the rice cooker. Cook the rice on quick or normal mode.
- The rice cooker will go off after the cooking process is completed. Let it sit for 5 minutes with the lid close. Using the paddle or wooden or plastic chopsticks fluffy the rice and serve in a bowl.
