How To Cook Rice Perfectly Every Time.

  • 63 comments
  • March 9, 2012
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How to cook long grain white rice to achieve a perfectly tender and fluffy texture every time. This is a simple but reliable method.

Cooked rice is supposed to be fluffy, light and each grain distinct. It’s such a simple task, yet why does it so often turn out mushy and over or undercooked? There are a few small secrets that will help make perfect rice a possibility every time. I learned this method from Alton Brown and since then don’t cook rice any other way.

What Rice Is Best To Use For This Recipe?

My favorite rice to use when I cook long grain white rice is either basmati or jasmine rice. You can use this method to make endless flavor variations of rice, by adding aromatics, vegetables, herbs, different broths, etc. This method is simple, fool proof and perfect. You don’t need a rice cooker anymore, my friend.

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon salt

2 cups long grain white rice

3 cups boiling water

Instructions:

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan. Add the rice and salt and stir for about 2-4 minutes, until all the rice is coated in the butter and smells toasted. Pour in the boiling water, having the lid nearby to cover right away since it will boil vigorously right away. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 8-12 minutes. (It really depends on your stove and the saucepan that your are using.) Turn off the heat and let the rice rest, covered, for another 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and serve. You can add more butter to the rice, if you’d like. 

Coating the rice in butter will help each grain of rice be distinct and fluffy. Toasting it also gives it great flavor. You can add some onions, garlic and white wine to the butter and cook it until the onions are tender before adding the rice to make it more flavorful.

Adding Other Ingredients To Make Many Variations of Rice Pilaf

You can also many flavors and aromatics to rice pilaf. Most commonly, I add a chopped onion, a few minced garlic cloves and a splash of white wine at the very beginning.

After the onion softens, 5-7 minutes later, add the rice and proceed with the rest of the recipe. You can also add carrots, peas, bell pepper, etc. It’s so simple but really delicious.

I also make Cilantro Lime Rice by adding fresh chopped cilantro and lime juice to the rice. The possibilities are endless. Rice Pilaf With Carrots, Onions and Garlic (334x500)

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How To Cook Rice Perfectly Every Time

★★★★★

5 from 3 reviews

A method to cooking long grain white rice to achieve a perfectly tender and fluffy texture.

  • Author: Olga's Flavor Factory
  • Prep Time: 2 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 17 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups long grain white rice
  • 3 cups boiling water

Instructions

  1. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan.
  2. Add the rice and salt and stir for about 2-4 minutes, until all the rice is coated in the butter and smells toasted.
  3. Pour in the boiling water, having the lid nearby to cover right away since it will boil vigorously right away.
  4. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 8-12 minutes. (It really depends on your stove and the saucepan that your are using.)
  5. Turn off the heat and let the rice rest, covered, for another 5 minutes.
  6. Fluff with a fork and serve. You can add more butter, if you’d like.

Notes

Coating the rice in butter will help each grain of rice be distinct and fluffy. Toasting it also gives it great flavor.
You can add some onions, garlic and white wine to the butter and cook it until the onions are tender before adding the rice to make it more flavorful.

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Want to learn how to cook Brown Rice perfectly too? I’ve got you covered. BROWN RICE RECIPE

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