Perfect White Rice

1. Boil water:

   Bring 1 1/2 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan.

2. Add rice and salt:

   Stir in the rice and salt and return to a boil over medium-high heat.

3. Cook rice:

   Reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and cook until rice is tender and has absorbed all the liquid, 16 to 18 minutes (check only toward the end of cooking time). The rice should be studded with craters, or steam holes, when it is ready.

4. Let rice sit, then fluff:

   Remove from heat and let steam, covered, for 10 minutes. Then fluff with a fork and serve.

   Don't rush cooking rice; it needs 10 minutes off the heat, covered, to allow the last bit of steam and water to fully absorb into the kernels so they are extra fluffy.

The Best Way to Reheat Rice

Rice needs to be handled carefully as it can contain a bacteria, Bacillus cereus, that may cause foodborne illness. If rice is reheated to the correct temperature and not left at room temperature for too long, though, the bacteria is not an issue. Reheated rice should reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit as measured by a food thermometer.

Reheating Rice on the Stovetop

Our go-to technique for reheating rice is in a pan on the stovetop. It takes longer than microwaving but produces better rice.

1. Remove rice from the refrigerator, transfer to a suitably sized pan, and let come to room temperature for 10 minutes.
2. Add a couple of tablespoons of water per cup of rice and place pan over low heat.
3. Cover an cook for 5 minutes. (You may need to cook a large amount of rice for longer.) Turn off heat and let sit to finish steaming, as you would when cooking rice initially.

Reheating Rice in the Microwave

For a smaller amount of rice, such as a single serving, reheat rice in the microwave. 

1. Place the rice in shallow bowl, cover it with a damp paper towel.
2. Microwave on high for a short time; try 30 seconds and repeat if needed.

Storing Cooked Rice or Leftover Rice;

As part of meal prep, many home cooks make a big batch of rice to use for meals throughout the week. If you’re cooking rice ahead or have some leftover after dinner, let it cool before transferring to an airtight container and storing in the refrigerator. It will keep for three to four days.

Freezing Leftover Rice

Leftover rice can also be frozen. We recommend freezing leftover rice flat in freezer-safe bags that have all the air squeezed out. Divide rice into smaller portions rather than freezing a big batch of rice, so you can pull out one or two servings if that’s what you need. Frozen cooked rice will keep for one to two months.

8 Ways to Use Leftover Rice

We think of leftover rice as the culinary equivalent of money in the bank, there are so many ways you can use it:

• Fried rice
• Add a handful to a bowl of soup to make it more hearty—this works with just about any type of soup that doesn’t already have noodles or other grains
• Use in a rice bowl
• Chicken and rice casserole 
• Stuffed cabbage 
• Vegetarian stuffed peppers 
• Turn it into breakfast porridge
• Make Banana Rice Pudding Treats 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ratio of white rice to water?

Many recipes call for using twice the amount of water to rice, so 1 cup of rice and 2 cups of water. One of the secrets of our perfect white rice recipe is that we use less water to rice, our go-to ratio is 1 cup of white rice to 1 1/2 cups water.

What is a good seasoning to add to rice? 

We’re fans of good quality white rice simply seasoned with salt, but there are many other seasonings you can add to plain rice to ring the changes: 

• Butter
• Butter and chopped fresh herbs such as parsley
• Chopped green onions or chives
• Lime juice and chopped fresh cilantro
• Grated cheese such as parmesan or Pecorino Romano or cheddar
• Tamari or soy sauce

Try These Favorite Dinner Recipes That Are Served with Rice

• Slow-Cooker Cilantro-Chutney Chicken
• Picadillo-Style Chili
• Leek-and-Asparagus Crispy Rice
• Stir-Fried Sweet-and-Sour Shrimp
  
• Pork Chops With Pineapple and Rice