Ask ten different people “how long does it take to cook rice?”, and you will probably get ten different answers.
With so many different varieties of rice–and so many different ways to cook them–it can be next to impossible to pin down the cooking duration to a definitive figure.
Nevertheless, there are some generally proven estimates as to how long specific types of rice–and rice dishes–will have to be cooked.
White rice can take as little as 15 to 20 minutes to cook on a stovetop, although 30 to 45 minutes is more typical. Different types of rice will require different cooking times as well. Jasmine rice–typically one of the quickest varieties to cook–can cook in as little as 13 minutes from when the water starts to boil. Short grain rice will usually take about 20 minutes, with short grain brown rice taking about twice as much time.
Keep in mind that all the varieties of rice mentioned will continue to cook in the steam ten minutes after you take it off the heat. So remember to count this in when planning your next rice meal.
The Cooking Science Behind Cooking Rice
Rice is actually quite simple to cook, although there are some important things to keep in mind. As easy as it is to prepare, it is also quite easy to make a mess out of it if you ignore the fundamentals.
A quick note on cooking rice: an automatic rice cooker can simplify and speed up the process greatly. With such devices, all you have to do is pour in the rice, add the appropriate amount of water, and press the switch. The cooker does all the work for you, and your rice should be done in about 15 to 20 minutes.
Of course, not everyone has access to a rice cooker at home. And unless you plan to eat rice several times a week, you might not be inclined to purchase a rice cooker (they are fairly inexpensive though, just so you know.)
In any case, it is almost as easy to make rice in a pot or a pan over a stovetop. With enough practice, the results could be just as good as if you had used an automatic rice cooker. In fact, you might even get better results due to the greater control you have over the cooking process.
A good rule of thumb is to use two times the amount of water as the rice. If you are cooking a cup of rice for example, you could generally get the best results by using two cups of water.
It is also generally advisable to bring the rice to a boil and then reduce the heat and simmer it covered for ten minutes. You don’t want to cook the rice at too high a heat setting, as this will result in rice grains that are cooked on the outside but undercooked on the inside.
Most experts agree that you should stir the rice only once. Stirring it repeatedly after it has begun cooking in earnest will result in sticky and gummy rice that clumps together.
Finally, keep in mind that rice will continue to cook in the steam even after you take it off the heat. This means that you could generally cook the rice until it is just done, then leave the pot covered for ten minutes or so as the rice continues to cook. At the end of that period, your rice will be cooked perfectly.
Below we go into the details on how to cook rice of various types.
How to Cook Long Grain Rice
Preparation time: 15 to 20 minutes
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If you are new to cooking rice, long grain is pretty much the easiest and simplest variety to get started with. With this recipe, there is practically no way that you can mess up, even if you’ve never attempted cooking rice before!
Ingredients
- 200 grams long grain rice
Directions
Fill up a large saucepan with water and bring to the boil. Add in a teaspoon of salt and maintain boiling. Add in the rice and stir just once. Get it up to a boil again and reduce the heat so that the water is just slightly boiling.
Keep the lid off and boil for about ten minutes without stirring. Test the rice for doneness by biting on a single rice grain. The rice should be tender, but still have some firmness without being crunchy.
Using a large colander or sieve, drain the rice and pour plenty of hot water over it. Drain the rice thoroughly and then transfer it to a serving dish.
How to Cook Basmati Rice
Preparation time: 10 minutes plus 30 minutes for pre-soaking rice
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Basmati is a particular type of long grain rice that has a distinctively nutty flavor and a fragrant aroma. More similar to Jasmine than white rice, it is used in a lot of rice recipes. Knowing how to cook it properly will definitely come in handy.
Ingredients
- 4 cups basmati rice
- 1 tablespoon butter or ½ tablespoon oil (optional)
Directions
Soak the rice in cold water for half an hour. Drain the rice and place it in a saucepan. You may add butter or oil if you wish.
Take note of the level of the rice and add an equal measurement of water. If the rice comes up to an inch off the bottom of the pan for example, add enough water so that it is an inch above the surface of the rice grains.
Bring the pot to a boil. Stir just once to make sure the rice is distributed evenly.
Cover the pot and reduce the heat to the minimum setting. Cook for ten minutes while covered.
Turn the heat off when the rice has achieved optimal softness. Fluff it with a fork and serve immediately.
If there is residual water left after the rice is done, you may cover the top of the pot with a towel for ten minutes. This will absorb the excess moisture.
How to Cook Chicken and Chorizo Jambalaya
Preparation time: 30 to 40 minutes
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Dress up your rice with Spanish sausage and a host of fresh ingredients in this tantalizing Cajun-inspired recipe! Perfect for those times when you need a bit of spice in your rice!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 chopped chicken breasts
- 1 diced onion
- 1 sliced red pepper
- 2 crushed cloves of garlic
- 75 grams of sliced Spanish sausage (chorizo)
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- 250 grams long grain rice
- 400 grams plum tomatoes
- 350 milliliters chicken stock
Directions
Take a frying pan with a lid and heat the olive oil in it. Brown the chicken for five to eight minutes.
Take the chicken out of the pan. Cook the onion for a few minutes over medium-low heat in the same pan.
Add the red pepper, the garlic, the chorizo, and the Cajun seasoning. Mix everything together and cook for a few more minutes.
Place the chicken back in the pan along with the rice, the tomatoes, and the chicken stock. Cover the pan and simmer until the rice is soft. This should take about 20 minutes.
How to Cook Chicken Biryani
Preparation time: 30 minutes
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This fabulous rice recipe is surprisingly easy to prepare and can be cooked all in a single pot. It tastes even better the longer it lasts, so you will definitely be looking forward to heating up the leftovers!
Ingredients
- 300 grams basmati rice
- 25 grams butter
- 1 sliced onion
- 1 bay leaf
- 3 pods of cardamom
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 4 chicken breasts, skinned and cut into chunks
- 4 tablespoon curry paste
- 85 grams raisins
- 850 milliliters chicken stock
- 30 grams coriander
- 2 tablespoons toasted almond slivers
Directions
Soak the rice in warm water, then rinse in cold water until clear.
Heat the butter in a saucepan and sauté the onion for ten minutes along with the bay leaf, the cardamom pods, and the cinnamon stick.
Add in the turmeric then place the chicken into the pot along with the curry paste. Cook until it all blends together.
Add the rice and the raisins before pouring in the chicken stock.
Cover the pan and bring the contents to a boil. Reduce the heat and cook for five minutes.
Turn off the heat and set aside for ten minutes.
Uncover the pan and stir the ingredients, adding in the coriander. Serve with more coriander leaves and the almond slivers.
How to Cook Spicy Indian Rice
Preparation time: 40 minutes
Another long grain rice recipe, this is also a spice-infused dish that tastes even better the longer it is stored. Perfect with your favorite curry recipe!
Ingredients
- 2 sliced onions
- 2 tablespoons sunflower oil
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 6 pods cardamom
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- Sultanas
- Roasted cashews
Directions
In a large pan, sauté the onions in the sunflower oil for about ten to 12 minutes.
Take a large saucepan and fill it up with water. Bring the pot to a boil and add in some salt.
Add the turmeric and the cinnamon stick to the boiling water.
Pour the rice into the pot and stir just once before bringing it back up to a boil. Reduce the heat so that the water is boiling just slightly.
Keep the pot uncovered and continue boiling for ten more minutes. Check the rice for doneness by nibbling on a grain. You’ll know it’s ready when it is soft but still has some firmness to it.
Drain the rice in a sieve and then pour hot water over it.
Put the onions back on the heat. Add in the cardamom pods and the cumin seeds, and cook for a few minutes.
Add the sultanas and the cashews into the pan and then add the rice. Serve while hot.