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    Home » Recipes » Rice

    Published: Mar 28, 2023 by Kelly Bloom · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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    Fluffy Steamed White Rice

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    blue and white porcelain bowl full of steamed white rice.

    This foolproof steamed white rice recipe will solve the sticky, soggy rice problems you may be having. There's a little secret to getting fluffy steamed white rice, and it's not on the box or bag of rice!

    blue and white porcelain bowl full of steamed white rice.

    Why You Will Love This Recipe

    If you're like me, consistently getting fluffy steamed white rice has been a struggle.

    You will love this simple approach to making steamed white rice on your stovetop. This method is foolproof, resulting in fluffy, tender long grain white rice every time.

    Jump to:
    • Why You Will Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients For Steamed White Rice
    • How to Make Fluffy Steamed White Rice
    • How Can I Jazz Up White Rice?
    • Steamed White Rice Serving Suggestions
    • Variations
    • Equipment
    • Storage
    • Tips for Success
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Food Safety
    • Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love
    • Connect with Smells Like Delish!
    • 📖 Recipe

    Ingredients For Steamed White Rice

    There are several varieties of white rice available, and these instructions are for the long grain type of white rice. You can use regular long grain white rice, long grain basmati rice, and even long grain jasmine rice. The cooking time will be the same for all off these long grain varieties.

    dry grain in a bowl with a wooden spoon.
    • Long grain rice - uncooked. You can use Mahatma, store brand, or even Jasmine or Basmati long grain white rice.
    • Water
    • Sea salt

    Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

    How to Make Fluffy Steamed White Rice

    The secret to making fluffy, perfectly steamed white rice is using less water. Yes, by not following the rice package instructions, you will get a much better steamed rice.

    Measure And Rinse The Rice

    1. Measure your rice and put it in a sieve.
    2. Next, rinse the rice under cool or cold water for about 30 seconds. Long grain rice does not have much of a starchy coating, so 30 seconds is usually enough. Shake to drain excess water.
    colander with drain for rinsing.

    Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

    Bring To a Boil - Then Cover

    PRO TIP: The instructions on most bags of rice call for 2 cups of water for every 1 cup of rice. You are going to reduce the water by ⅛th. That would be 1 ¾ cup of water for each 1 cup of rice.

    1. Add the water and the salt and the rinsed rice.
    2. Bring saucepan with rice and water to a quick boil for 1 minute. Cover with a lid.
    3. Reduce heat and cook on low for 10 minutes.
    sauce pan with water and grain it it.

    Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

    Fluff The Steamed Rice & Serve

    1. After 10 minutes, remove from the heat and set aside COVERED for an additional 10 minutes. Don't remove the cover during this unheated 10 minutes.
    2. After the 10 minutes have passed, remove the cover lid and fluff your perfect foolproof steamed rice with a fork.
    3. Serve steamed white rice with your favorite main dish that is best suited for fluffy white rice.
    saucepan with fluffed rice.

    Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

    How Can I Jazz Up White Rice?

    Looking for more than just white steamed rice? Here are some fabulous variations!

    • Broth - For a dramatic difference, infuse your rice with flavored cooking water or use broth.
    • Cheese - Adding grated cheese to the final 10 minutes of cook time will give you a creamy rice.
    • Vegetables - A dry vegetable soup mix is a delicious option to make a rice pilaf.
    • Herbs and Seasonings - Everything from Annatto, Saffron, Cilantro, and Chil powder make flavorful additions to your steamed white rice.
    • Fried - Yes, make fried rice from your cooled, steamed white rice!

    Steamed White Rice Serving Suggestions

    Serve hot steamed white rice immediately with your meal. It's a perfect side dish to our Bourbon Chicken Skillet, Panda Express String Bean Chicken, or Chicken Mozambique also!

    blue and white porcelain bowl full of steamed white rice.

    Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

    Variations

    Here are a few scrumptious variations using this recipe as a base:

    • Ghanaian Jollof Rice - Ghanaian Jollof rice is a mixture of tomatoes and vegetable all cooked up with white rice. Our recipe is easy to make also.
    • Cilantro Lime Rice - Cilantro Lime rice is a flavor treat. See our Instant Pot Cilantro Lime rice for a great version of it.
    • Longhorns Rice Pilaf - The popular Longhorn Steakhouse Rice Pilaf recipe!
    • Chimichurri Rice - Argentinian rice with tons of flavor that's super each to fix

    Equipment

    Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. Below are some of my favorite pieces of equipment that I use when making this recipe for steamed white rice.

    • 2 or 3 quart Saucepan
    • Colander

    Storage

    Cover and store leftover steamed white rice in the refrigerator for up to four days. To reheat, place in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Microwave for 1 minute, then stir. Continue to microwave in 1 minute increments until heated through.

    Tips for Success

    • Choose a pot with a tight fitting lid.
    • If your pot lid has a vent hole, cover with foil.
    • If you like your rice buttered, add the butter when fluffing with a fork.
    • Ignore the rice to water ratio on the rice package. Use 1 ¾ cups of water for each 1 cup of dry, uncooked long grain rice.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I double or triple this steamed white rice recipe?

    Yes, just make sure you are using a pot large enough to accommodate the expanding rice.

    Can I add spices and herbs?

    Yes, this Steamed White Rice recipe is a basic recipe for many rice pilafs, or seasoned rice dishes. Add your spices, seasonings, and herbs to the water with the rinsed rice.

    Can I freeze steamed rice?

    Yes, store it in the portion size you will want to use it. Freeze, and then defrost. Microwave and serve as a side, or add to soups.

    What kind of rice makes the fluffiest cooked rice?

    Long grain rice makes the fluffiest rice. Long grain" is just a generic classification for rice whose milled grains are at least three times as long as they are wide. Common varieties are usually simply labeled "long grain," but you might know them as basmati, Carolina, jasmine or Texmati.

    What are USA rice brands?

    They are: American Rice, Doguet's Rice, Falcon Rice Mill, Farmers Rice Milling, Hoppe Farms, Louisiana Mill, Lowell Farms, Mars Food, Producers Rice Mill, Rice Tec, Riceland Foods, Riviana Foods, Sem Chi Rice Products, Specialty Rice, and Sunwest Foods.

    Food Safety

    • Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
    • Wash hands after touching raw meat
    • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
    • Never leave cooking food unattended
    • Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
    • Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

    See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

    Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love

    • Serving dish of air fryer orange chicken and white rice with potstickers in the background.
      Air Fryer Orange Chicken
    • platter full of pot stickers with soy sauce dip in the middle and chop sticks nearby.
      Air Fryer Frozen Potstickers
    • fluffy rice on a wooden spoon over a rice cooker full of cooked rice.
      Aroma Rice Cooker Instructions
    • serving bowl of panda express string bean chicken with blue teapot nearby.
      Panda Express String Bean Chicken

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    📖 Recipe

    blue and white porcelain bowl full of steamed white rice.
    Print Recipe SaveSaved!
    5 from 3 votes

    Fluffy Steamed White Rice

    This foolproof steamed white rice recipe will solve the sticky, soggy rice problems you may be having. There's a little secret to getting fluffy steamed white rice, and it's not on the box or bag of rice!
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time22 mins
    Total Time27 mins
    Course: Side Dishes
    Cuisine: Asian
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 169kcal
    Author: Kelly Bloom

    Equipment

    • Cuisinart Contour Stainless 2-Quart Pour Saucepan with Cover,Silver
    • Colander

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup long grain rice Basmati, Jasmine, regular long grain, or brown long grain
    • 1 ¾ cup water
    • ½ to 1 teaspoon salt
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Rinse the rice under cool or cold water for about 30 seconds. Long grain rice does not have much of a starchy coating, so 30 seconds is usually enough.
      1 cup long grain rice
    • Add the water into a 2 quart sauce pan.
      PRO TIP: The secret to making fluffy, perfectly steamed white rice is using less water than the package states.
      1 ¾ cup water
    • Add the salt and the rinsed rice to the water in the saucepan.
      ½ to 1 teaspoon salt
    • Bring to a quick boil for 1 minute.
    • Cover with a lid. Reduce heat and cook on low for 10 minutes.
    • Remove from the heat and set COVERED for an additional 10 minutes. Don't remove the cover during this unheated 10 minutes.
    • Last, remove the cover lid and fluff your perfect fool proof steamed rice with a fork.
    • Serve with your favorite main dish that is best suited for fluffy steamed white rice.

    Notes

    • Choose a pot with a tight fitting lid.
    • The instructions on most bags of rice call for 2 cups of water for every 1 cup of rice. You are going to reduce the water by ⅛th. That would be 1 ¾ cup of water for each 1 cup of rice.
    • If your pot lid has a vent hole, cover with foil.
    • If you like your rice buttered, add the butter when fluffing with a fork.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 169kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 0.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 298mg | Potassium: 53mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.1g | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 0.4mg
    Keyword : fool proof steamed rice, steamed basmati rice, steamed jasmine rice, steamed white rice

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    Author photo for Kelly Bloom

    Hi, I'm Kelly! and I have a love affair with herbs & spices! Here at Smells Like Delish, I'm all about creating food that has three aspects: flavor, aroma, and texture - to create satisfying fare!

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