Best Stovetop White Rice Recipes

HOW TO COOK PERFECT RICE ON THE STOVE

Steps:

• Bring the water to boil in a medium saucepan. Add the salt and butter and allow the butter to melt.
• When the water has returned to a boil, stir in the rice. Let the water return to a light simmer. Stir again, cover the pot and turn the heat down to low. Keep the rice simmering slightly, and keep the pot covered (you may have to peek after a few minutes to make sure the heat is at the correct temperature, but then let it cook, covered). Start checking to see if the rice is tender and all of the liquid is absorbed at about 17 minutes. It may take up to 25, especially if you are making a larger quantity of rice.
• When the rice is cooked, turn off the heat and let it sit for another couple of minutes to finish absorbing any liquid. Take off the lid, fluff the rice with a fork and let it sit for another 2 minutes or so, so that some of the excess moisture in the rice dries off.

PERFECT WHITE RICE

Steps:

• Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add rice and stir to coat. Cook until rice grains begin to turn opaque, 1 to 2 minutes; do not brown. Add water and salt.
• Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low. Cover and let simmer for 15 minutes. Do not lift the lid.
• Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.

BASIC STOVETOP RICE

Steps:

• Pour rice into a bowl, and fill it with cold water. Swirl the grains, using your fingers. Tip out any starchy water, and repeat until water runs almost clear.
• Combine rice and water in a pot: For most long-grain and medium-grain rice, pair 1 cup rice and 1 1/3 cups water. For short-grain rice, use 1 cup rice and 1 cup water. For most brown rice, combine 1 cup rice and 1 3/4 cups water. The rice and water should not come more than halfway up the sides of your pot; the mixture will double in volume as it cooks.
• Bring water to a hard boil over medium-high heat. The water's entire surface should break with big, constant bubbles. As soon as water is boiling, give it a vigorous stir with a spatula or wooden spoon, making sure to scrape at any grains at the bottom of the pot. Cover it with a lid and turn the heat to low.
• Cook long-grain and medium-grain rice for 15 minutes; short-grain varieties for 20 minutes; and brown rice for 30 minutes.
• When allotted time has passed, or when you hear a change in sound - if you listen closely, you'll notice the sounds will slowly change from a bubbly simmer to a steamy sort of flutter - turn off heat and let rice rest for about 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

CLASSIC STOVE-TOP METHOD FOR PERFECT WHITE RICE

Steps:

• Bring water, butter, and salt to a boil in medium saucepan. Stir in rice and return to a boil over medium-high heat. 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 end of cooking time). The rice should be studded with craters, or steam holes, when it is ready. Remove from heat and let steam, covered, for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork and serve.

STOVETOP WHITE RICE

Steps:

• Rinse rice: Pour rice into a medium mixing bowl and cover with 3 inches of lukewarm water. Swirl water and rice with your hands to release starch, about 30 seconds; water will appear cloudy. Use a fine-mesh strainer to drain the rice; shake strainer to remove extra liquid. Transfer rinsed rice into a pot and add 1⅓ C of lukewarm water, along with a small pinch of salt and sugar.
• Cook rice: Over medium-high heat, bring rice to a low simmer, about 3 minutes. When bubbles appear around the edges of the pot, reduce heat to lowest setting on your burner. Cover the pot and simmer, 20-25 minutes. Remove from heat and let the covered pot rest for 2 minutes; then gently fluff with a wooden spoon before serving. (Note: You can double this recipe, but make sure to use a bigger pot.)

PERFECT LONG-GRAIN WHITE RICE

Steps:

• Combine the rice, salt and 1 1/2 cups water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until all liquid is absorbed, about 18 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit, covered, for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.

PERFECT WHITE RICE

Steps:

• Bring 1 1/2 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Stir in rice and salt and return to a boil over medium-high heat.
• 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.
• Remove from heat and let steam, covered, for 10 minutes. Then fluff with a fork and serve.