7 Different Ways to Cook Plain White Rice

No more guessing, no more undercooked rice, no more soggy rice. Regardless of your cookware, all methods are easy and guaranteed good results, just follow all the easy instructions below.

Cooking the perfect white rice is quite easy and there are many methods to achieve it. The most popular one during the old days was cooking it from a stove top or even wood burning stove but nowadays with the use of rice cooker it has never been easier. All Asians do it this way so why reinvent it? we as Asians cook rice perfectly every time and there is no reason for you not to. If you don’t have a rice cooker and do not have the intention on buying one then this article is for you as we will share 87 Different Ways to Cook Plain White Rice which includes the Rice Cooker method.

Rice Cooker Method

The easiest one, just buy a rice cooker, it is also cheap, the good one that works start at US$20.00.
To make rice using this method

1. Measure your rice using the cup provided then place it in the pot provided.
2. Rinse rice in running water to remove excess starch.
3. Drain rice fully.
4. For every cup of rice, add a 1 cup of water.
5. Place pot into rice cooker.
6. Press cook and wait.
7. Fluff before serving.

Microwave Method

The second easiest way to cook rice, if you don’t have a rice cooker then this is your next best alternative. Plus, you can cook it in the office too (trust me we did it many times)

1. Measure your rice using any cup and place it in a microwavable container.
2. Rinse rice in running water to remove excess starch.
3. Drain rice fully.
4. For every cup of rice, add a 1 1/4 cup of water.
5. Place container in a microwave, cover it with a microwavable plate, it should be loosely closed not tight at it will create steam.
6. For 3 cups of rice or lower cook for 13 minutes in high setting, for 4 to 5 cups of rice cook for 15 minutes.
7. Fluff before serving.

Instant Pot Method

Good results but time is deceiving, it may cook for 3 minutes on the timer but pressure build up and pressure release time is time consuming process.

1. Measure your rice using any cup then place it in the instant pot provided.
2. Rinse rice in running water to remove excess starch.
3. Drain rice fully.
4. For every cup of rice, add a 1 cup of water.
5. Place pot into instant pot.
6. Cook on high pressure for 3 minutes.
7. Set it aside then let the pressure release naturally until pin drops.
8. Fluff before serving.

Traditional or Pot Method

The traditional way of cooking rice, expert level recommended especially when you are doing this method for the first time. If you get the hang of this, try cooking over wood fire, this will be the best result of all the methods here, it yields a smoky rice flavour without adding additional ingredients.

1. Measure your rice using any cup then place it in a pot.
2. Rinse rice in running water to remove excess starch.
3. Drain rice fully.
4. Flatten and level the surface of your rice. Dip the tip of your index finger straight down into the pot until they just touch the rice, and water until it reaches the first joint of your index finger.
5. Place pot over stove top in medium high heat, bring it to a boil uncovered. Once it starts boiling give it a good mix, scraping the bottom so it does not stick and burn, cover the pot then lower heat to the lowest setting then simmer until cooked. This whole process will take around 15 to 17 minutes.
6. Fluff before serving.

Pasta Method

Surprisingly this works but be warned don’t let an Asian see you cooking this method, otherwise you will be frowned upon.

1. In a large pot boil ample amount of water.
2. Add rice then lower to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally until rice is cooked, this will take around 10 to 11 minutes.
3. Drain rice using a colander (sorry Uncle Roger) then return rice back to the same pot.
4. Continue to cook rice over very low heat while stirring constantly until excess water has evaporated and dried out, this will take around 1-2 minutes.
5. Fluff before serving.

Slow Cooker Method

This sounds controversial but this works too, if you don’t have extra hands-on time and don’t have a rice cooker then this is next best thing. Rice won’t be as firm becuase it will be soaked in liquid for at least 2 hours.

1. Measure your rice using any cup then place it in the pot provided.
2. Rinse rice in running water to remove excess starch.
3. Drain rice fully.
4. For every cup of rice, add a 1 cup of water.
5. Place pot into slow cooker.
6. Cook in low for 2 1/2 hrs or until rice is tender
7. Fluff before serving.

Oven Method

If you are baking something using the same temperature then it’s a good idea to cook rice with it to save energy. On its own this won’t be as energy efficient are a rice cooker.

1. Measure your rice using any cup then place it in an oven proof container.
2. Rinse rice in running water to remove excess starch.
3. Drain rice fully.
4. For every cup of rice, add a 1 1/2 cup of boiling water. Cover container tightly with an aluminium foil.
   Place container in a 190C preheated oven then bake for 25 to 27 minutes or until water is absorbed.
5. Remove foil, let the water evaporate then fluff before serving.

Note: All method above will work perfectly using a Jasmine Rice, all method will yield a not too wet and not too dry rice, just right.