This is it—the foolproof recipe for making a pot of perfect rice on the stove. If cooking rice makes you nervous, know that you are not alone. Even really accomplished cooks get intimidated by cooking plain old rice.

To cook perfect rice on the stove, use 1 cup rice to 2 cups water, bring it to a boil, cover, and simmer for about 18 minutes, then let it rest off the heat before fluffing.

If cooking rice feels unpredictable—sometimes mushy, sometimes crunchy—this simple stovetop method takes the guesswork out. It works for everyday white rice, doesn’t require a rice cooker, and once you know it, you’ll use it forever.

At a glance:

• Rice-to-water ratio: 1 cup rice : 2 cups water
• Method: Boil → cover → simmer → rest → fluff
• Key tip: Don’t lift the lid while it cooks—steam is part of the process

But we’re going to solve the rice-phobic issue today. Rice is too awesome not to know how to make easily. It’s the perfect side dish for so many different meals, and soaks up sauces like a dream. Pair a scoop of fluffy rice with anything from Asian dishes like Chicken, Broccoli and Sugar Snap Pea Stir Fry, Spicy Stir Fried Beef and Vegetables or Lemon and Scallion Chicken Stir Fry. Or serve it with Mustard and Maple Pork Kebabs or Citrus Basil Shrimp Kebabs. There are few foods I can think of that don’t pair well with rice.

What Goes With Rice?

I serve rice at least a couple of times a week, with dinner — it’s so easy to make, it’s perfect for soaking up sauces, balancing out a slightly spicy main dish, and when all else fails, it’s what a picky eater will eat. Asian dishes of all kinds always pair perfectly with rice (I guess unless it’s a noodle dish, but even then, sometimes!).

Do You Need to Rinse Rice Before Cooking?

For basic long-grained white rice, no, you do not. Other types of rice do need rinsing first to remove excess starch, but for your basic long-grain rice you do not need to wash it first.

What is the Ratio of Water to Rice?

The basic water-to-rice ratio is 2 cups water to 1 cup rice. You can easily, double and even triple the recipe; just make sure you are using a pot large enough to hold the rice as it cooks and expands. Other rice varieties, like brown and Arborio, can be a little different in terms of proportions and timing, but this 2 to 1 ratio is how you’ll get perfect white rice every time.

How to Make Rice

1. Bring the water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add the salt and butter, and allow the butter to melt.
2. 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 minutes, especially if you are making a larger quantity of rice.

3. 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.

How Long to Cook White Rice

A cup of white rice will take about 17 minutes to cook, but larger amounts may take a few extra minutes. Leaving it covered on the stove for a few minutes after it’s tender will allow it to finish absorbing all of the water and then fluffing it with a fork will get your rice nice and …well, fluffy.

How Long Will Rice Keep?

Cooked rice lasts in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, so you can make extra to serve later in the week or to use in different dishes. Leftover rice can be used in dishes like Kimchi Fried Rice, Shrimp Fried Rice, Vegetable Fried Rice, and Chicken and Rice Soup.

How to Reheat Rice

To reheat cooked rice in the microwave, place it in a microwave-safe bowl and sprinkle a bit of water on top, then drape a damp paper towel over the top before heating it, to make sure it doesn’t dry out. You can also reheat it in a pot:  give it a generous sprinkle of water, and heat with the lid on over low heat, stirring and fluffing frequently. For more details, see How To Perfectly Reheat Rice On The Stove And In The Microwave. And if you have an Instant Pot, see How to Cook Perfect Rice in an Instant Pot.

If you want a similar little bulleted list of info and a recipe for brown rice, here is How to Cook Perfect Brown Rice on the Stove. Also see this recipe for perfect rice pilaf, and a whole bunch of ideas for using leftover rice.

What to Serve With White Rice

Here are ways to use that perfect rice all week long. Serve it with:

• Chicken Cacciatore
• Mongolian Beef (pictured above)
• Lemon Garlic Tilapia
• Slow Cooker Teriyaki Beef Tips
• White Chicken Chili
• Pan Seared Pork Chops with Marsala and Mushroom Cream Sauce
• Chicken Adobo (pictured below)

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