The Asian Larder

How to Steam Rice Without a Rice Cooker

Rinse the rice until the water runs mostly clear, then cook it in a pan with a tight lid using a 1 to 1.2 ratio of rice to water, and leave it untouched for the full cooking and resting time. Lifting the lid partway through is the most common reason rice turns out wet or undercooked.

Method

Common mistakes

FAQ

What ratio of water to rice should you use?

About 1 to 1.2 for white rice, slightly more water for brown rice, since it takes longer to cook through.

Why is my stovetop rice always wet?

Usually too much water or the lid was lifted during cooking, letting steam escape before the rice finished absorbing it.

Do you need to rinse rice first?

Yes, rinsing removes surface starch and gives a fluffier result rather than a sticky, gluey texture.

Huì

Huì

Huì is a Beijing-born chef working in the UK. She writes The Asian Larder, with tested Asian recipes for British home cooks and honest advice on where to buy every ingredient.
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