How to Know When Rice is Done?

cooking_rice

Rice is a staple ingredient used all over the world.

You can choose from different types of rice in different colors, stickiness, thickness, and lengths. Depending on the length of the grains rice can be with long, medium, and short grains.

You can determine if your rice is done by tasting one grain. If it’s medium-hard, give it a few more minutes, then turn off the heat. If this is your first time cooking rice, don’t fret.

It is easy if you choose the right type of rice and follow a few simple rules. 

How To Cook Rice: Step-by-Step Guide

Rinse the rice

The following guide can help you cook the perfect rice and serve it with your favorite side dishes such as potatoes, veggies, or meat. I also like adding herbs for more flavor.

  1. Measure the rice grains to know how much water to add.
  2. Rinse the rice before cooking to remove the excess starch to prevent the rice from getting sticky. You can also soak the rice for about 30 minutes to shorten the cooking time.
  3. Measure the amount of water you are adding to the rice. For one cup of rice use two cups of water. If you are cooking brown rice, you will need more water, and short-grain rice needs less water. But you can use less water if you want the rice to be dryer or more to make it softer.
  4. Add the rice to the cold water and bring it to a boil. When it comes to a boil cover the pot with a lid and turn the heat to low.
  5. Cook the rice for about 15 minutes and try it. If it is not fully cooked you can cook it for another 2-3 minutes. And this is the answer to the question of how to know when rice is done- try it.
  6. Turn off the heat, and let the rice sit covered with the lid for about 10 minutes to absorb the remaining water and finish cooking.

Your rice will be perfectly cooked and ready to serve.

boiling rice

How to Know When Rice is Done in Rice Cooker?

If you have a rice cooker you can prepare the rice easier in just a few steps. You only have to add the rice and water and turn on the rice cooker.

The rice cooker has a thermostat that controls the heat. Therefore, when the temperature inside reaches 100°C-212°F, the rice cooker will turn on the keep warm setting automatically.

But if the rice cooker doesn’t have a keep warm setting it will turn off and the indicator light or a sound will let you know that the rice is done cooking.

Depending on the manufacturer there are rice cookers with different sounds and notification lights that will notify you when rice is done.

How to Know When White Rice is Done?

Jasmine rice

There are different types of white rice and they are all with removed bran and germ.

Therefore, white rice is softer, sweeter, and cooks faster than brown rice. White rice is best when it is used in stews, stir-fries, curries, and sushi.

You can cook it in a pot on the stove, in the oven, microwave, and in a rice cooker. Rinse the rice and add it to the pot together with the water, salt, and butter.

For one cup of rice, you need to add 2 cups of water and bring it to a boil. Lower the heat, cover the pan with a lid, and let it simmer for about 18-20 minutes.

After 18 minutes try the rice. If it is not fully cooked leave it to cook for another 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the rice rest covered for 10 minutes.

Fluff it with a fork and serve it. White cooked rice should be soft, light, and fluffy.

How to Tell When Brown Rice is Done?

Brown rice is healthier than white rice but you will need more time and liquid to cook it.

Rinse one cup of rice in a strainer until the water is clear and add it to the saucepan with 2 ½ cups of water and salt to taste. If you want softer rice you can soak the rice in cold water for about one hour.

You can also use chicken or vegetable stock instead of water in the same amount as water to give a better flavor to the rice.

Bring the mixture of the rice and water to a boil, and then lower the heat so the rice can simmer. Cover the saucepan with a lid until the rice absorbs all the liquid.

Brown rice needs about 40-50 minutes to cook but the cooking time can vary depending on the stove you are using. However, check the rice after 45 minutes of cooking.

If the rice is soft and the liquid is absorbed, cover it with the lid, turn off the heat, and let it rest for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes fluff the rice with a fork and serve it as you wish.

How Long Does It Take for Rice to Cook?

There are different types of rice and different ways to cook it therefore they all need a different time to cook.

For instance, white rice cooked on a stovetop need from 18-20 minutes to be fully cooked. Brown rice, on the other hand, can be fully cooked after 40-50 minutes.

That means the cooking time depends on the type of rice and the way you are cooking the rice.

How Do You Know if Rice is Undercooked?

Basmati Rice

If the rice has a hard, chewy, and grainy texture then it is undercooked. You likely didn’t add enough water so the rice can be cooked properly. The outer parts of the rice are going to be soft but the middle of the grains is going to be hard.

Because it is not recommended to eat undercooked rice you will have to add ½ a cup of water, cover the pot with the lid and continue with the simmering for about five minutes until the rice is fully cooked.

What Does Overcooked Rice Look Like?

Overcooked rice is soft, sticky and the grains are clumped together. However, if the rice is a little sticky, you can put it into a colander and rinse it with cold water.

If the rice is very sticky and soft you can use it to make some other dishes like rice pudding, fried rice, and rice pancakes.

How Do I Make Sure Rice is Cooked?

If you are cooking rice, it is important to use enough water so the rice can be properly and fully cooked. When it is almost done you will notice small bubble holes and steam coming out of them.

Turn off the heat, cover the pot with a lid and let the rice finish cooking. Try the rice and fluff it with a fork before serving. If the rice is soft and fluffy it is fully cooked and ready to be served.

Final Tips

Cooking a perfect dish of rice is possible if you are following these simple steps mentioned in this article. The most important thing is to use the right amount of liquid for cooking the rice because different types of rice need different amounts of liquid.

Usually, long grain rice needs more liquid than short-grain rice. However, it is important to leave the rice to rest for about 10 minutes covered with the lid to get a fluffy and light texture and evenly cooked rice.

And finally, the answer to the question of how to know when rice is done. Just try it and you will know.

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