Skip to main content
Epicurious
Bon Appétit

The Perfect Pot of Rice

By The Bon Appétit Test Kitchen
Image may contain Plant Vegetable Rice Food and Rug
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Pearl Jones

Ever wondered how to make the perfect pot of rice without a rice cooker? We got you. This no-fail method works for short-, medium-, and long-grain white rice.

What you’ll need

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes about 3 cups

Ingredients

1 cup short-, medium-, or long-grain white rice (NOT parboiled, converted, or quick-cooking)
½ tsp. kosher salt

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Rinse 1 cup long-grain white rice in a fine-mesh sieve until the water runs clear (this may take up to a minute). Alternatively, you can rinse the rice in a bowl or pot with several changes of cold water, draining carefully between rinses, but we think the fine-mesh sieve method is the least annoying. Rinsing rice before you cook it is key—it washes away the starchy powder that would otherwise make the grains of rice clump up and stick together. Combine rice, ½ tsp. kosher salt, and 1¼ cups water in a medium saucepan.

    Step 2

    Give everything a gentle stir. Bring to a boil, then cover pot with a tight-fitting lid and reduce heat to low, aiming for the lowest possible flame. Cook rice, undisturbed—that means NOT opening the lid!—for 18 minutes.

    Step 3

    Remove pan from heat. Let stand at least 15 minutes or until ready to use. Uncover and fluff cooked rice with a fork before serving.

TagsRiceRice & GrainsEasySideDairy FreeGluten FreeNut FreeVeganVegetarianBon Appétit
Read More
Spicy Cumin Tofu
In this vegetarian stir-fry, crumbling tofu dramatically increases its surface area, all the better for absorbing heady spices.
Super Seedy Power Cookies
As energizing as an energy bar, with a much simpler ingredient list.
One-Pot Chicken Thighs With Cilantro Rice and Beans
This one-pot dinner cooks chicken thighs directly on top of a bed of flavorful cilantro rice studded with black beans for a complete dinner.
Chickpea Tachin With Herb Salad
The golden, crunchy corners are worth fighting over.
2-Ingredient Chocolate Mousse
It comes together in a blender and just happens to be dairy-free.
Need-More-Fiber Lentil Salad
Because most of us do!
Harissa Scampi
Harissa adds a layer of nuance to this twist on Italian American favorite, shrimp scampi, offering added body and warmth from spices such as caraway and cumin.
Caramelized Shallots
A buttery white wine glaze makes these an ideal holiday side, but leftovers are just as good on a cheeseboard or sandwich.
SEO Dek: Seared and simmered in white wine and chicken broth, these buttery caramelized shallots are an ideal holiday side dish. Stack the leftovers on a sandwich.