Forum: cooking.stackexchange.com
Tags: <rice>
Title: Proper ratio of Water to Rice
Question: When making rice, what is the proper ratio of water that I should use?

Answers:
sents: text: Depends on the rice, of course - here are the most common types: White rice: 2:1 Brown rice: 1.5:1 Jasmine rice: 1.1:1 Wild rice: 4:1, but immediately wash with cold water and drain when done.
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/41/Aaronut
score: 25
sents: text: There isn't really a simple answer to this question due to the many variables of personal preference, rice type, water hardness, etc.
text: I suggest buying a proper rice cooker: Zojirushi NP-HBC10 5-1/2-Cup Rice Cooker and Warmer with Induction Heating System, Stainless Steel .
text: (I love mine!)
text: The rice cooker has precise instructions and measurements for each type of rice, even the more obscure types.
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/60/hobodave
score: 16
sents: text: You're better off going with 1" above the rice as a guide, if you're boiling long grain white rice, rather than a ratio of liquid to rice. (except minute rice -- my neighbor once asked me your same question, and I later found out she was cooking minute rice ...
text: oops)
text: If you're going for paella, where it's a really wide dish, then I go with about 2:1, but some of that liquid might come from tomatoes.
text: If I'm cooking risotto, I tend to heat up twice the amount of stock as rice, but I might not use it all -- and if I think I might run out, after adding a ladle of stock to the rice, I'll add some water to heat up so it'll get a chance to warm up.
text: (and it helps to have some extra liquid left over to deal with reheating leftovers) And mentioning leftovers -- unlike @Dinah
text: , I never cook less than 2c.
text: of rice at a time -- leftovers come in handy for rice salad or nasi goreng (Indonedian-style fried rice), or to package up with whatever the main dish was for lunches the next day.
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/67/Joe
score: 9
sents: text: We typically eat jasmine rice.
text: For 2 people we use 1/2 c rice to 3/4 c water.
text: After boiling and letting the boiling settle, cook for 7 min.
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/43/Dinah
score: 4
sents: text: Totally depends on the rice - I usually read the back of the bag or whatever.
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/31/forefinger
score: 2
sents: text: For simplicities sake, I go for a ratio of 2:1.
text: If there's still water in the rice after it's cooked, just keep it on the heat with the lid off for a while.
text: Also - If you're going to cook rice this way, it's important that you don't stir it whilst cooking.
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/209/seanyboy
score: 1
sents: text: I use a 1:1.5 ratio for boiling white rice, 1:2 for brown rice.
text: The ratio depends on how processed the rice is and on cooking method used rather than rice type.
text: My method is to add rice and water (salt) to pot, keep a lid on at all times, bring to a boil, leave on low heat and turn off heat 5-10 min before done.
text: Aways successful that way, no stirring or draining needed.
text: White rice done in 20min.
text: Brown rice a bit more tricky but cooking on low heat for 40 min.
text: should do the trick.
text: Not using a lid would let more water evaporate, thus more water needed.
text: You can fluff it up with a fork afterwards.
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/9608/Heidi Larsen
score: 1
sents: text: It also depends how you want to cook the rice.
text: Steaming, boiling, in the oven, pilau...
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/115/Pulse
score: 0

Summary of the answers:
This depends on the type of rice, although usually a ratio of 1.5 or 2 parts water to one part rice should be used. Wild rice should be cooked in more water, then rinsed and drained when done. Another guide is to add an inch of water above the rice rather than using a ratio. Parboiled rice needs less water.
It depends on the type of rice. The ratio is about 2:1 for white rice.