Learn how to cook fluffy white rice on the stove top in a few easy steps. This is a foolproof method that makes delicious rice that's not sticky every time!

"This is the first time I have ever cooked perfect rice! Your recipe is awesome! I followed your instructions to the letter except that I doubled it and it still turned out perfect rice. Thank you!" ~Tracy

Recipe review

Has learning how to cook fluffy white rice on the stovetop eluded you? It is such a simple ingredient. But learning how to cook rice can be a scary kitchen task even for the most experienced of chefs.

Between my 3 kids and numerous personal chef clients, I have made more pots of rice than I care to count. It's the perfect side dish for my Chicken Tikka Masala. And leftover rice is ideal for my Fried Rice recipe.

Follow along as I help you become an expert rice cooker and make a fluffy white rice every time.

a pot of cooked white rice with a spoon in it.

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Why this fluffy white rice recipe works.

Sticky, clumpy, gooey, crunchy.

My attempts at making the perfect rice has taken all these forms. My failures continued as cooking rice over too high heat resulted in many boil overs and stove top messes to clean up.

Wanting to spare you from any rice cooking mishaps, I will lay out the keys as to how to cook white rice with a fluffy texture every time.

This is such an easy recipe to master. There are no special ingredients or tricky steps. You'll be a master rice cooker in no time at all!

What are the different types of rice?

With over 40,000 different varieties of rice, cooking the perfect white rice can be daunting. Short-grain rice varieties include arborio and sushi rice. Long-grain rice includes white and brown rice, basmati and jasmine.

Short-grain rice tend to be sticky when cooked. I am partial to the long grain varieties as they make the fluffiest bowl of rice. Also, the cooked grains tend not to stick together. White, jasmine, and basmati rice are the three kinds of rice I prepare most often.

How to cook white rice on the stovetop

Start with a heavy sided 1 quart pot with a tight-fitting lid. The heavy pot will evenly conduct the heat. Therefore, the rice will cook evenly.
Lightly toast the rice in a small amount of oil over medium heat. This will add extra flavor to the rice. Also the oil will keep the rice from sticking together.
Add hot water to the rice after it has toasted.
Bring the water and rice to a full boil before lowering the heat to cook the rice.

DON'T PEEK AT THE RICE AS IT COOKS. Sorry for yelling but, I want to get your attention. This is one of my most important keys to cooking a perfect pot of rice. By lifting the lid to check on the rice, steam will escape. The temperature inside the pot will be lowered and will alter the cooking time.
After the rice is done cooking, let it sit covered and off the heat for 5 minutes. This is my second most important key to the perfect rice recipe. The resting time allows any moisture to evenly redistribute throughout the rice.
Fluff the cooked and rested rice with a fork to separate the grains and allow them to dry out a little bit.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need to rinse rice before cooking it?

With my method of cooking rice, there's no need to rinse it. Quickly sauteing the rice in olive oil helps separate the rice cook up into separate grains.

How long can rice be stored in the refrigerator?

Completely cooled rice can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Put the rice in a container with a tight-fitting lid. I love these meal prep containers.

How do you reheat rice?

The best way to reheat leftover rice is in the microwave. Add a small amount of water and loosely cover it with a lid or damp paper towel. Microwave it on 60% power at 30 second intervals, or until heated through.

Recipes to serve with rice

Armed with my keys for how to cook white rice, I hope you will become a confident rice cooker. Sharpen your rice cooking skills and serve it with some of my favorite recipes.

Start with a heavy sided 1 quart pot with a tight fitting lid. The heavy pot will evenly conduct the heat. Therefore, the rice will cook evenly.
Lightly toast the rice in a small amount of oil. This will add extra flavor to the rice. Also the oil will keep the rice from sticking together.
Add hot water to the rice after it has toasted.
Bring the water and rice to a full boil before lowering the heat to cook the rice.
Don't peek at the rice while it is cooking. By lifting the lid to check on the rice, steam will escape. The temperature inside the pot will be lowered and will alter the cooking time.
After the rice is done cooking, let it sit covered and off the heat for 5 minutes. This is my second most important key to the perfect rice recipe. The resting time allows any moisture to evenly redistribute throughout the rice.
Fluff the cooked and rested rice with a fork to separate the grains and allow them to dry out a little bit.