How to Cook Perfect Brown Rice (2024)

FAQs

How is the best way to cook brown rice? ›

I use 2 cups of water for every cup of rice. Add the water and rice to a medium saucepan, and stir in a teaspoon of extra-virgin olive oil. Next, it's time to cook! Bring the water to a boil, reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for about 45 minutes, until the rice is tender and has absorbed the water.

Brown Rice to Water Ratio

To cook brown rice on the stovetop, a good rule of thumb is to follow a 2 to 1 ratio of water to rice; so, for 1 cup of rice, you would use 2 cups of liquid. When in doubt, check the package directions for the optimal ratio for short-, medium-, and long-grain.

Soaking is optional, but we recommend it! Soaking grains helps to remove some of the naturally-occurring phytic acid in the grain, which helps improve digestibility and speed cook time. To soak: Add rice to a large mixing bowl or pot and cover with twice the amount of lukewarm water (1 cup rice + 2-3 cups water).

Some of the rice's flavor does get lost to the excess water—chances are you won't notice—but so does the starch and anything else clinging to the grains, which means that even if you're a rice-rinsing devotee, you really can skip that step when choosing this method.

The correct cook time and water ratio for brown rice depends on the cooking method that you're using. Properly cooked rice should have a slightly chewy consistency. Overcooked rice will be mushy; undercooked, it will be hard and crunchy.

It is important to use BOILING water not cold tap water for the baked method. Otherwise it takes a good 15 minutes or so for the water to heat up enough to start cooking the rice during which the rice is just wallowing and bloating in warm water, resulting in mushy rice.

The bottom line. Brown rice is a more nutrient-dense product than white rice. Because of this, brown rice may help reduce blood sugar levels and aid in managing weight. But white rice is good for people with certain digestive issues and those who can't digest fiber-rich foods well.

Start by bringing the water to a boil. Add the rice, salt and butter, and give it ONE stir. Cover the pot. Return the pot to a boil, then turn the stove down to simmer and set the timer.

The step that is so important, and often overlooked, is simple: just take the pan off the heat and let the cooked rice sit, covered, for about 10 minutes to finish steaming. This also applies to other whole grains, like farro, wheat berries and sorghum.

How do you keep brown rice from getting chewy? ›

And finally, after cooking, let your rice rest off the heat with the lid on for about 10 minutes. This pause before serving helps the rice absorb the last of the moisture in the pot. If you skip it, the rice can be a little sticky and gummy when scooping it from the pot instead of light and fluffy.

Brown Rice on the Stove Top

Add 1 cup long grain brown rice, 1 tablespoon butter and a pinch of salt. Cover and simmer 40-50 minutes or until water is absorbed. Allow to rest 5 minutes covered. Fluff with a fork and serve.

Brown rice can be a healthy side dish or a base ingredient for many different recipes. Here are a few ways to try it: Add it to soup for healthy carbs. Stir fry vegetables and meat or tofu, then add some brown rice.

Add your brown rice and water. While the typical rice-to-water ratio for white rice is one part rice to two parts water, brown rice works better if you go with one part rice to two and a half parts water. Add salt to taste. On a cutting board, press the flat edge of a knife on the cloves of garlic to squash them.