How to Make Fluffy Rice
The perfect fluffy rice recipe for all your favorite dishes!
Learn how to make perfectly fluffy rice every time with this step-by-step guide to cooking basmati rice on the stove. Once you know how to make light, tender, fluffy rice, you’ll always have a delicious side for your favorite recipes!
Try my Baked Saffron Rice recipe next!
Fluffy Rice
As a first-generation Persian-American, I grew up eating rice almost every single day during dinner. Persian food is typically made with some sort of herbed stew over a bed of fluffy basmati rice so having a good rice recipe is essential. I watched each generation of women in my family make rice in a rice cooker, instant pot, microwave, or on the stove. All of that experimenting eventually led to the best rice ever.
My American friends would come over and be shocked at how delicious the rice we ate was! They always complimented my mom for being the BEST rice cooker! I have taken my mom’s tactics and come up with a guide for how to make fluffy rice right the first time so you can skip all the trial and error.
Why You’ll Love This Fluffy Rice Recipe
So Easy. This recipe is perfect for beginners and those without a rice cooker. With just 4 ingredients, 2o minutes, and my helpful tips and tricks, even new cooks can learn how to make fluffy white rice.
Super Versatile. Rice is one of the most popular foods, across the world because it pairs perfectly with so many recipes.
Absolutely Delicious. Light, tender, and fluffy, you didn’t know plain white rice could taste this good!
What is the best rice for fluffy rice?
Long-grain rice is the best rice to use for fluffy rice. As it cooks, long-grain rice separates, making it light and fluffy, whereas shorter rice (medium-grain and short-grain) tends to clump together, creating moist, sticky rice.
What is long-grain rice?
Long-grain rice is characterized by its length, which is three to five times its width. The most common varieties of long-grain rice are basmati rice, jasmine rice, Carolina Gold rice, and wild rice. When I want fluffy rice, I use basmati because it has a nice flavor and texture. This recipe works well with any variety of long-grain rice but for the best results, use basmati rice.
Basmati is a fragrant white rice with a slightly nutty taste. It’s also a very forgiving rice, which makes it perfect for beginners. Even if you overcook it, it won’t get mushy.
Ingredients
Long grain basmati rice: The rice is the most important part! I would recommend getting long-grain basmati rice, the one I get is from the local Persian supermarket, but I found it on Amazon for you! It’s called Royal Chef's Secret Extra Long Basmati Rice.
Water: The water to rice ratio is important to keep in mind. For this recipe, use 2 cups of water for every 1 cup of rice.
Salt: Add salt to taste so your rice isn’t bland.
Oil: You may think oil is unnecessary but the rice needs something with fat to help make it delicious! You can use any unflavored oil you have on hand. I prefer avocado oil but olive oil is a good substitute.
Cooking Equipment
This method of cooking fluffy rice is NOT for a rice cooker, rice cooker directions and measurements are completely different. It’s important to use a non-stick saucepan with a lid for this. Cast iron won’t work, stainless still will stick to the rice.
How to Make Fluffy Rice
Place your rice in a stockpot and rinse it under cold water for about 6-8 times until the water runs clear. Then add the 4 cups of cold water to the rice. Add in the salt and avocado oil and mix to stir.
Place the stockpot on the stove over medium-high heat, and allow it to come to a boil. Once the rice is boiling, reduce the heat to low and cover with a lid. Let the rice simmer for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.
Tips
Always rinse your rice under cold water before cooking it in order to release excess starch and clean the rice of any contaminants or debris. This also prevents the rice from sticking together.
Avoid waterlogged rice (rice that has absorbed too much water) by being mindful of the water-to-rice ratio. Otherwise, you’ll have gummy rice.
Don’t have a measuring cup? Use the rice finger trick. Add your desired amount of uncooked rice to a pot then add enough cold water to cover your fingernail when it touches the rice.
Use high-quality long-grain rice for the best results.
What to Serve with Fluffy Rice
Try any of my air fryer salmon recipes in my eCookbook.
Storing Leftovers
Store your cooked rice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat, you can either place it in a stockpot over low heat or in the microwave for 60 seconds. Rice that is a day or two old is perfect for fried rice.
FAQ
How do you fluff basmati rice?
Allow the rice to sit for at least 5 minutes after turning off the heat. Then pierce the rice repeatedly with a fork for fluffy, airy rice.
Why is my basmati rice not fluffy?
Remember to remove excess starch by repeatedly rinsing the rice under cold water before cooking.
Should I cook rice covered or uncovered?
Bring the rice to a bowl then cover it so the rice continues to cook. Steam makes the rice even fluffier. And 10 minutes later, you'll have fluffy rice!
How to Make Fluffy Rice
Ingredients
- 2 cups of long grain basmati rice
- 4 cups of water
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon avocado oil or olive oil
Instructions
- Place your rice in a stockpot and rinse it under cold water for about 6-8 times until the water runs clear.
- Add the 4 cups of cold water to the rice.
- Add in the salt and avocado oil and mix to stir.
- Place the stockpot on the stove over medium-high heat, and allow it to come to a boil.
- Once the rice is boiling, reduce the heat to low and cover with a lid.
- Let the rice simmer for 10 minutes.
- Fluff with a fork before serving.
