Steamed Rice Basics (白飯）

Follow these tips and tricks for perfectly fluffy rice every time.

flodesk gif
Prep Time
5 min
Total Time
35 min
Yields
4 servings
YouTube Tutorial

A Recipe by Daddy Lau

My dad's been cooking Chinese food for over 50 years - as a kid fending for himself in Guangzhou, as the head chef of his own restaurant, and as a loving father in our home.

Hopefully, by learning this recipe, you'll get to experience some of the delicious joy we felt growing up eating his food!

- Randy

As a restaurant chef, my dad has made countless pots of rice. Whether the grains are served alongside our favorite entrees or used as an ingredient, it's hands-down one of the most important dishes to know in Chinese cuisine.

Cooking perfect rice may seem like simple task, but it's surprisingly easy to mess up. Using the wrong amount of time, using the incorrect water to rice ratio... there are many issues that can make rice mushy and sticky. My dad has perfected his technique and has five top tips for how to cook white rice so it's fluffy and fragrant every time.

1. Invest in a rice cooker

You don't need a state-of-the-art appliance to make good rice in a rice cooker. There are models out there that are quite affordable. It's my dad's preferred tool of choice because a rice cooker is reliable. It not only delivers consistently fluffy rice, but it's also easy and convenient to use since you don't need to constantly keep an eye on it.

2. Opt for Thai jasmine rice

Thai jasmine rice is the grain of choice in the Lau household. Its texture, aroma and versatility are unmatched, especially for Cantonese cuisine. According to my dad, it has a nice tender texture that works well with everything. You can find different brands at both American and Asian supermarkets — we recommend choosing a Thai brand if available:

3. Wash the rice

My dad washes rice to clean it and not because it makes a difference in the texture, as many believe it does.

4. Use a 1:1 rice-to-water ratio

After decades of cooking, my dad has found that a 1:1 ratio of rice-to-water creates the ideal balance of grain-to-liquid. It works specifically when cooking Thai jasmine rice in a rice cooker and may not be applicable to other varieties and cooking methods.

5. Fluff the rice

Always fluff your rice once it's done cooking. This releases excess steam and prevents the rice from getting too sticky and clumping up.

Chef's Tip: My dad prefers to use chopsticks, since the gap between the two gives you more control and makes it easier to fluff.

Ways to use rice

A perfect bowl of white rice is great with saucy main dishes such as Beef and Broccoli, Spare Ribs with Black Bean Sauce and Steamed Salmon. You also need cooked white rice for classic Chinese recipes, such as:

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Check out a quick story summary of our recipe!

Ingredients

Weight: US
oz
g
Volume: US
cup
mL
Servings
4

Main Ingredients

  • 3 cups uncooked jasmine rice
  • water (

    for washing rice

    )
  • 3.3 cups water

On the finger/knuckle method

A lot of home cooks swear by the finger/knuckle method when making rice, but it's not my dad's preferred technique. Everyone's fingers are different so it requires a bit of trial and error to figure out where exactly you need to fill the water up to.

On saving hard rice

Unfortunately, there's no way to rescue rice that's too soft, but if the grains are still too hard, my dad recommends pouring 1/2 cup of hot water along the side of the pot and cooking it one more time.

Step 1: Wash rice

Place the rice (3 cups) in a large bowl. Add enough water ( ) to fully submerge the grains.

Use your fingers to grab handfuls and lightly squeeze, then agitate. This will help get rid of any dust and debris that has accumulated during the production process. Pour out the water.

Repeat two more times.

Step 2: Cook rice

Add the clean and drained rice to the inner pot of a rice cooker. Pour in the water (3.3 cups). My dad typically uses a 1:1 ratio of rice-to-water, but since we usually eat with babies and young kids, he adds an additional 1/4 cup to make the grains extra tender.

You can also follow the measurement marks on the inner pot of the rice cooker.

Use a dry towel to wipe down the bottom of the pot. Place the pot into the rice cooker with the measurement marks facing the front and close the lid. Select the jasmine rice setting.

Step 3: Fluff rice

Once the rice is done, let it sit for 2 additional minutes to allow the steam to settle. Open the lid and using a rice paddle or chopsticks, fluff the rice for about 1 minute.

Chef's Tip: Scoop the rice from around the sides and from the bottom. The rice at the bottom of the pot is usually more tender than the grains on top. Avoid using metal utensils when scooping as that can damage the nonstick surface of the inner pot.

FAQ

How do you keep rice from drying out in the fridge?

  • Place the rice in an airtight, sealed container or cover with plastic wrap. This keeps the moisture inside. The rice will still feel hard, but it'll soften once you reheat it.

What is the best method for cooking rice?

  • A rice cooker is best for convenience and consistency. You don't need to watch it and worry about i t boiling over. Cooking rice on the stovetop, however, yields a more fragrant, aromatic rice. If you're looking for the best flavor, then opt for the stovetop, which will give you crispy scorched rice from cooking over a direct flame.

Why is my rice mushy?

  • Mushy rice means the grains were cooked in too much water. Rice is super absorbent and it'll get starchy and gummy when you use the wrong grain-to-water ratio. When cooking jasmine rice, my dad opts for a 1:1 ratio that yields fluffy, tender grains.

Summary

Print Recipe
Made With Lau
madewithlau.com/recipes/how-to-cook-rice
Steamed Rice Basics (白飯）
Follow these tips and tricks for perfectly fluffy rice every time.
  • Prep Time: 5 min
  • Total Time: 35 min
  • Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients

Main Ingredients

  • 3 cups uncooked jasmine rice
  • water (

    for washing rice

    )
  • 3.3 cups water

Step 1 - Wash rice

↑ Jump to details

Place the rice (3 cups) in a large bowl. Add enough water ( ) to fully submerge the grains.

Use your fingers to grab handfuls and lightly squeeze, then agitate. Pour out the water.

Repeat two more times.

Step 2 - Cook rice

↑ Jump to details

Add the clean and drained rice to the inner pot of a rice cooker. Pour in the water (3.3 cups).

Use a dry towel to wipe down the bottom of the pot. Place the pot into the rice cooker with the measurement marks facing the front and close the lid. Select the jasmine rice setting.

Step 3 - Fluff rice

↑ Jump to details

Once the rice is done, let it sit for 2 additional minutes to allow the steam to settle. Open the lid and using a rice paddle or chopsticks, fluff the rice for about 1 minute.

Step 4 - Take pictures
Whip out your camera (1). Begin taking photos (1,000,000). Pick your favorites!
Step 5 - Share and tag us on Instagram @madewithlau #madewithlau!
Did you have fun making this recipe? We'd love to see & hear about it. (Especially my dad. He would be THRILLED!)

Enjoy!

We have many, many happy memories of enjoying this dish growing up.

Now, hopefully, you can create your own memories with this dish with your loved ones.

Also, I cordially invite you to eat with us and learn more about the dish, Chinese culture, and my family.

Cheers, and thanks for cooking with us!

Feel free to comment below if you have any questions about the recipe.