Skip to Content

White Rice

Nothing quite fulfills the cravings for comfort like buttery, steaming, fluffy white rice. We’re here to help you make it great, time after time.

Categories:

homemade fluffy white rice in a serving bowl with a spoon
Photography by Gayle McLeod

The Best White Rice Recipe

You don’t need a rice cooker for tender rice. A simple and delicious blank canvas, white rice, is sometimes hard to perfect! But, fear not, we’ve got a foolproof white rice recipe for you! We love its chewy, soft texture and, we could never forget how it complements almost any cuisine. Bonus: it’s inexpensive and nutritious. Our secret to perfection is simple: it’s about technique and repetition, which once you have it down (*hint* bookmark this recipe!) will be easy to replicate every time a craving hits.

uncooked white rice

What Are The Health Benefits of White Rice?

While we sometimes overhear the question “is white rice unhealthy” there are actually a handful of health benefits associated with eating this yummy grain! White rice supports bone and muscle structure through a key nutrient, manganese, which provides a whopping 30% of your daily value. It also is a plant-based source of iron and B vitamins. Additionally, if you’re wondering if white rice is gluten free, the answer is YES! It’s a great carb for any one who has celiac disease or those simply avoiding gluten. And while we love plain white rice, we also love variations such as Coconut Rice, Cilantro Lime Rice, and Lemon Rice to jazz it up!

rice, water, salt and butter in a small sauce pan to make white rice

What Is The Water Ratio For White Rice?

Cooking white rice can be a very easy task! We find that a few simple tricks, such as the correct white rice to water ratio, plays a big role! We want to avoid soggy or sticky rice and, in order to achieve that, our recipe calls for a ratio of 1 cup of white rice to 1 ¼ cups of water. Trust us, this tried and true ratio will provide you with the perfect white rice every time! We also throw in a little pat of butter and a sprinkle of salt for extra flavor. If you want to season white rice and make it your own, feel free to swap out the water for chicken stock or vegetable stock!

fluffy white rice in a sauce pan with a fork made with rice, water, salt and butter

How to Make White Rice

We’ve got the secret for how to cook white rice! The results? A steaming mound of aromatic, perfectly fluffy, deliciousness. Here’s how to cook perfect white rice on the stovetop, every time:

  1. Rinse! Don’t skip this step! Rinsing your rice not only removes any particles but also removes excess starch which will allow for delicious, individual grains!

  2. Cook the white rice! Boil the water and season it simply with a little butter and salt. We know it’s difficult, but don’t lift the lid while it cooks! Keep in mind how long to cook white rice changes based on your stove! After 17-18 minutes or a little more if you’re making a double batch (which we suggest for a quick side dish to use later!), fluff it with a fork. This creates pockets of air between the rice grains, absorbs water, and achieves the perfect texture.

  3. Wait! Place the lid back on and allow it to sit for 5 short minutes!

  4. Enjoy on its own, or as an accompaniment to your favorite meal!

homemade fluffy white rice in a serving bowl with a spoon

Tools You’ll Need

Wondering What To Serve With Your Perfect White Rice?

We’re known for digging into a bowl of white rice with butter all by itself – hello comfort – but we also love its ability to bulk up a meal, soak up a flavorful sauce, and even, add a nuttiness to dishes. If you’re looking for white rice recipes for dinner, we suggest:

White Rice All The Time!

White rice is devoured all across the globe and we understand why! It’s easy, it’s delicious and it goes with anything! Show us your fluffy White Rice and maybe even a video of the beautiful people you feed it to. Tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper. Happy eating!

White Rice

  • Serves: 4
  • Prep Time:  5 min
  • Cook Time:  25 min
  • Calories: 150

Ingredients

  • 1 cup long-grain white rice, rinsed
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon butter or vegetable oil (optional)

Method

  1. In a medium saucepan, bring 1 1/4 cups water to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir in the rice, salt, and butter, if using, and return to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook until the liquid has been absorbed, 17-18 minutes.

  2. Remove the lid and fluff the rice using a fork. Turn off the heat and let the rice sit on the hot stove for about another 5 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Info

  • Per Serving
  • Amount
  • Calories150
  • Protein3 g
  • Carbohydrates35 g
  • Total Fat0 g
  • Dietary Fiber0 g
  • Cholesterol0 mg
  • sodium290 mg
  • Total Sugars0 g

White Rice

Questions & Reviews

Join the discussion below.

or

    Any questions?

    Need to change up some ingredients? Unsure about a step in the method? Click the Ask a Question button above. We’re here for you.

  • Ben

    This rice is perfect! I always cook rice and I thought it couldn't get better but this was perfect. It didn't get to mushy or too crunchy. Thanks for the recipe!

    Thanks Ben! So happy we could help!

  • Jenn

    Why have I never cooked white rice with butter in it before. That was so good.

    So good right?! Glad you enjoyed it Jenn!