How To Cook Long-Grain Rice in a Rice Cooker
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Cooking rice, whether it’s white rice, brown rice, or any other type is an everyday task for many people. With so many different varieties of rice widely available today, making a perfect batch of cooked rice means understanding the cooking time for each type.
Long-grain rice grains are a slim and long rice variety with a drier and firmer texture than your typical white rice when cooked. Long-grain white rice, brown rice, basmati rice, jasmine rice, and wild rice are perfect for rice recipes like pilafs or side dish cuisine thanks to their fluffy and non-sticky texture.
If you love to eat rice, then understanding how long to cook rice is crucial to avoiding overcooked rice or mushy rice and making a good quality batch every time. Here’s a guide to cooking long-grain rice just right.
Can You Cook Long-Grain Rice in a Rice Cooker?
- Put 1 cup of long-grain rice in a bowl. Add enough cold water, about two cups or more, to fully submerge the rice. Swirl the long-grain rice grains in the water gently then drain the water by emptying the rice into a sieve. Wash the rice three more times.
- Place the rice back in the bowl and cover it with water. Let it soak for 30 minutes. (Rinsing the long-grain rice cleans it of excess starch and any surface impurities while soaking the rice gives it a fluffier texture and softer consistency.)
- Place the rice in the nonstick container of the rice cooker. Add 2 cups of water.
- Follow the rice cooker instructions and cook on the “brown rice” setting. The complete cycle runs for about 30 minutes. When the cycle is complete, check to see if the rice is thoroughly cooked with a fluffy consistency. If not, allow the rice to heat in the “keep warm” setting for 30 minutes. This will remove residual water from the rice and allow it to soften.
- Fluff the rice with a fork when fully cooked. Cook it with your favorite rice recipe and serve rice while warm.
Can You Cook Long-Grain Rice on the Stove?
- Bring a large pot of water to boil on the stovetop over medium-high heat using at least two cups of water per one cup of rice.
- Put one cup of long-grain white rice or brown rice in a bowl. Add enough cold water to fully submerge the rice. Swirl the long-grain rice grains in the water gently then drain the water by emptying the rice into a sieve or rice washer. Wash the rice three more times.
- Add and cook rice in boiling water. Reduce the temperature as necessary to prevent overflow, but maintain a steady boil. Boil, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
- Drain off the remaining cooking water and return the rice to the pot. Cover the pot and let the rice rest, off the heat, for 10 minutes.
- Fluff the rice with a fork when fully cooked. Cook it with your favorite rice recipe and serve while warm.
Long-Grain Rice Cooking Tips
- To get a really fluffy texture out of your long-grain white rice, wild rice, or other types, washing and soaking the grains in cold water is the best option. Avoid using warm water as this will soften the rice and make it soggy.
- To easily remember how long you should cook this rice for, remember to use the “brown rice setting” on a rice cooker. It takes twice as long to cook as white rice in both a cooker and on the stovetop.
Final Note on Cooking Rice
Unlike short or medium-grain white rice, this type of rice takes a bit more cook time in order to bring it to its best quality. Whether you need to cook your long-grain rice in your rice cooker or stovetop, being able to make a quality batch of cooked rice is very easy and can be mastered by anyone who loves eating it every day as either a side or main dish.
