How to Make the Perfect Jasmine Rice (Stovetop and Rice Cooker Methods)

Jasmine rice is a long-grain variety of aromatic rice grown in regions in South East Asia, such as Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. It has an exquisite flavor and delicate, fragrant aroma. Prized for its texture and ability to absorb the flavors of other ingredients, perfect jasmine rice can be used in a variety of cuisines from Thai to Indian. 

Jasmine rice is also known as ‘fragrant rice’ or ‘aromatic rice.’ This long-grain rice is usually available as white rice but can also be purchased as a brown rice variety. When cooked, perfect jasmine rice becomes light and fluffy, with an attractive glossy appearance.

If you love jasmine rice and would like to make it at home or have trouble getting it right, this article is for you.

Is It Necessary to Rinse Jasmine Rice?

The answer is yes! Rinsing jasmine rice is an important part of preparing great-tasting, fragrant rice. Jasmine rice is a long-grain rice that results in separate grains and is slightly sticky when cooked correctly. Rinsing the rice helps to remove the extra starch and impurities that can otherwise affect the texture and flavor of the cooked rice.

To rinse rice, first, fill a bowl or rice washer with enough cold water to cover the grains, then swirl the grains with your hand. Drain the cloudy water, repeat two more times and you are ready to cook. 

Rinsing the rice can also help to make the finished dish less clumpy. Keep in mind that rinsing jasmine rice is different from other types of rice; you should never soak it for a prolonged period, as this can cause the grains to become too soft. With just a few short rinses, you will be well on your way to making perfect jasmine rice every time!

What is the Correct Rice to Water Ratio for Jasmine Rice?

It is important to use the correct water-to-rice ratio for jasmine rice in order to get the best results. Jasmine rice doesn’t require as much liquid as other types of rice. Similar to Basmati rice, the standard rice-to-water ratio for jasmine rice is 1:1.5, which means that if you are cooking 1 cup of rice, you will need 1 ½ cups of water. If you are cooking 2 cups of rice, you will need 3 cups of water.

If there is too much water, your rice will be overly soft and mushy. Too little water will result in dry and chewy rice with a strong flavor. Always add just enough liquid so that all of the rice is completely submerged; this will help to ensure that you’ll have perfectly cooked and fluffy jasmine rice every time.

How Do You Cook Jasmine Rice Perfectly?

Cooking jasmine rice is simple and straightforward. There are two methods for cooking jasmine rice: the stovetop method and the rice cooker method.

Perfectly Cooked Jasmine Rice on the Stovetop

Cooking rice on the stove can be tricky but with the right technique, you’ll be able to get perfectly fluffy rice. Here’s the stovetop recipe to cook fluffy jasmine rice:

1. To cook jasmine rice on the stovetop, first, rinse the rice properly.
2. Add the rinsed rice to a pot.
3. Add the appropriate amount of liquid by using the correct water-to-rice ratio of 1.5:1 where 1.5 cups of water are equal to 1 cup of rice.
4. Ensure that your pot has a tight-fitting lid. Cover your pot with the tight-fitting lid and bring it to a boil over medium-high heat. 
5. Once boiling, reduce to low heat and let the rice simmer for 12 minutes or until all of the liquid is absorbed. Finally, remove the pot from the heat and allow it to sit for 10 minutes.
6. Fluff the rice with a fork before serving.

Cook Jasmine Rice Using a Rice Cooker

Rice cookers are highly convenient kitchen companions and using them will result in perfect rice every time. Making jasmine rice in a rice cooker is very simple too. Here’s how you do it:

1. First, rinse the rice properly.
2. After rinsing, add rice to the inner pot of your rice cooker along with the appropriate amount of liquid. The correct ratio for jasmine rice is 1:1.5 which means 1 cup of rice is equal to 1 1/2 cups of water.
3. Close the lid and cook rice according to the instructions of your cooker. 
4. Once cooking has finished, allow the cooked rice to sit for 10 minutes.
5. Fluff rice with a fork or a rice paddle before serving.

How Do You Make Jasmine Rice Not Soggy?

Following the jasmine rice recipe above and using the correct rice and water ratio will help to prevent soggy jasmine rice. Additionally, it is important to follow cooking instructions carefully and not leave cooked jasmine rice sitting in the pot after cooking has finished. This can cause the rice grains to become overly soft and mushy. If you plan to store jasmine rice for later, allow it to cool completely before transferring the grains to an airtight container and storing them in the refrigerator. 

Reheating jasmine rice can also make it soggy. If you do need to reheat jasmine rice, it is best to use a steamer basket or a dry skillet to keep the grains from becoming too soft. Following these tips will ensure that you will not have soggy, mushy rice and instead have perfectly cooked rice every time.

Why is My Jasmine Rice Sticky and Mushy?

If jasmine rice is sticky and mushy, it could be because the rice and water ratio was incorrect or because the jasmine rice was left in the cooking pot too long. To prevent having mushy or sticky rice, make sure to rinse the grains before cooking and use a 1:1.5 ratio which means 1 cup of jasmine rice is equal to 1 1/2 cups of liquid. 

Additionally, it is important to remove the jasmine rice from the stove as soon as it is done cooking. Let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes. Following these steps should help jasmine rice to cook up light and fluffy every time.

What to Serve With Jasmine Rice

Jasmine rice is incredibly versatile and can be served with a variety of dishes. It’s good as fried rice and pairs well with stir-fries and curries. It can also be used as a side dish for grilled meats or roasted vegetables.

Jasmine Rice Recipe Notes

• Cooking the rice in an Instant Pot is quick, easy, and convenient. To cook jasmine rice in an Instant Pot, first, rinse the grains to remove any impurities or excess starch. Then add the rinsed grains to the inner pot of your Instant Pot along with 1 cup of liquid and 1 cup of dry jasmine rice. Close the lid of the Instant Pot, set it to pressure cook on high, and cook for 3 minutes. Once the timer goes off, quick release the pressure, open the lid and fluff with a fork before serving. Following these simple tips, you cook jasmine rice flawlessly in your Instant Pot every time! 
• Leftover jasmine rice can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• For softer rice, don’t forget to let the rice rest for 10 minutes after cooking.
• To reheat, place a small amount of leftover jasmine rice in a microwave-safe bowl and add 1 tablespoon of water per cup of leftover rice. Cover with a damp paper towel and microwave on high for 1 minute or until the rice is heated through. 
• Alternatively, leftover jasmine rice can be reheated on a stovetop. For the cooking process of leftover jasmine rice, heat the rice in a skillet with a few tablespoons of water or olive oil. Stir often until the leftover jasmine rice is hot and steaming.
• To add extra flavor, add salt to the jasmine rice before reheating. This will help to enhance the flavor of your jasmine rice and make it taste even better!
• You may have rice stuck on the bottom of your pan if you cook rice on the stovetop. You can add butter or olive oil to the boiling water to prevent this and also add a dash of flavor.

Final Note

Whether you eat it as a main dish or a side dish, jasmine rice is very delicious as it gives great balance to a lot of food. Making perfectly cooked jasmine rice is easy and straightforward. With the right ratio of rice to water and a few simple techniques, you can cook jasmine rice that is perfectly fragrant, light, and fluffy every time! Enjoy!

Looking for more tasty recipes to serve to your family? We have all kinds of recipes that you can cook with a rice cooker, an Instant Pot, or a slow cooker. Check them out!