How to cook white rice

Fluffy, separate grains every time.

Time: 35 min · Difficulty: Easy · 4 steps

What you need

Rinse the rice
Measure 1 cup of rice into a mesh strainer. Rinse it under cold water, swishing with your fingers, until the water runs clear.
Tip: don’t lose your rice!
Combine and boil
Add the rinsed rice to a medium saucepan with 1½ cups of water, a large pinch of salt and a teaspoon of butter or oil. Bring it to a rolling boil over medium-high heat.
Tip: should look like vigorous boiling
Cover and simmer
When it boils, turn the heat all the way down (not off) and cover with a lid. Don’t lift the lid: the trapped steam is what cooks the rice.
Tip: no peeking!
Rest and fluff
Take the pan off the heat, keep the lid on, and let it sit for 10 minutes. Then lift the lid and gently fluff the rice with a fork.
Tip: resting spreads the moisture