Perfect Jasmine Rice
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With the right water-to-rice ratio, you can make perfectly cooked jasmine rice every time.
Named after the sweet-smelling jasmine flower, jasmine rice is a long grain rice native to Thailand with a delicate floral and buttery scent. The secret to cooking it perfectly is using the right water-to-rice ratio. Typically, the instructions on the package call for 1½ cups water for every 1 cup of rice. That’s fine if you like your rice “al dente,” but I prefer mine more tender, so I use a bit more water. Many recipes call for rinsing the grains before cooking but I think it’s an unnecessary extra step; even when you rinse jasmine rice, the grains have a slightly sticky texture and cling together.
As simple as rice may seem to prepare, it can be difficult to get “just right.” The key is usually tweaking the water-to-grain ratio or the cooking time. I often add a bit less water than I think I need in the beginning, then taste after steaming. If the rice is still too firm, I add a few tablespoons more and steam a bit longer. Jasmine rice is ideal for making fried rice. For more foolproof rice and grain cooking methods, see my basmati rice and couscous recipes.
What You’ll Need To Make Jasmine Rice
Step-by-Step Instructions
Bring the water to a boil in a medium saucepan.
Stir in the rice and salt.
Cover, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 15 minutes until all of the water is absorbed.
Taste the rice to test for doneness; it should be perfectly cooked, but if it is still too firm, add a few more tablespoons of water, cover the pan, and let the rice absorb the water off of the heat for a few more minutes.
How To Freeze Jasmine Rice
Cooked jasmine rice can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Putting it in a flat layer in sealable plastic bags works well, as the rice will take up less space in the freezer. There is no need to thaw the rice before reheating; simply remove it from the freezer and reheat in the microwave with 1 to 2 tablespoons of water.
You May Also Like
- Perfect Basmati Rice
- Cilantro Lime Rice
- Basmati Rice Pilaf with Dried Fruit & Almonds
- Mexican Rice
- Fried Rice
Perfect Jasmine Rice
With the right water-to-rice ratio, you can make perfectly cooked jasmine rice every time.
Ingredients
- 2¾ cups water, plus more if necessary
- 1½ cups jasmine rice
- ¾ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Bring the water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Stir in the rice and salt; cover the pan and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 15 minutes until all of the water is absorbed. Taste the rice to test for doneness; it should be perfectly cooked, but if it is still too firm, add a few more tablespoons of water, cover the pan, and let the rice absorb the water off of the heat for a few more minutes.
- Freezer-Friendly Instructions: Cooked jasmine rice can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Putting it in a flat layer in sealable plastic bags works well, as the rice will take up less space in the freezer. There is no need to thaw the rice before reheating; simply remove it from the freezer and reheat in the microwave with 1 to 2 tablespoons of water.
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (6 servings)
- Calories: 169
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Sugar: 0 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Sodium: 108 mg
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Gluten-Free Adaptable Note
To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you're following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.
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Apologies for leaving a comment without having tried this myself yet, but after reading the insanely polarized reviews, I am so curious to know what the issue might be! Are some people using old rice? Or is the issue in measuring cups which are nowhere near standardized in their measurements?? (Trust me, nerdy as it is, I check all my new liquid measuring cups against a proper measuring beaker and the amounts vary wildly…!!!)
Anyway, I personally bring my water and rice to a boil, then cover and turn off the heat entirely. The residual heat steams the rice and this way there is less chance of foam escaping. Hope this helps somebody save time!
This was very tasty! Came out perfect. I did rinse the rice (habit) and didn’t use any salt. Cooked it for 20 minutes. Make sure to use a large enough pot- using too small a pot can also sometimes cause mushy rice. Thanks for a great recipe!
Your recipe is appropriately named. Perfect! Thank you!
The only Jasmine rice recipe I use. It’s perfect.
The absolute best!
Worked like a charm! Thank you!
I want to make rice for over 25 people. Should I just scale up this recipe or are there others changes I should make?
Btw- I will be feeding a big crowd near 4th of July in an Airbnb as we also celebrate my dads 89th birthday. Do you have some recipes you’d recommend for a large crowd? Must be kid friendly to the <5 age group as well. Thank you!
Hi Robin, I think you can scale the recipe up for 25 servings. And regarding ideas for the 4th, a few recipes that come to mind and are relatively easy to scale are these ham and cheese sliders, peel and eat shrimp, chicken salad, and grilled chicken wings. And here’s a post with a lot of dessert ideas. Keep in mind that you may have to scale these recipes up as well. Hope it’s a great celebration!
Followed recipe exactly. Turned out fabulous. This recipe forever from now on. Thanks, Jen.