Perfect Jasmine Rice

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With the right water-to-rice ratio, you can make perfectly cooked jasmine rice every time.

Spoon in a bowl of jasmine rice.

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.

jasmine rice close up

What You’ll Need To Make Jasmine Rice

jasmine rice ingredients

Step-by-Step Instructions

Bring the water to a boil in a medium saucepan.

Pot of boiling water.Stir in the rice and salt.

Stirring in the rice and saltCover, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 15 minutes until all of the water is absorbed.

Covered pot on a stovetop.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.

cooked jasmine rice in pot

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.

Spoon in a bowl of jasmine rice.

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Perfect Jasmine Rice

With the right water-to-rice ratio, you can make perfectly cooked jasmine rice every time.

Servings: 4-6
Total Time: 20 Minutes

Ingredients

  • 2¾ cups water, plus more if necessary
  • 1½ cups jasmine rice
  • ¾ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. 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.
  2. 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

Powered by Edamam

  • 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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Comments

  • I followed the recipe exactly as it is and this is the best Jasmine rice I’ve ever had! Thank you!

  • If the ratio is 1:1-1/2, why does this call for 2-3/4 cups water? I trusted the recipe and went with it but now have soup and its the last of my rice 😭

    • Hi Jess, I mention in the recipe intro that most packages specify the 1: 1 1/2 ratio, but that I add a bit more water because I prefer the rice to be softer. So sorry, you had a problem with this!

    • I’ve made this rice so many times – and it always comes out perfect. Perhaps your measurements were incorrect and that’s why it came our like soup?

    • This turned out awfully. Not sure if I messed up by stirring the rice while simmering, but many of the creations remained under hooked and crunchy while some others were over cooked. I chose to follow this recipe based on the good reviews but I regret it.

      • wrong type of cooking pans results in undercook food or scoarched food ……try heavy duty pans,cast iron , thick copper coated ones , NO cheap pans like sets for $30 or $40 because they wont work , only for beginners learning basic cooking like breakfast

        • — william e wheatley
        • Reply
  • Came out maybe 3/4 cooked.

    • Hi Deana, how long did you cook the rice?

  • I made this and it came out absolutely delicious! This is now my go to recipe for when I make Jasmine rice. Thank you!!

  • Hello everyone! This recipe is wonderful! My rice cooker went kapootz 2 week ago! I thought I’d try to cook it on the stove (scary thought for me). This recipe worked out perfectly. The ratio is also perfect. The rice was cooked exactly the way we like it. It was so fluffy. I have made it twice since with the same excellent results. I am so happy I found this recipe. Thank you, Jenn.

  • Yes, we got perfectly cooked jasmine rice based on Jenns suggestions, thank you Jenn!

  • I just have to say that this recipe for Jasmine rice came out perfect and amazing! Thank you so very much! I cannot tell you the countless times I have ruined all rice. I have a very picky 10 year old daughter who only likes the rice at our “Thai” restaurant. She and my husband told me it was exactly like the restaurant. I made this with your incredible Chicken Satay recipe that also came out EXACTLY like our fav Thai restaurant. Was such a great surprise for recipes to actually come out. Your amazing!! Thank you.

  • I really need to know what select brand of Jasmine rice will have the line in the grain of rice after it’s done.

    • — Rhonda Lewis-Jones
    • Reply
    • Hi Rhonda, I’m sorry, but I’m not sure what line you’re referring to. I use Mahatma brand Jasmine rice and get good results with it.

  • It turned out absolutely perfect! I had it as a side to what everyone seems to agree is Salmon Katsu. This is the first time I’ve made jasmine rice and I felt so proud of myself. It really helped boost my confidence in cooking as I had lost it when I failed to cook brown rice perfectly (multiple times) despite following multiple recipes. I will most likely end up gushing about this good feeling to my therapist when I see her next week.

    • — Zwi Shawn Delossantos
    • Reply
  • Years ago I used to eat African rice dishes that used jasmine rice when I dated an African man. I tried countless times to duplicate the rice. Every jasmine recipe I tried, the rice came out mushy or cooked too much. For the first time in years I have found the perfect recipe. I just add some olive oil and little extra salt and boil it with few onion slices for extra flavor. Thank you for posting correct rice cooking directions! I’m so happy lol

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