How to Cook Brown Rice

5 from 5 ratings

from kristineskitchenblog.com

The best way to cook brown rice is to cook it like pasta! This foolproof method makes the best fluffy brown rice. Serve it with stir fries, as a side dish, or use it in your favorite brown rice recipes.

Prep Time5

Cook Time30

Resting Time10

Total Time45

Servings: servings

Calories: 136kcal

Ingredients

8 cups water
¼ teaspoon salt optional
1 cup brown rice

Instructions

Bring water (and salt, if using) to a boil in a 3 quart or larger saucepan or pot. (Make sure to use a pot that has a tight-fitting lid, since you will need to cover the rise while it rests after cooking.)
Meanwhile, place the rice in a fine-mesh strainer and rinse it well under cold running water.
Once the water is boiling, stir in the rice and reduce the heat to maintain a gentle boil. Boil the rice, uncovered, for 30 minutes. (Set a timer so that you don't overcook it.)
Turn off the heat. Pour the rice into a strainer and drain it very well. Immediately return the rice to the hot empty pot and cover with the lid. Let the rice sit for 10 minutes before serving. During this time it will steam and become light and fluffy.
Fluff the rice and serve.

Video

Notes

This method works for any type of brown rice – long grain, medium grain or short grain, as long as it’s not the quick-cooking or instant type of rice.
1 cup of dry rice will yield about 3 cups of cooked rice.
To Store: Promptly store leftover cooked brown rice in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
To Freeze: Quickly cool the rice (you can speed up the process by spreading the rice out in an even layer on a baking sheet), then promptly freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. I like to freeze rice in portion sizes that are enough for one meal.
To Reheat: When reheating rice, adding a little bit of water can help the rice to stay moist. Reheat in the microwave or in a pot on the stove, covered, stirring often. Or, reheat rice in the oven at 325 degrees F. Place the rice in a baking dish, stir in a little bit of water, and cover the dish tightly with foil. Bake the rice until hot, 15-20 minutes. Rice should be reheated until steaming hot.

Nutrition

Nutrition information is only an estimate.