Rice to water ratio calculator

Cooked rice lives or dies on the water ratio. Too little and it scorches; too much and it turns to mush. The right ratio depends on the type of rice. The tool above takes your rice amount and type and gives you the water. The ratios are for the absorption method, on the stovetop or in a rice cooker.

Water to use

2 cups

Absorption method, on the stovetop or in a rice cooker. Bring to a simmer, cover, cook on low, then rest 5 to 10 minutes off the heat.

Rice to water ratios by type

Cups of water per 1 cup of uncooked rice, absorption method:

  • White long-grain rice: 2 cups water to 1 cup rice
  • White medium-grain rice: 1.5 cups water to 1 cup rice
  • Basmati rice: 1.5 cups water to 1 cup rice
  • Jasmine rice: 1.5 cups water to 1 cup rice
  • Brown rice: 2.5 cups water to 1 cup rice
  • Wild rice: 3 cups water to 1 cup rice
  • 1 cup of uncooked rice makes about 3 cups cooked

How rice absorbs water

The absorption method cooks rice in a measured amount of water until the water is gone. The rice swells as it takes in the water, so the ratio sets both the doneness and the texture. The tool multiplies your rice amount by the ratio for the type you pick.

Brown rice keeps its bran layer, which is tougher and slower to soften, so it needs more water and a longer cook. White rice has the bran removed and needs less. Basmati and jasmine are long-grain white rices bred for a drier, separate grain, so they use a little less water than standard long-grain.

Why your rice may still come out off

Rinsing rice before cooking washes off loose surface starch and changes how much water clings to the grain. The ratios here assume rinsed rice, which is the common practice for basmati and jasmine. If you do not rinse, the rice can cook slightly stickier.

Pot size, lid fit, and heat level all matter. A loose lid lets steam escape, so the rice runs dry; a tight lid holds it in. Keep the heat low once the water simmers, and do not lift the lid while it cooks.

Rice cookers may have their own fill lines that differ slightly from these ratios. When the machine has a line for the rice type, trust the machine.

Rice and water by weight

If you prefer weighing, 1 cup of uncooked white rice is about 200 grams. Water is about 1 gram per milliliter, so the 2-to-1 volume ratio is close to a 2-to-1 weight ratio. A kitchen scale makes the result repeatable batch after batch.

Common rice cooking mistakes

  • Using the white rice ratio for brown rice. Brown rice needs more water and more time; the white ratio leaves it hard.
  • Lifting the lid to check. Every peek lets out steam the rice needs. Leave it closed until the time is up.
  • Cooking on high the whole time. Bring the water to a simmer, then drop to low. High heat boils the water off before the rice is done.
  • Skipping the rest. Let cooked rice sit covered off the heat for 5 to 10 minutes; it finishes steaming and firms up.

FAQ

What is the rice to water ratio?
For white long-grain rice, 2 cups of water for every 1 cup of rice. Brown rice uses 2.5 cups. Basmati and jasmine use about 1.5 cups.
How much water for 1 cup of rice?
About 2 cups of water for 1 cup of white long-grain rice. The tool above adjusts the amount for other rice types.
How much water for 2 cups of rice?
4 cups of water for 2 cups of white long-grain rice. The 2-to-1 ratio scales directly.
Why does brown rice need more water?
Brown rice keeps its bran layer, which is tougher and absorbs water more slowly. It needs about 2.5 cups of water per cup and a longer cook than white rice.
Is the ratio the same in a rice cooker?
Close. The absorption ratios work in a rice cooker too. If your cooker has fill lines marked for each rice type, those are tuned to the machine and worth following.

Related tools and guides

¿Necesitas esta herramienta en español? Ver la proporción de arroz y agua.

Where these ratios come from

The ratios are the standard absorption-method guidelines used by rice producers and cooking references. They are starting points; the exact number shifts a little with the rice brand, the age of the rice, and your stove.

Sources

Our numbers and methodology cross-reference these authorities:

Last updated: