2 cups of uncooked rice are enough for a family of 4, so the most common question is: How much water for 2 cups of rice? Although there are many factors at play, typically, you should use 4 cups of water for 2 cups of rice (uncooked). 4 cups of water and 2 cups of rice (uncooked) will yield 6 cups of cooked rice.
Cooking rice is one of those basic kitchen tasks that is super simple but so easy to mess up. If you’ve ever ended up with soggy or burnt rice, you know cooking rice isn’t always as easy as it sounds. It’s important to get the rice-to-water ratio correct, so you can get the right texture and consistency.
If you’ve ever wondered how much water to add to a rice recipe, you’re not alone! This question is extremely common, and it’s one I’ll answer for you below.
In this article, I’ll discuss how much water to add to different amounts of rice, explain the differences in rice types, and answer some frequently asked questions about cooking rice.
Ready to learn more? Let’s get cooking!
Contents
How much water for xx cups of rice? The general rule
The general rule is literally 1 – 2 – 3; 1 cup of uncooked rice to 2 cups of water gives 3 cups of rice. Simple enough, right?
Applying this rule: How much water for 2 cups of rice?
2 cups of rice (uncooked) need 4 cups of water and you get 6 cups of cooked rice. 6 cups of rice should serve 4 people.
In general, you should estimate 1 to 1.5 cups of cooked rice per person (3/4 cups for children). So in that case, you should estimate anywhere from 1/3 to 1/2 cup of uncooked rice per adult.
You’ll notice I’ve used cups here. Cups are not a universal measurement, but that doesn’t matter. What matters are two things: the ratio and that you measure volume.
So don’t be surprised if you get a Japanese rice cooker and the cup that comes with it isn’t the same size as the measuring cup you have in your kitchen drawer. It’s still the same ratio, 1-2-3.
If you prefer to measure in milliliters–feel free, but don’t use grams. These ratios work well for volume, not weight.
Cooked and Uncooked Cups of Rice
Cooked rice is approximately 3 times the volume of uncooked rice. So it’s critical when looking at the amount of rice, be it for recipes or cookware, that you know whether it’s cooked or uncooked rice.
½ a cup of cooked rice will be approximately enough for one person as a side dish, assuming you aren’t just eating rice! On the same basis, 1 ½ cups of rice is also enough for one person if it’s the main part of a meal.
Types of Rice
Cooking rice can vary, depending on the meal and the type of rice. It can make a difference in how many cups of rice you should prepare, as well as how much water to add. Here is a quick breakdown of the common types of rice and the amount of liquid each type requires.
White Rice
White rice is a refined grain that has had the bran and germ removed. You can find short, medium, or long-grain varieties. It has mild flavor and a fluffy texture. White rice follows the standard rule of 2 cups of water for every cup of rice.
Brown Rice
Brown rice is an unrefined grain with the bran and germ intact. It has a chewy texture and a nutty flavor. Brown rice comes in short-grain, medium, or long-grain rice varieties. Brown rice requires 2 cups of water for every cup of rice.
Black Rice
Black rice is a whole grain with the bran and germ intact. Much like brown rice, it has a chewy texture and a nutty flavor. It’s also available in short, medium, or long-grain varieties. Black rice requires 2 cups of water for every cup of rice.
Basmati Rice
Basmati is an aromatic, long-grain rice. It has a nutty flavor and works well in Pakistani or Indian dishes. You can find white or brown Basmati rice. It follows the standard 2:1 water-to-rice ratio.
Jasmine Rice
Jasmine is another aromatic, long-grain rice, but it originates in Thailand. It has a floral aroma and a subtly sweet flavor. It’s available in white or brown varieties and works well in Asian cuisine. It requires 2 cups of water for every cup of rice.
Sticky rice
Sticky rice, a.k.a. glutinous rice, is a short-grain rice with high starch content. It has a sticky texture and is common in Asian cuisine. Sticky rice is often soaked and then steamed in a steamer basket, so you won’t use as much water. Most of the time, you need just enough water to cover the rice for soaking purposes.
Wild Rice
Wild rice is a whole-grain variety with the bran and germ intact. It has a chewy texture and nutty flavor, much like brown and black rice. It’s popular in rice pilaf. You can find short, medium, or long-grain versions. You need more water for wild rice. I suggest 3 cups of water for every cup of rice.
Instant Rice
Instant rice is refined grain rice that has been precooked and dried. It can be prepared in a matter of 5 minutes, versus the standard 20-30 minutes. You can find short, medium, and long-grain varieties. It follows a 1:1 ratio of water to rice.
Parboiled Rice
Parboiled rice is whole-grain rice that has been partially boiled in the husk. It has a fluffy texture but a similar nutritional profile to brown rice. Parboiled rice comes in short, medium, and long-grain varieties. It follow the standard ratio of water-to-rice.
Risotto Rice
Risotto is a short-grain rice from Italy. It has a creamy texture and works well in Italian dishes. Risotto requires more water than the standard ratio. I recommend 3 cups of water for every cup of uncooked rice.
Sushi Rice
Sushi rice is usually short-grain rice and needs to be sticky, not fluffy. It uses less water than other varieties. I suggest between 1 and 1 ¼ cups of water for every cup of uncooked sushi rice. If you use too much water, it will be fluffy, not sticky–which kind of defies the point of sushi. You want that rice to stick together for the perfect sushi roll.
As ever, if you have a recipe in front of you, it can be worth following that. Some recipes will use a weight for the rice, making these ratios meaningless. It’s acceptable to weigh rice instead of measuring volume if that’s what the recipe specifies, but not if you are using the ratios in this article.
Rice cooker
Using a rice cooker is a great way to get consistent results. If you’d like to prepare several cups of rice each week, a rice cooker might be a worthwhile investment for you.
Rice cookers are pretty good at retaining water and so might need less water than usual. Check your cooker’s instructions, or with an ultra-modern Japanese rice cooker, follow the on-screen guidance.
If you are specifically trying to prepare sushi, then check out my round up of rice cookers for sushi.
How to Cook the Perfect Rice
If you’re trying to figure out how to make the perfect batch of rice, use the following tips to help you get the best results:
Always use a tight-fitting lid. If the saucepan’s lid is loose, it will release steam and lower the temperature inside. A tight-fitting lid will trap the steam and cook the rice more evenly.
Don’t overcook the rice. Rice that’s overcooked will lose its shape and be mushy. What’s worse, if all the steam is absorbed, you could end up with burnt rice at the bottom of the pan. You’ll have a nasty mess to clean and no rice to eat.
Rinse the rice before cooking. Rinsing is not always required. In fact, with sushi, it’s best not to rinse so the rice will stick together. However, to achieve fluffy rice, you should rinse the rice. Rinsing removes any excess starch and allows the grains to stay separate while staying light and fluffy.
Simmer, don’t boil. Always bring the water to a boiling point and then reduce the heat to low and simmer until the rice is ready.
Use a large enough pot. Unless you want steam spewing out from the lid, it’s a good idea to use a pot large enough to hold the water and rice with plenty of extra room. That allows the rice to expand and the steam to rise.
Fluff rice with a fork before serving. This is one of those things that might sound like people do it for no reason, but it serves an important purpose. Fluffing the rice separates the grains and enhances the texture. Rice really does taste better after it’s been fluffed. I promise.
How to Store & Reheat Cooked Rice
You’ve figured out the right amount of water, and you made several cups of rice. But what if you have leftovers? Can you store cooked rice? If so, how do you reheat it properly? Not to fear. You don’t have to waste that extra rice.
When it comes to cooking rice, some people prefer batch cooking, or making several cups of rice at once. This is efficient and saves time, but proper storage is key. Use the guidelines below to help you store and reheat that leftover rice.
Storing Cooked Rice
Store leftover cooked rice in an airtight container. You don’t want air or moisture getting in there and ruining the rice. You can store leftover rice in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Reheat in the Microwave
Perhaps the fastest way to reheat rice is in the microwave. To reheat in the microwave, add the cooked rice to a microwave-safe dish. Heat for 1-2 minutes on 50% power level, or until warm.
Reheat on the Stove
Reheating rice on the stove is my go-to method. It’s fairly fast and delivers the freshest-tasting results, in my opinion. Place the cooked rice in a saucepan with a small amount of water. Heat the rice over low heat or until it is warmed through.
Reheat in the Oven
Did you know you can also reheat rice in the oven? Simply preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Add the rice to a baking dish and cook it for 10 minutes, or until warm.
How Long to Cook 2 Cups of Rice?
This largely depends on the type of rice you’re cooking. However, if you’re using standard white, medium-grain rice, it should take approximately 18 minutes to cook 2 cups of rice. For brown rice, expect it to take around 40 minutes to cook.
Short on time? You can use instant rice, although I find the taste to be pitiful in comparison. You can also precook several cups of rice and store it in the refrigerator for up to a week.
How Much Broth Should I Add to 2 Cups of Rice?
If you’re making a rice pilaf (i.e., using broth instead of water), you will still use the same ratios as if you were adding water. For instance, if you were cooking 2 cups of rice, you would add 4 cups of broth. This ratio would yield 6 cups of rice pilaf. Of course, you should follow your recipe’s instructions if you’re using one.
Experiment on Your Own
What you might have realized from all this is that changing the amount of water will change the texture of the final result.
Less water can make the rice sticky; more can make it fluffy.
So the first time you are doing it, stick to the recipe or the rules I’ve outlined here. Make sure you can prepare a decent dish of rice before you experiment.
But once you’ve mastered the basics, why not have a play around? Experiment a bit to see if you can get a better result.
Cooking isn’t a robotic process, and everyone will bring their own touch to it.
How Much Water for 2 Cups of Rice? Wrap-Up
So it’s really simple:
- If you are just cooking some standard store-bought rice, use 4 cups of water for 2 cups of rice (uncooked), which will be enough for a family of four.
- The general rule is 2 cups of water for every cup of uncooked rice. That will yield 3 cups of rice, which will easily feed 2 people.
- If you have a recipe? Follow it.
- Different rice types and dishes have different water ratios
- Once you’ve mastered the basics, feel free to play around until it works for you.
Ready to start cooking rice? This Grilled Salmon recipe pairs nicely with a side of rice and a fresh salad.
