Rinse white rice until the water runs clear to remove surface starch. Bring to a boil, cover, simmer on low for the time shown, then let it rest off the heat, covered, for 10 minutes before fluffing. Rice cookers often need slightly less water.
How to use the Rice to Water Ratio Calculator
- Rice type
- Custom water ratio (cups of water per cup of rice)
- Uncooked rice
Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.
How it works
Choose the rice type and enter the amount of uncooked rice.
Inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Rice type | Choose one: White long grain, White medium grain, White short grain, Jasmine … |
| Custom water ratio (cups of water per cup of rice) | A number |
| Uncooked rice | Units: cups, ml, g, oz |
What each result means
- Water = [Uncooked rice]×[Water per cup of rice]
- Cooked rice (approx.) = [Uncooked rice]×3
- Servings (¾ cup cooked) = [Uncooked rice]×3÷(0.75×236.5882365)
Example values
How the main result changes when Custom water ratio changes and everything else stays at the example values above:
| Custom water ratio (cups of water per cup of rice) | Water (cups) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 2 |
| 1.5 | 2 |
| 2 | 2 |
| 2.5 | 2 |
| 3 | 2 |
| 4 | 2 |
Formula
Water = uncooked rice × ratio (by volume)
White long grain 1:2, basmati 1:1.5, jasmine 1:1.75, sushi 1:1.33, brown 1:1.75–2, wild 1:2, parboiled 1:2.25
Cooked rice ≈ 3 × uncooked
Worked example
Inputs: Rice type: White long grain; Uncooked rice: 1 cups.
Results: Water per cup of rice = 2 cups; Water = 2 cups; Simmer time = 18 min; Cooked rice (approx.) = 3 cups; Servings (¾ cup cooked) = 4.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ratio of water to rice?
2 cups of water per cup of white long-grain rice; less for basmati and jasmine.
How much water for 2 cups of rice?
About 4 cups for long-grain white rice, 3½ for brown long grain.
Do I need more water for brown rice?
It needs a longer simmer (about 45 minutes) and a little more water than basmati.