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    Home / Recipes / Tips and Tricks

    How to Cook Perfect Brown Rice

    By Heather · Published: Feb 1, 2018 · Updated: Apr 4, 2018 · This post may contain affiliate links · See the privacy policy linked in my footer.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Tired of mushy, gummy, or not-quite-cooked-enough brown rice? This is my foolproof method to cook perfect brown rice that's fluffy every time! Below I'll show you how to cook brown rice on the stove-- rice cookers aren't the only way to success! Bowl of fluffy perfect brown rice with chopsticks

    Perfect Brown Rice

    I'm a big fan of brown rice but it wasn't always that way. There was a long time that I was convinced that brown rice had two ways of being served-- chewy and hard or complete mush. I don't know why I had never had properly cooked brown rice before, but I just hadn't.

    It wasn't until I learned to make it this way that I actually started liking it. It's been years since I figured this out and I honestly can't remember where I read about this method, but it truly is the best way to cook brown rice.

    And now, I rarely make white rice anymore! My kids don't ask for it and I actually prefer the hearty, nutty taste of brown rice compared to the white.

    Also, this perfect brown rice method doesn't take 5 bazillion years to cook! Just 30 minutes, which is quite an improvement from the hour+ I was cooking it on the stovetop before.

    Are you ready for this? It's so stinkin' simple.

    How To Cook Brown Rice on the Stove

    Boil some water in a big pot just like you would for pasta.

    A pot cooking perfect brown rice on the stove top

    Pour your desired amount of rice into the boiling water, just like you would pasta.

    Pouring brown rice into a pot of boiling water to cook

    Let it boil, just like you would pasta, for 30 minutes. Try a piece and see if it's tender enough for you. If not, just keep boiling.

    Perfect brown rice on a spatula above a pot

    If it is cooked how you like, pour the rice and water into a colander and drain off the water. Then, quickly pour the rice back into the pot and cover it. You'll let it "steam" like this for 5 minutes.

    After it's had a chance to steam, just fluff it up with a fork and you're ready to eat!

    Fluffy and Perfect brown rice cooked in a pot on the stove

    Pretty simple huh? If you try this perfect brown rice method, I'd love to hear what you think! It's definitely made getting our whole grains into our meals a whole lot easier!

    Want More Cooking Tutorials?

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    How To Cook Perfect Brown Rice

    How to Cook Perfect Brown Rice

    Tired of mushy, gummy, or not-quite-cooked-enough brown rice? This is my foolproof way to get perfectly cooked, fluffy brown rice every time!
    By Heather Cheney
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes
    Servings: 4 cups cooked rice

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups Brown Rice
    • 3 Quarts Water
    • 1 teaspoon salt

    Instructions

    • Bring water to a boil in large pot. Add salt bring back to a boil and pour in rice. Let cook at a full boil (just like you do pasta) for 30 minutes.
    • Test a piece of rice and if it's cooked to your liking, remove from heat and pour rice into a colander to drain off the water.
    • Immediately pour rice back into the pot and cover with a tight fitting lid. Allow rice to steam off the heat for 5 minutes and fluff with a fork before serving.

    Nutrition Facts

    Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 343 kcal | Carbohydrates: 72 g | Protein: 7 g | Fat: 2 g | Sodium: 620 mg | Potassium: 254 mg | Fiber: 3 g | Calcium: 53 mg | Iron: 1.7 mg

    Nutrition and Food Safety Disclosure

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Doris M Epperly says

      April 01, 2021 at 5:45 pm

      I am going to try this. I only like brown rice or wild blend. I like it with texture lol. No mushy white rice for me. I don't even like spanish rice! But I am only cooking for two. So only using one cup of rice, kinda scared as my cooking skills have gone down hill with my new husband being a meat and potatoes person (hate it) wish me luck 💖

      Reply
    2. Tina Saffron says

      January 04, 2020 at 10:20 pm

      Works like a gem!

      Reply
    3. Mike says

      October 20, 2018 at 5:27 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely perfect brown rice with this recipe !!!

      Reply
      • Nick says

        July 30, 2019 at 8:01 am

        The rice is perfectly cooked but it is sticky

        Reply
    4. Mike says

      October 20, 2018 at 5:24 pm

      This is the very best fool-proof way to make brown rice !!! After cooking brown rice several different ways over the past 30 years, this way of cooking brown rice makes it turn out right every time.

      Reply
    5. valerie stephenson says

      October 11, 2018 at 9:02 am

      5 stars
      finally i have been able to cook brown rice perectly...never thought to cook it like pasta...you are a genius...thank you thank you thank you..

      Reply
    6. DessertForTwo says

      June 06, 2016 at 5:03 am

      Great tips!

      Reply
    7. Megan @ MegUnprocessed says

      June 02, 2016 at 11:18 pm

      Excellent explantation!

      Reply
    8. Lane & Holly @ With Two Spoons says

      June 01, 2016 at 8:16 am

      Sounds so easy!

      Reply
    9. Kristen says

      May 31, 2016 at 1:19 pm

      Totally trying this soon! Goodbye mushy rice!

      Reply

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