Perfect brown rice is fluffy and tender.

Here’s how to make it.

By contrast, white rice is a refined grain without the bran and germ.

Southern Living How to Cook Brown Rice in a bowl to serve

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Therefore, it is softer, and it cooks faster.

Mastering how to cook brown rice is really quite simple.

There are two popular methods for rinsing your rice.

Southern Living How to Cook Brown Rice ingredients

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

If you dont add enough water, your rice will be underdone and crunchy.

But if you add too much water, it could get mushy and overcooked.

So, for 1 cup of rice, use 2 cups of liquid (water or broth).

Southern Living How to Cook Brown Rice rinsing the rice

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Of course, its never a bad idea to double-check the rice package youve chosen.

Heed those directions when in doubt.

No amount of reheating will make it safe to eat again.

Southern Living How to Cook Brown Rice combining the rice, water, and salt in a saucepan

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Therefore, anyleftover riceshould be cooled to room temperature and stored right away.

If you dont expect to eat it within that window, then freeze it for up to six months.

Add ingredients to pan:

Add rice, water, and salt to a medium-sized saucepan.

Southern Living How to Cook Brown Rice bringing to a boil

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Simmer until the liquid is absorbed (roughly 30 minutes).

Fluff:

Fluff with a fork and serve.

Frequently Asked Questions

A water-to-rice ratio of 2-to-1 will never fail you.

Southern Living How to Cook Brown Rice after the rice has been cooked

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

In this recipe, we call for 1 cup of brown rice and 2 cups of water or broth.

It takes about 45 minutes to make brown rice.

You should not soak rice before cooking it.

Southern Living How to Cook Brown Rice fluffing with a fork

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

This will affect the texture once it’s cooked.

Rinsing rice helps remove some of the starch on the outside of the grains.