If you’re anything like me and you love a good bowl of rice, you know just how important it is to get the proportions right. There’s nothing worse than cooking up a pot of rice that’s either too hard or too mushy — isn’t that the truth?

But sometimes, life throws you a bag of raw rice, and you’re left wondering, “How much of this do I need to make one cup?” Don’t worry, because I’m about to go over the essential rules for cooking rice.

Here’s the short version: Take ½ cup of uncooked rice, cook it in 1 cup of water, and voila, you have 1 cup of cooked rice. You do this by bringing the water to a boil, then reducing the heat and cooking the rice at a gentle simmer with the lid on.

How to Cook Rice Like a Pro

So you want to cook rice just like your Mamma (or Grandma, or favorite chef) used to make it? The good news is, as long as you stick to a few basic guidelines, it’s remarkably simple.

First, you need to rinse the rice to remove any impurities. Grab a fine-mesh sieve and pour the rice in. Then, rinse it under cold running water until the water runs clear. You want to make sure you remove all of the dirt and debris until the rice is clean.

Now that the impurities are gone, it’s time to measure our cooking water. We’ll use twice the amount of water as rice — so if you have ½ cup of rice, you’ll need 1 cup of water.

Combine the rice grains and water in the pot, add ½ teaspoon of salt, then give it a little stir and turn the heat to medium-high. Put a lid on the pot, bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat so that the water is simmering gently. Resist the temptation to peek under the lid once the rice starts simmering — instead, let the steam work its magic and cook the rice to perfection.

Before you know it, all that water will be absorbed, and your rice will be tender and ready to serve.

Easy, right?

In Summary

So there you have it!

Rice-cooking 101 is complete, and you’ve read it thoroughly, so you’re officially a rice-cooking expert. Whether you’re looking to make a quick weeknight dinner or preparing a leisurely meal on a Sunday, you now know the fundamental rules for preparing a perfect pot of rice.

Remember, the secret is to adhere to the correct proportions of rice to water — 1 part rice, 2 parts water — and the right cooking method. And, of course, rinse that rice before cooking to remove any impurities, and cook it in salted water so it’s flavorful.

It’s time to enjoy a big bowl of tender, fluffy rice and savor the deliciousness.