WATCH: How to Cook Perfectly Fluffy Rice, Every Time

Who doesn’t love fluffy rice? We pair most Pinoy dishes with steamed rice and while it’s relatively easy to cook, not all grains are cooked the same way. 

It all starts with your favorite grain variant–white, red, brown– that has been rinsed well and drained. Then water is added before the rice cooker is turned on and left to simmer, steam, and maybe, steam some more. It’s the amount of water added that is the crucial element in creating fluffy grains of rice, but it’s also what you do which ensures every grain is as fluffy as it can be.

White, brown, red, and black rice are all cooked differently: the amount of water used and how long each needs to be cooked to become tender changes from one variant to the next. 

Brown and red rice need more water than white rice, while red rice needs more time to cook as it doesn’t soak up water as much as brown rice. Meanwhile, black rice a.k.a. forbidden rice is more similar to malagkit, or sticky rice, than the other three variants. Because of this, even more water is needed to ensure the rice is cooked until tender. The resulting rice has a sticky consistency much like the malagkit we all know, but with a more earthier, sweet taste.  

Here’s how to do it.

How to cook perfectly fluffy white rice

• 1 cup uncooked, whole grain white rice
• 1 cup water
•  

• 1 In the bowl of a rice cooker, rinse rice in water until water runs almost clear. Drain.

• 2 Add water and place in rice cooker. Cover and turn on. Let cook until button releases. Let rice steam until all the water has evaporated and almost all steam has dissipated. Using a fork, fluff rice, cover, and let sit another minute before serving.

How to cook fluffy brown or red rice

• 1 cup uncooked, whole grain brown or red rice
• 1 1/2 cups water
•  
• 1 In the bowl of a rice cooker, rinse rice in water at least twice. Drain.

• 2 Add water and place in rice cooker. Cover and turn on. Let cook until button releases. Stir. Rice will still be watery. Cover, and press cook button again. If needed, repeat until almost all the water has evaporated.

• 3 Let rice steam until almost all the water has evaporated and almost all steam has dissipated. Using a fork, fluff rice, cover, and let sit another minute before serving.

How to cook fluffy, tender black rice

• 1 cup uncooked, whole grain black rice
• 1 3/4 cup water

• 1 In the bowl of a rice cooker, rinse rice in water at least twice. Drain.

• 2 Add water and place in rice cooker. Cover and turn on. Let cook until button releases. Uncover and stir. Rice will still be watery. Press cook button 2 more times, letting rice cook again until the button releases. Repeat until the black rice is tender and almost all the water has evaporated. Rice will look sticky and wet. Taste test for tenderness.

• 3 Let rice finish steaming until all the steam has dissipated. Let sit another minute before serving.

WATCH: 3 Other Ways to Use a Rice Cooker Posted in: Cooking

How To Cook Rice On the Stovetop

No rice cooker? No problem. Add the indicated amount of rice and water in a medium saucepot and place over medium heat. Bring to a boil, cover with a lid that’s slightly ajar to allow steam to escape, and cook until tender, stirring as necessary to prevent sticking. Cook until all the water has evaporated and is to your desired tenderness. Let sit, covered, until the steam has dissipated. Serve while hot.