The water should run clear after you are done rinsing the rice. About 2 to 3 times should be enough, but you may need to rinse it more than that.

For more flavorful rice, add 1/2 teaspoon of salt. If you want to cook more or less rice, use a 1 to 1. 5 ratio of rice to water. Choose a pot that can hold 4 times the amount of rice you are cooking. The rice will expand to 3 times its, so you want the pot to be big enough. You can add flavor to rice by putting a little chicken stock in the pan instead of just water. [3] X Research source Or saute onions and garlic on low heat. Then add the rice until the rice gets coated, then add the water to the pan. [4] X Research source Or add coconut milk, scallions, and fish sauce. You can even sweeten it with a little brown or palm sugar. [5] X Research source

Make sure that the rice is still covered by water. If there are any rice mounds sticking out of the water, stir the water with a spoon.

Covering the rice is important; you want to trap the steam.

During this time, the trapped steam will finish cooking the rice for you.

If the rice is too dry or crunchy, add some water, cover the pot, and cook it over low heat for another 5 to 10 minutes. If the rice is too wet, cover the pot with a lid, and let it cook for another 5 to 7 minutes over low heat.

Rinsing the rice is important as it will remove any starch and prevent the rice from turning sticky.

For a more flavorful meal, add 1/2 teaspoon of salt. You do not need to dry the rice ahead of time—simply drain the excess water and add it to the rice cooker. If you are cooking a different amount of rice, adjust the amount of water accordingly. In most cases, you’ll use a 1 to 1 ratio of rice to water.

Some rice cookers have different cooking options. Read the labels to find the right option, then select it.

In some cases, you can leave the rice in the rice cooker for up to 30 minutes.

After you take the rice out, leave the rice cooker open and let it dry out. Brush off any leftover grains of rice, then wipe it clean with a damp sponge or washcloth.

Use cool water to rinse the rice, not hot. You can rinse the rice in a strainer or pot.

For more flavorful rice, add 1/8 teaspoon of salt. [13] X Research source If you are using a different amount of rice, adjust the amount of water accordingly. You’ll need a 1 to 2 ratio of rice to water.

Cooking times may vary from microwave to microwave, so the steam holes may not appear after 10 minutes. If you have a powerful microwave, you may even have to reduce the cooking time. Keep a close watch for the steam holes. Don’t worry if the rice looks undercooked. This step merely jump-starts the cooking process.

Do not poke holes into the plastic wrap. You want to trap the steam. The rice should look almost done by this point. You are not completely done cooking it just yet, however.

If the rice is too dry, add a sprinkle of water, re-cover it, and cook it for another 1 to 2 minutes to rehydrate it.