You’ve Been Cooking Jasmine Rice Wrong Your Whole Life! Most people cook jasmine rice the wrong way. The reason is simple: jasmine rice is softer than regular white rice, so it needs less water so it’s fluffy rather than gummy. For perfect jasmine rice, use 1 1/4 cups of water for every 1 cup of jasmine rice. Most white rice uses 1 1/2 cups water per cup of rice, but that’s too much for jasmine rice. This small 1/4 cup difference really matters.
Jasmine rice is perfect for Thai food, but honestly, it works well with almost anything. It’s just a really great rice.
Also see How to Cook: Chicken Fried Rice | Cilantro Lime Chicken | Air Fryer Chicken Sausage
How to Cook Jasmine Rice
Jasmine rice is a fragrant, slightly soft rice used all across South East Asia. It’s especially linked with Thai cooking and is served with dishes like Thai marinated chicken, Chilli Basil Stir Fry, Satay Skewers, and many Thai curries.
It’s also used to make Thai Fried Rice and Pineapple Fried Rice.
The secret for how to cook jasmine rice perfectly
What most people don’t know is that Jasmine Rice is softer than other white rice. Because of this, it needs less water to cook properly. If you use too much water, the rice becomes gummy on the outside instead of fluffy.
That’s why:
- Regular white rice = 1.5 cups water per 1 cup rice
- Jasmine rice = 1 1/4 cups water per 1 cup rice
Yes, that 1/4 cup really makes a big difference.
I cooked jasmine rice too soft for years before finally figuring this out.
There Is NO Need to rinse Jasmine Rice
Let’s clear up an old myth: you do NOT need to rinse rice to make it fluffy. I’ve cooked a lot of rice, and here’s what I know for sure:
- No rinsing: If you use 1 1/4 cups water per 1 cup jasmine rice, the rice will be fluffy even without rinsing
- If you rinse: Reduce water by 2 tablespoons (use 1 1/4 cups minus 2 tablespoons)
- If you rinse AND soak for 1 hour: Reduce water by 3 tablespoons
- Rinsing only gives a very small improvement in fluffiness
- Most people won’t notice the difference
- Only rinse if:
- You buy rice directly from a rice farm
- The rice looks dusty or dirty
- You were taught to always rinse and can’t stop
- Store-bought rice in sealed packets is already clean and has less starch
If You Still Want to Rinse Rice
- Put rice in a bowl and add water
- Swish with your hand, then drain
- Repeat 3–4 times (the water will never be perfectly clear)
- Drain well in a colander, then cook as directed
How to Cook Jasmine Rice (Step-by-Step)
Once you get the rice-to-water ratio right, the cooking method is the same as normal white rice or basmati rice.
1. Rapid Simmer
Put the rice and water in a saucepan.
Bring it to a fast simmer on high heat with no lid.
You should see bubbles across the surface and some white foam.
2. Cover and Cook
Turn the heat down to low, cover with a lid, and cook for 12 minutes.
Do not lift the lid.
3. Rest
Remove from heat and let it stand, covered, for 10 minutes.
This finishes cooking the rice. Skipping this step leaves the rice wet and slightly hard inside.
4. Fluff
Fluff gently with a rubber spatula or rice paddle.
This prevents breaking the grains (jasmine rice is softer than most rice).
And that’s it, perfect fluffy jasmine rice 🙂
How to Use Jasmine Rice
Jasmine rice is great for:
- Thai food
- Vietnamese dishes
- Stir fries
- Fried rice
While it’s traditionally used for South East Asian food, it works well with:
- Other Asian dishes
- Indian food (if you don’t have basmati)
- Or honestly, any meal that needs rice
Set these Jasmine Rice on your any durable crockery because presentation makes more adorable your work.
How to Cook Jasmine Rice (Stovetop)
Author: Jerry
Prep: 1 minute
Cook: 12 minutes
Rest: 10 minutes
Category: Sides
Cuisine: Asian, Modern Vietnamese, Thai
Servings: 3–4
Calories: 169
The key to fluffy jasmine rice is using less water than usual. Only 1 1/4 cups water per 1 cup rice.
Rinsing is optional and makes very little difference. If you rinse, remember to reduce the water.
1 cup uncooked rice = 3 cups cooked rice = 3–4 servings
Ingredients
No-Rinse Method
- 1 cup jasmine rice
- 1 1/4 cups cold tap water
Rinsed Rice
- 1 cup jasmine rice
- 1 1/4 cups water minus 2 tablespoons
Instructions
No-Rinse Method (Everyday Method)
- Add rice and water to a saucepan with a tight lid
- Bring to a rapid simmer uncovered on medium-high heat
- Turn heat to low, cover, and cook for 12 minutes
- Do not lift the lid
- Remove from heat, keep covered, and rest 10 minutes
- Fluff gently and serve
Rinsed Rice
- Rinse rice 2–3 times until water is mostly clear
- Drain well
- Add 1 1/4 cups water minus 2 tablespoons
- Cook using the same steps as above
Recipe Notes
1. Saucepan Size
Use a medium saucepan for up to 2 cups of rice. For 3 cups or more, use a larger pot.
2. Simmer Is Important
If the rice doesn’t simmer, it will absorb water slowly and turn gummy.
3. When to Rinse Rice
Only rinse if:
- You can’t break the habit
- Rice is from a farm and may be dirty
- Your Asian mum would be angry if you didn’t 😄
Always reduce water if rinsing.
Nutrition (Per Serving – 4 Servings)
Calories: 169
Carbohydrates: 37g
Protein: 3g
Fat: 1g
Fiber: 1g
Sodium: 6mg
Potassium: 53mg
Iron: 1mg