Plain Steamed Rice

The method

Step by step

Written for first-time cooks — every quantity, timing and cue is spelled out.

1. 01

   Prepare Ingredients and Tools

   First, gather your ingredients: 1 cup of Basmati rice, 2 cups of water, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Get your large pot with a tight-fitting lid, a fine-mesh sieve, measuring cups, and measuring spoons ready on your kitchen counter.

2. 02

   Rinse the Rice

   Place the 1 cup of Basmati rice into the fine-mesh sieve. Hold the sieve under a running tap with cool water. Gently move the rice around with your fingers while the water runs through it. Continue rinsing until the water draining from the sieve looks mostly clear, not cloudy, which should take about 1-2 minutes.

3. 03

   Soak the Rice (Optional but Recommended)

   After rinsing, transfer the rice from the sieve into a medium bowl. Add enough fresh water to cover the rice by about 1 inch (about 2.5 cm). Let the rice soak for 15 minutes. This step helps the rice cook more evenly and become fluffier.

4. 04

   Drain Soaked Rice

   After 15 minutes of soaking, carefully drain the rice using the fine-mesh sieve again. Make sure to shake off as much excess water as possible. Do not rinse the rice again after soaking.

5. 05

   Combine Ingredients in Pot

   Transfer the drained rice into your large pot. Add 2 cups of fresh water and 1/2 teaspoon of salt to the pot. Give it a gentle stir with a spoon to mix the salt evenly.

6. 06

   Bring to a Boil

   Place the pot on your stove over high flame. Leave the pot uncovered. Watch closely; you will see small bubbles forming and then the water will start to boil vigorously, usually within 3-5 minutes. As soon as it reaches a rolling boil, proceed to the next step.

7. 07

   Reduce Heat and Cover

   Once the water is at a rolling boil, immediately reduce the flame to its lowest setting. Cover the pot tightly with its lid. It's very important that the lid fits well to trap the steam inside.

8. 08

   Cook on Low Flame

   Let the rice cook undisturbed on the lowest flame for exactly 12 minutes. Do not lift the lid during this time, as the steam trapped inside is crucial for cooking the rice properly. You might hear a very gentle simmering sound.

9. 09

   Rest the Rice

   After 12 minutes, turn off the flame completely. Keep the pot covered and let the rice rest for another 5 minutes. This resting period allows the steam to finish cooking the rice and makes it fluffy.

10. 10

    Fluff and Serve

    After the 5-minute resting period, carefully remove the lid. You will see that the rice has absorbed all the water and looks plump. Gently fluff the rice with a fork, separating the grains. Your plain steamed rice is now ready to be served hot!