Rice to Water Ratio Calculator
With this rice to water ratio calculator, you'll learn how to cook the perfect rice for your next meal. Whether you need to know the jasmine rice to water ratio or how much water for brown rice, we have you covered. That's because we've accounted for different types of rice when calculating ratios and cooking times, since these both differ depending on the type of rice you wish to cook.
How to Use the Rice to Water Ratio Calculator
- Select your rice type from the dropdown (White Long Grain, Jasmine, Basmati, Brown, etc.).
- Enter the amount of rice you plan to cook.
- Choose your unit of measurement:
- American system: cups
- Metric system: milliliters (ml), grams (g)
- Click Calculate to instantly see how much water you need and the estimated cooking time.
Rice to Water Ratio Chart
The following ratios are programmed into the rice to water ratio calculator. These are standard ratios by volume (cups of rice : cups of water):
| Rice Type | Rice : Water Ratio | Cooking Time |
|---|---|---|
| White Long Grain | 1 : 2 | ~18 min |
| White Medium Grain | 1 : 1.5 | ~15 min |
| White Short Grain | 1 : 1.25 | ~15 min |
| Jasmine | 1 : 1.75 | ~18 min |
| Basmati | 1 : 1.5 | ~17 min |
| Sushi (Calrose) | 1 : 1.33 | ~18 min |
| Brown Long Grain | 1 : 1.75 | ~45 min |
| Brown Medium/Short Grain | 1 : 2 | ~50 min |
| Texmati | 1 : 1.75 | ~18 min |
| Black Japonica | 1 : 2 | ~45 min |
| Wild | 1 : 2 | ~55 min |
| Converted (Parboiled) | 1 : 2.25 | ~25 min |
Long-grain rice? Short-grain rice? What's the difference?
We all know there are several different types of rice — White, Brown, Jasmine, Basmati, and many more. These types actually belong to broader categories:
- Long-grain rice can exceed 6 mm in length and is about 4–5 times as long as it is wide. It stays firm, dry, and separate after cooking. Examples: White Long Grain, Brown Long Grain, Jasmine, Basmati, Texmati, Wild.
- Medium-grain rice has a length between 5.2 mm and 6 mm. It stays moist, tender, and slightly chewy, and grains tend to stick together after cooking. Examples: White Medium Grain, Calrose (Sushi rice).
- Short-grain rice doesn't go beyond 5.2 mm in length. It becomes soft, tender, and sticky after cooking — sometimes called "round rice." Examples: White Short Grain, Sushi rice.
Should you soak rice or rinse rice?
Preparation matters before cooking:
- Rinsing rice removes excess starch and helps produce fluffier, less sticky rice. ⚠️ Note: white rice in the U.S. is often fortified with vitamins — rinsing may remove some micronutrients.
- Soaking rice decreases cooking time, conserves energy, and reduces stickiness because grains absorb water before the cooking process. It also enhances the flavor of aromatic varieties like Jasmine and Basmati by reducing cooking time, which helps preserve aromatic compounds.
How to Cook Perfect Rice
The key to perfect rice is using the correct water ratio. Too much water and rice becomes mushy; too little and it burns on the bottom. If you answered "2 cups of water for 1 cup of rice" — you're sometimes right, but not always! The amount of water depends on the type of rice.
Our rice to water ratio calculator uses fixed ratios by volume. Add the correct amount of water, bring to a boil, reduce heat to the lowest setting, cover tightly, and cook for the indicated time without lifting the lid. Let it rest for 5 minutes off heat before fluffing with a fork.
FAQs
How much water for 1 cup of rice?
It depends on the type of rice. For White Long Grain rice, use 2 cups of water per 1 cup of rice. For Jasmine or Brown Long Grain, use 1.75 cups. For Basmati or White Medium Grain, use 1.5 cups.
What is the best way to cook rice?
Use the correct water ratio for your rice type, bring to a boil, then reduce to the lowest heat setting, cover tightly, and cook without removing the lid until done. Resist the urge to peek — steam is essential for even cooking.
Does rinsing rice affect the water ratio?
Yes, slightly. Rinsed rice may need a touch less water since it absorbs some water during rinsing. However, the ratios in our calculator work well for both rinsed and unrinsed rice as a starting point.
Why does brown rice need more water and time?
Brown rice retains its bran layer, which is tougher and takes longer to soften. This also means it needs more water (and more time) to cook through properly compared to white rice.
Can I use this calculator for metric measurements?
Yes! Our calculator supports milliliters (ml) and grams (g) in addition to cups. The ratio is by volume, so 240 ml of rice with a 1:2 ratio needs 480 ml of water. For grams, we convert using the standard density of approximately 185 g per cup of dry rice.