# Rice Cooker Rice/Water Ratio? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 18, 2014, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rice-cooker-rice-water-ratio/686393 "2014-04-18T05:32:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2014, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rice-cooker-rice-water-ratio/686393/21 "2014-04-19T14:06:43Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > I cook white basmati for 19 minutes, and brown rice for 50 minutes. And white rice for 24 minutes? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rice-cooker-rice-water-ratio/686393/22 "2014-04-21T12:06:40Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > As much rice as you like, no need to measure, wash it a couple of times, then with your hand splayed out over the rice, fill with water till the water reaches the second knuckle on one of your fingers. I don’t understand your use of the phrase “splayed out” here. Is your hand touching the rice? ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rice-cooker-rice-water-ratio/686393/23 "2014-04-21T21:28:23Z")
I use the microwave, and almost always basmati. Maybe a little oil wiped around the bowl, 2:1, a little salt, cover with a plate or plastic with a few holes for the steam, then 5-6 minutes on High and 15 or so on 50-60% depending on the microwave. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rice-cooker-rice-water-ratio/686393/24 "2014-04-21T22:49:03Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > I don’t have a rice cooker. I always cook rice in a regular pot on the stove, and it goes like this: > > White basmati— 1.85 water:1 rice > Brown— 2.0 water:1 rice > Jasmine: I don’t rightly know, but I would guess about 1.9:1? > > Never having used a rice cooker, I don’t know if the ratios would be at all different for it. Those ratios seem to require really precise measurements. Can you really make a distinction between 1.85:1 and 2:1 when measuring out the rice and water? And personally I only ever make basmati rice, and in a saucepan on the stove rather than using a rice cooker. I wash the rice until the water runs clear. I then add rice and then water to pot in 1.5:1 ratio (or about six ounces of water for four ounces of rice), bring to a boil, stir once, reduce heat to low and cook covered for ten minutes. And then I remove the pan from the heat and let it sit, still covered for five minutes. This works well and doesn’t require men to find room for a rice cooker. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rice-cooker-rice-water-ratio/686393/25 "2014-04-21T23:16:41Z")
Are people talking volume or weight proportions in this thread? ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rice-cooker-rice-water-ratio/686393/26 "2014-04-22T13:11:50Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > Are people talking volume or weight proportions in this thread? Volume. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rice-cooker-rice-water-ratio/686393/27 "2014-04-23T11:15:14Z")
I was approximating 7/8 of a cup by saying .85, and by saying .9 I was just approximating a hairsbreadth above that. 24 minutes seems too long; I cooked plain white medium-grain rice the other week and gave it 2:1 for 20 minutes, and it came out too gummy. When I’ve cooked jasmine rice before, it got way too gooey and I haven’t tried it for a long time. I find plain white basmati is the easiest of all for turning out consistently good results. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rice-cooker-rice-water-ratio/686393/28 "2014-04-23T16:52:07Z")
I personally find jasmine takes a good bit less water, even approaching 1.5:1 water:rice if it’s really fresh. Never had an issue with gumminess, but I probably like my rice a bit moister, as I find basmati a bit too dry and separated for my usual tastes. I like it about the same or maybe a hair wetter than what you get at a Chinese takeout. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rice-cooker-rice-water-ratio/686393/29 "2014-04-23T23:35:12Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I find basmati a bit too dry and separated for my usual tastes. That’s one of the main things I _like_ about basmati. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rice-cooker-rice-water-ratio/686393/30 "2014-04-24T03:33:47Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > That’s one of the main things I _like_ about basmati. 😃 Oh, I wasn’t saying that it was a bad thing at all. It does feel right with saucy Indian food. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rice-cooker-rice-water-ratio/686393.md?page=1)