How Much Water In Rice Cookers? (Explained With Tips!)

If you are a fan of eating rice as a part of your daily meals, a rice cooker is a must-have kitchen gadget for your home. If you just purchased your first rice cooker, you may be asking yourself, “How much water do I put in the rice cooker?”

The correct amount of water for your rice cooker is almost exactly the same as the amount of rice, depending on which type of rice you are cooking. Usually, most rice to water ratio is 1:1. For example, for one cup of rice, you want to add one cup of water. The correct ratio also depends on your personal preference, as some people like crunchier or softer rice.

In this post, I will discuss the ideal rice-to-water ratio information, ensuring you have the right amount of water, and some general tips to get perfect rice every time. Keep reading to explore more!

How Much Water Should I Have In My Rice Cooker?

Rice cookers work by using the “absorption method,” which keeps a consistent boiling temperature.

If you’ve ever cooked rice on the stove, you may have noticed that the ratio of rice to water is usually 1:2. This is because you lose a lot of water on the stove through evaporation.

Rice cookers actually absorb much more of the water, producing perfect, delicious rice. 

Here are the ideal rice-to-water ratios with different types of rice:

Rice Type	Rice: Water ratio
Long Grain White Rice	1:1
Jasmine Rice	1:1
Basmati Rice	1:2.5
Brown Rice	1:2

Of course, we highly suggest experimenting with the ratios if the rice isn’t up to your standards. For example, if your rice is a bit too firm for your tastes, add a little more water. If your rice is too soggy, add less.

How Do I Know If My Rice Cooker Has Enough Water?

The easiest way to know if your rice cooker has enough water is the most obvious: use a measuring cup. Though this may not be the quickest way of getting your proportions correct, it is the only way to ensure you are getting your measurements exactly correct.

However, there are some more traditional and quicker ways (tricks) that you can use without a measuring cup.

Have you ever seen your mom or grandma use her fingers to measure the water for the rice cooker? This is a classic way to measure rice that somehow always equals the amount of water that the directions given on your rice bag.

With time and experience, people stop measuring rice altogether and use this method instead.

Here is a step-by-step process that has produced perfect rice for many households:

1. Measure the rice you want to cook in your rice maker
2. Depending on the rice type, you’ll want to rinse the rice in the water a few times to get any unwanted coating off of it.
3. Add the rice to the rice cooker and shake the pot gently so the rice is evenly divided. 
4. Add enough water so that it covers the rice.
5. Push your fingers to the top of the rice. Add enough water that it reaches the first joint of your middle finger.

There is another method that is similar to the finger that instead uses the palm. Once you’ve leveled out your rice, place the palm of your hand on top of the rice. Fill the rice cooker up with enough water that it reaches the knuckle of your middle finger.

These quick measuring tips will ensure you get delicious rice every time.

Besides the water-to-rice ratio and cooking tricks, what are some other things you should keep in mind before cooking rice in your rice cooker? Here are some general tips to get perfect rice:

Tips For Getting Perfectly Cooked Rice From Rice Cooker

• Choose a solid rice cooker. Be sure to do a little research before purchasing the first rice cooker you see on the shelf. I highly recommend checking out this post I wrote about the Best Rice Cookers.
• Use presets. Lots of rice cookers come with different preset methods. Be sure you are using the correct preset for what you’re cooking. The “Quick Cook” setting takes about 15 minutes, and you can’t really tell much of a difference between this and the longer setting.
• Rinse the rice. There is a starchy powder that coats most rice grains. If you don’t wash the rice, it will likely end up sticking to itself and to the walls of your pot. Additionally, washing the rice will ensure you get off any dirt, dust, or anything else you don’t want.
• Soaking the rice. Some rice, like brown rice, requires you to soak it for up to twelve hours to get the best taste, consistency, and health benefits. Sometimes it is also suggested to soak white rice for 15 to 20 minutes for these same benefits.
• Let the rice sit for 10 minutes after the cooker is done. This will let the cooked rice absorb some of the steam and give your rice a firmer texture.
• Use a plastic, silicone, or wooden spoon with your rice maker. The nonstick coating in your rice cooker pot can easily break if you use a metal utensil to fluff the rice.
• Think about your portions. In general, one portion size per person is half a cup of uncooked rice. Once this is cooked, it ends up doubling in size to two.
• Add other ingredients and flavor. Most people put a bit of salt in their white rice for a bit of flavor. You can also add other ingredients to your rice cooker to make specialty rice, too.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re making a quick snack, cooking for a large party, or preparing a family dinner, a rice cooker makes this process so much easier.

With the tips I shared in this article, I hope that you’ll now make delicious, fluffy rice with the perfect rice-water ratio. Have fun with your rice cooker and see what you can produce!