Rice Water Calculator

For white long-grain, basmati, and jasmine rice the standard stovetop ratio is 1 part rice to 1.5 parts water by volume. Short-grain and sushi rice take less water (1:1.25), brown long-grain takes more (1:2.25), and wild rice takes the most (1:3). The calculator picks the right ratio for the rice type you select.

Rice cookers seal during the cook, so almost no water evaporates. A stovetop pan loses steam even with the lid on. The calculator trims about 10 percent off the water for a rice cooker and about a third off for an Instant Pot or other pressure cooker, where the seal is even tighter.

A common single serving is 1/4 cup of dry rice, which cooks up to about 3/4 cup. For a side dish, 1 cup of dry rice serves 4. For rice as the main with stir-fry on top, plan on 1/2 cup of dry rice per person. Enable the servings option to get a per-person breakdown.

Most white rice roughly triples in volume. 1 cup of dry rice becomes about 3 cups of cooked rice. Brown rice expands slightly more (3 to 3.5 times), short-grain a bit less (about 2.75 times). The calculator shows the expected cooked yield in cups.

Rinse jasmine, basmati, and sushi rice to remove excess starch and prevent gumminess. Rinsing is optional for standard long-grain white rice and not needed for parboiled or converted rice. If you rinse and soak basmati, you can use a slightly lower water ratio (1:1.5 instead of 1:1.75).