Want to know how long to cook brown rice, how to cook brown rice, how to store it, and get answers to some of your frequently asked questions? This detailed post will answer those questions and some more. Cooking brown rice is easy, and straightforward with this simple recipe.
This post will tell you what brown rice is, the benefits, types of brown rice, how long to cook it on the stove, and in the instant pot, how to cook it, serving suggestions, storage information, and tips. You will have all the relevant information.
What Is Brown Rice
Brown rice is a whole grain that contains all parts of the grain including the bran which is high in fiber, the endosperm, and nutritious germ. As the name implies, it is brown in color. It is chewy, has a nutty flavor, and takes a longer time to cook when compared to white rice. It is high in vitamins, magnesium, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber.
There is short grain brown rice, medium grain, and long grain brown rice with the most popular being the long-grain brown rice.
Types of Brown Rice
There are four various types of brown rice which are listed below with the necessary information:
Medium Grain Brown rice
When compared to the small grain type of rice, this rice grain appears in a bigger size. The medium brown rice when cooked is tender, and delicious.
Brown rice with a medium grain goes well with soups, and curries. Cooking time for this type of brown rice is normally between the range of 35-40 minutes.
Long Grain Brown Rice
Brown rice in this class has a golden brown color and some similarities to basmati rice. It is chewy, with a nutty flavor and is commonly included in a variety of recipes around the globe. The cooking time for long grain brown rice is 45-50 minutes.
Short Grain Brown Rice
Short grain brown rice has a rubbery, sticky texture when cooked. It is used in recipes like rice puddings. This rice takes about 30-35 minutes to cook.
Light Brown Rice
Because 50 percent of the bran is eliminated for light brown rice when processed, it is referred to as light brown rice. As a result, after cooking, this rice emerges light brown and has a nutty flavor. Compared to short grain and medium grain brown rice, this rice has less fiber. The cooking time for light brown rice is 30 minutes.
Related: How to flavor rice
How Long Does Brown Rice Take To Cook
Generally, brown rice takes from 35 to 45 minutes to cook on the stove top depending on the type of brown rice. For example, short and medium-grain brown rice cooks faster than long grain. The cooking method also dictates the cooking time. Cooking it on the stovetop will take longer than cooking it in the pressure cooker (See information below on how long it takes to cook it in the pressure cooker).
Another factor to consider is if soaking the rice before cooking or cooking without soaking. If soaked for at least 30 minutes, it can reduce the cooking time.
How long to cook long grain brown rice is 45-50 minutes.
Medium grain - 35 minutes
Short grain- 35 minutes
Light brown - 30 minutes.
How Long To Cook Brown Rice In Instant Pot
You can reduce the time it takes to cook brown rice on the stovetop by half if you cook it in a pressure cooker such as an instant pot pressure cooker.
Cooking it in the instant pot is similar to cooking it on the stove but the pressure cooker locks the steam in the pot to quickly soften the rice.
How long to cook brown rice in instant pot is 22 minutes on high-pressure cook with 10 minutes of natural pressure release. Water ratio is 2:1. 2 cups water and 1 cup rice.
How To Cook Brown Rice
The method of cooking all types of brown rice is about the same. You can cook all with this simple process:
Wash the rice properly. This procedure is necessary for eliminating extra starches from the rice’s exterior. They will end up causing the rice to cluster and get sticky while it cooks if they are not washed. Don’t omit this process if you want to make flawlessly fluffy brown rice. Wash until the water runs clear.
Add water, rice, and salt to a pot. The water to rice ratio is 2 cups of water to a cup of rice.
Cover the pot with its lid, and cook the rice on medium heat till it starts to boil then reduce to low heat, and cook until the rice is soft and the water has dried up.
When it's cooked to your preferred texture, take the pot off the heat. Leave it closed for 10 minutes before lifting the lid and fluffing it with a fork.
Serve.
What To Serve With
It can be served with sauces and meat. Here are some suggestions of what to serve with:
Steak
Pan fried vegetables
Chicken
Lamb
Fish
Sauce
How To Store
To store, let the rice cool down completely then pack it in an airtight container. Label the container and store it in the fridge where it will remain fresh for up to 5 days or store it in the freezer where it will be well preserved for up to 3 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much water do you put in brown rice
For each cup of rice, add 2 cups of water. Another way to determine the amount of water to cook brown rice is to carefully place the tip of your pointer finger atop the rice and check if water is 1 inch above the rice.
Why does brown rice take a long time to cook
Brown rice grains have a hard hull that's why it takes longer to cook than white rice which hass had it's bran removed.
Brown rice water ratio
The ratio of brown rice to water is 2:1. That is 2 cups of water to a cup of rice. If when the water dries up, and you've let the rice sit covered in the pot for 10 minutes and it's still not soft enough, add a quarter cup of water more and keep cooking till the water dries.
Related Posts
Did this post answer your questions? If you find this how long to cook brown rice post helpful, please rate it 5 stars and kindly drop a comment below. We appreciate your feedback.
Subscribe to our blog for free weekly recipes in your email. Also, follow us on our social media pages Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram.
How Long To Cook Brown Rice
Ingredients
- 1 cup Brown rice
- Salt to taste
- 2 cups Water
Instructions
- Wash the rice properly. This procedure is necessary for eliminating extra starches from the rice’s exterior. They will end up causing the rice to cluster and get sticky while it cooks if they are not washed. Wash until the water runs clear.
- Add water, rice, and salt to a pot. The water to rice ratio is 2 cups of water to a cup of rice.
- Cover the pot with its lid, and cook the rice on medium heat till it starts to boil then reduce to low heat, and cook until the rice is soft and the water has dried up.
- When it's cooked to your preferred texture, take the pot off the heat. Leave it closed for 10 minutes before lifting the lid and fluffing it with a fork.
Leave a Reply