Rice to Water Ratio Calculator

For a rice cooker, use 1:1.25 for white long-grain rice (1 cup rice to 1.25 cups water), 1:1 for jasmine and sushi rice, 1:1.5 for basmati, and 1:2 for brown rice. Rice cookers need about 25% less water than stovetop because the sealed lid traps steam. Important: if your rice cooker came with its own measuring cup, use it — it's typically 180 ml, not the standard 240 ml.

For an Instant Pot (or any pressure cooker), use 1:1 for white rice and jasmine, 1:1.25 for basmati, and 1:1.25 for brown rice. Pressure cookers have virtually zero evaporation, so the water-to-rice ratio is the lowest of any method. Cook white rice at High Pressure for 3 minutes, then allow 10 minutes Natural Pressure Release (NPR). Never use the stovetop 1:2 ratio in an Instant Pot — you'll get mushy rice.

It depends on the rice type and method. For 2 cups of white long-grain rice on the stovetop, use 4 cups of water. For a rice cooker, use 2.5 cups. For an Instant Pot, use 2 cups. For 2 cups of brown rice on the stovetop, use 5 cups of water. Use this calculator to get the exact amount for your specific rice and method.

Yes. Rinsing removes surface starch, which slightly changes how the rice absorbs water. After rinsing, reduce your water by about 2 tablespoons per cup of rice (approximately 2%). If you soak the rice for 30 minutes or more before cooking, reduce water by 10–15% as the grains have already absorbed moisture. This calculator has checkboxes for both rinsed and soaked rice — tick them for an adjusted result.

1 cup of dry white rice yields approximately 3 cups of cooked rice. 1 cup of dry brown rice yields about 2.5 cups cooked. Basmati and jasmine also yield about 3 cups. Wild rice expands most — up to 3.5–4 cups. As a general rule, dry rice roughly triples in volume when cooked. For meal planning: 1 cup of dry rice = 2–3 servings as a side dish.

Basmati is a long-grain rice with lower starch content and a more elongated grain structure. Its starch (primarily amylose rather than amylopectin) absorbs water differently than standard long-grain white rice. Basmati also benefits from soaking, which pre-hydrates the grain and reduces how much water it needs during cooking. The result: a 1:1.5 ratio on the stovetop vs. 1:2 for standard long-grain white rice.

Yes. For microwave rice, use a 1:2 ratio for white rice (same as stovetop). Cook in a microwave-safe bowl with a loose lid for 5 minutes on full power, then 15 minutes on 50% power. Let stand 5 minutes covered. Microwaves vary in power, so you may need to adjust timing. The calculator's microwave setting uses the stovetop ratio as a baseline and adjusts cook time.