How to Cook Jasmine Rice

Jasmine rice is a type of very high-quality long grain. It’s originally from Thailand although these days it’s grown in many parts of Asia, in particular, China. Even though it’s usually eaten with every meal in Thailand, many Thais still don’t know how to cook Jasmine rice properly!

What is Jasmine Rice?

Jasmine rice, often referred to as “Hom Mali” rice in Thailand, is a cherished staple in Thai cuisine. It’s renowned for its unique qualities that set it apart from ordinary long-grain rice. Even though it’s the most popular kind of rice in Thailand, a lot of Thais still don’t know how to cook jasmine rice properly.

This aromatic rice variety carries a delicate floral fragrance that’s both enticing and distinct. Imagine a faint, sweet floral perfume that infuses your senses as you cook and savour it.

For those who’ve had the pleasure of dining in Thailand, it’s no secret that Thais have a deep affection for Jasmine rice which is why it’s one of the main types of rice in Thailand. Despite the many different kinds of rice It’s the rice of choice for everyday meals and special occasions alike, appreciated not just for its flavour but for the entire experience it brings to the table.

OK let’s get to it, you want to know how to cook jasmine rice so let’s find out.

Do You Have to Wash Jasmine Rice Before Cooking?

The simple answer to this is yes you should. It only takes a few seconds and it will improve the fluffiness of the rice. The reason that we wash the rice is to remove some of the starches which can make the rice stick together. What happens if you don’t wash the rice? Usually nothing! If you add the correct amount of water then you will still end up with perfect Jasmine rice.

As you can see below the Jasmine rice I use doesn’t need to be washed so it’s worth checking the packet.

But as a rule, it’s always best to wash Jasmine rice before cooking.

How Do You Cook Jasmine Rice in a Rice Cooker

If you’ve got a rice cooker then cooking Jasmine rice is a pretty straightforward process. If you haven’t got one then you can use a pot or saucepan. Although it’s not as easy, once you get used to it you’ll be able to cook the perfect rice every time! If you eat rice often it’s definitely worth getting a rice cooker. At home, I use the Yum Asia Rice Cooker and highly recommend it. It’s the easiest way to get perfect jasmine rice.

The Easy Way – With a Rice Cooker

Using a rice cooker is the easiest way to cook Jasmine rice. Every home in Thailand has a rice cooker! Thai people can’t live without rice. Rice is eaten every day in Thailand so having a rice cooker is essential!

• First of all, just put the amount of rice that you want into the rice steamer.
• Add enough water to cover the rice.
• Use your hand to move the rice around and make sure there are no grains stuck to the bottom of the steamer.
• Use your hand to level out the rice as best you can.
• Add a little bit more water and then use your finger to measure the depth of the water.

The easiest way to do this is to use the ‘rice finger method’. This is where you put your finger into to the water until it reaches the top of the rice. The water should come up to your first knuckle. Add or remove the water as necessary, See below for more information on this method.

Using The ‘Rice Finger Method’

The rice finger method or the rice knuckle method involved inserting your index finger vertically into the pot or rice steamer. Place your finger so that it touches the top of the rice, right at its surface.

It’s important not to push your finger too deeply into the rice; a gentle touch that allows your fingertip to make contact with the rice grains is sufficient.

As you insert your finger, you’ll notice that it naturally stops at a certain point. This point indicates the surface level of the rice. This step is crucial for accurate water measurement, as establishing a consistent reference point helps you add the appropriate amount of water for the perfect jasmine rice.

With practice, you’ll develop a sense of how much water corresponds to the amount of rice you’re using. Over time, you’ll become more comfortable with this traditional method and achieve perfectly cooked jasmine rice every time.

• When you have the water level correct, put the lid on the rice steamer and flick the switch to ‘cook’. Your rice will be done in around 20 minutes depending on how much rice you are cooking.

• Once the rice cooker has switched itself off you should leave the rice for at least another 5 minutes for it to settle. If you take it out straight away it may feel a bit too wet.

When you know how to measure rice with your finger, it makes things a lot easier. However, if you are not comfortable using your finger to measure the water then you can use the measuring cup method which is explained below.

Using The Cup Method To Measure The Water

If you’re not sure about using your finger to measure how much water you need compared to how much rice then there is another way of measuring.

This is a more mechanical method so if you’ve never cooked Jasmine rice before then this technique may be easier until you get a feel for it.

Getting the water-to-rice ratio using a cup is very straightforward. The ratio is 2 cups of water for every 1 cup of rice.

If you add 2 cups of rice then you simply add 4 cups of water. It’s that simple. I recommend you learn the finger method though! Nobody in Asia users the cup method: 🙂

The Hard Way – Cooking Jasmine Rice on The Stove

If you like Asian food and don’t have a rice steamer then you really should get one! There are lots of cheap rice steamers on Amazon so you don’t have to spend a fortune. Using a rice steamer really takes the stress out of cooking rice!

Don’t worry if you haven’t got a rice steamer because using a saucepan is the next best thing! Knowing how to cook jasmine rice on the stove is a very handy skill to have!

The main difference is that a rice cooker switches off automatically when the rice is cooked. A saucepan doesn’t! This means you’ve got to use your judgement and there’s a chance you may end up with burnt rice. Don’t worry though as we’ve got some tips to minimize the chances of this happening.

With a Saucepan

• First of all, just put the amount of rice that you want into the rice steamer.
• Add enough water to cover the rice.
• Use your hand to move the rice around and make sure there are no grains stuck to the bottom of the saucepan.
• Use your hand to level out the rice as best you can.
• Add a little bit more water and then use your finger to measure the depth of the water using the method explained above.
• Put the lid on the saucepan and bring it to the boil.
• When it starts to boil (you can see the saucepan lid moving) reduce the heat and just let it simmer.
• When the lid stops moving you know that all the water has almost gone. Take the lid off and use a fork to lift up the rice at the bottom of the saucepan. If it’s still wet then quickly put the lid back on and give it a few more minutes and check again. If all the water has gone then turn off the heat because your rice is cooked!

The important thing is to not take the lid off the saucepan! You have to resist the temptation to look at all costs!!

If you cook the rice for too long then it will dry out at the bottom and start to burn. If this happens don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of it eventually! It takes practice and it also depends on your brand of Jasmine rice. If your rice came out too hard then next time add more water. On the other hand, if your rice is too wet then reduce the amount of water next time,

Now you know how to cook jasmine rice you should learn how to make green curry to go along with it 🙂 If you want some more information then check out my video below.

How to Cook Jasmine Rice – From My YouTube Channel

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