Jasmine Rice- Make it Perfect Every Time

For years, jasmine rice was one of those things that seemed like it should be easy, but somehow it just wasn’t.

I could cook plenty of other things, so what was the deal with rice? I promise y’all, rice was trying to humble me. One batch would turn out perfect, and the next would be too wet, too gummy, or even partially cooked!

I originally started making it this way when I needed a reliable rice base for my Shrimp Bowl with Spicy Lime Mayo. Once I realized how much better the rice turned out, I never went back to my old method.

The first thing I learned is that jasmine rice isn’t like other types of white rice. It’s naturally softer, so it doesn’t need as much water. Most packages recommend a 2:1 water-to-rice ratio, but I’ve found that 1½ cups of water for every 1 cup of rinsed jasmine rice provides a much lighter, fluffier texture.

The second thing I learned was the towel trick. After the rice finishes cooking, I drape a flour sack towel over the rice while it rests. As the rice sits, steam continues to rise and gets absorbed by the towel. Without a towel, moisture collects and can drip back into the pot, making the rice gummy.

These two techniques have completely changed my results. If you’ve ever struggled with rice or felt like everyone else got some secret instruction manual that you missed, this method might help.

At the very least, it’s worth a shot, right?

How to Make Perfect Jasmine Rice on the Stovetop

If you've ever struggled with rice, this foolproof jasmine rice recipe is for you. A few simple steps—including a clever towel trick—help create light, fluffy rice every time.

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Resting Time 10 minutes mins

Servings: 4 serving

Course: Side Dish

Calories: 170

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 1 cup jasmine rice
• 1½ cups water
• 1 bay leaf
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

Equipment

• heavy-bottomed pot with lid small sauce pot
• clean flour sack towel can substitute with other clean, thin cotton kitchen towel

Method

 

Rinse the Rice

1. Place the rice in a fine, mesh strainer and rinse under cold water until the water runs mostly clear.
2. This removes excess starch and helps keep the rice fluffy instead of gummy.

Bring Everything to a Boil

1. Add the rinsed rice, water, bay leaf, and salt to a medium saucepan.
   
2. Bring to a full boil over medium-high heat.

Cover and Simmer

1. Once boiling, cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid and reduce the heat to low.
2. Simmer for 15 minutes without lifting the lid.

Rest the Rice

1. After 15 minutes, remove the lid and place a clean flour sack towel over the top of the pot. Replace the lid over the towel and let the rice rest for 10 minutes. Do not stir!
   
2. This simple step helps absorb excess steam before it can drip back onto the rice.

Why Use a Towel?

1. As rice rests, steam continues rising from the hot grains. Without a towel, moisture collects on the underside of the lid and can drip back into the pot, making the rice gummy.
2. The towel absorbs that excess moisture, helping the rice stay fluffy and separate.
3. No flour sack towel? A clean tea towel, thin, cotton kitchen towel, or even a few layers of paper towels can work in a pinch, with less consistent results.

Finish and Fluff

1. Remove the towel and bay leaf.
2. Add the butter and a few grinds of black pepper. Gently fluff the rice with a fork until the butter is melted and mixed through.
3. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

• Rinse the rice before cooking.
• Keep the lid closed during the 15-minute simmer.
• Let the rice rest before fluffing.
• Use a flour sack towel, tea towel, or thin cotton kitchen towel to absorb excess steam.
• Wait until the rice has rested before adding the butter and pepper.

The towel trick and not stirring the rice really did the trick. After batches of inconsistent rice, this simple step finally gave me fluffy, reliable results every time.

Final Thoughts on Perfect Jasmine Rice

If you’ve ever struggled to make jasmine rice consistently, don’t feel bad. I did too.

What surprised me most was how much difference a few minor changes made: rinsing the rice, tweaking the water ratio, and resting the rice with a towel under the lid.

Now I get fluffy jasmine rice every time, and I’m not wondering if it’s going to turn out right.

For those of you who might be interested, I use a flour sack towel from Kei & Molly Textiles. LLC that was gifted to me years ago. It has become one of my favorite kitchen towels. It’s thin, absorbent, and lint-free.

Lish

I blog about everything that inspires me, from beauty and home decor to travel and everyday moments.