🍚 Calculate Water for Your Rice

Rice Type

Rice Amount

Unit

Cooking Method

✅ Water Needed

Water (by volume)—

Water (ml)—

Total Yield (approx)—

Soaking—

Ratios are based on dry rice weight. Rinse rice before cooking unless packaging says otherwise. Brown rice and wild rice benefit from soaking.

How to Use This Rice Ratio Calculator

Different rice varieties absorb water at different rates. Long-grain white rice is relatively low-absorption, while brown rice has a tough bran layer that needs much more water and time to soften. This calculator accounts for those differences and gives you measurements in the unit system you actually use.

Understanding Rice Cooker Cups vs US Cups

Most electric rice cookers (Zojirushi, Tiger, Panasonic, Aroma) ship with a 180ml "rice cup" that is smaller than a standard US 240ml cup. If you use a US measuring cup to scoop rice, you need less water relative to the rice volume because the rice volume is larger. This calculator handles both.

Step-by-Step for Perfect Rice

Measure dry rice using the calculator’s selected unit.
Rinse until water runs mostly clear — this removes excess surface starch and prevents gumminess. Do not rinse enriched rice if you want to keep the added nutrients.
Add the calculated water to the pot. For electric cookers, use the inner pot markings as a cross-check.
Let brown and wild rice soak for 30 minutes before starting the cooker. This improves texture and reduces cooking time.
Rest after cooking — let the rice sit on "Keep Warm" for 10 minutes, then fluff with a paddle.

Rice Type Reference Table

These are the baseline ratios used by the calculator. Adjustments are applied automatically for your cooking method.

White Rice (long grain): 1 part rice to 1.5 parts water
Jasmine Rice: 1 part rice to 1.25 parts water (slightly less than white)
Basmati Rice: 1 part rice to 1.5 parts water; soak 20 min for fluffier grains
Sushi / Short Grain: 1 part rice to 1.2 parts water; rinse very thoroughly
Brown Rice: 1 part rice to 2.0–2.25 parts water; longer cook cycle
Wild Rice: 1 part rice to 3.0 parts water; cooks like pasta or use pilaf method
Sticky / Glutinous Rice: 1 part rice to 1.1 parts water; soak 4+ hours for traditional steaming
Arborio: 1 part rice to 2.5–3.0 parts liquid (stock); stirred constantly for risotto

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my rice mushy?

You likely used too much water or did not rinse off excess starch. Next time, reduce water by 10% and rinse the rice until the water is mostly clear.

Can I use broth instead of water?

Yes. Use the same volume. Broth adds salt and flavor, so reduce any additional salt in your recipe by half.

Do I need to soak rice before cooking?

Soaking is optional for white rice, recommended for brown and basmati (20–30 min), and essential for traditional sticky rice (4+ hours).

How much cooked rice does 1 cup dry make?

Generally, 1 cup of dry white rice yields about 3 cups of cooked rice. Brown rice yields slightly less volume because it is denser.

Related Tools

Check out the Microwave Converter if you reheat rice, or the Slow Cooker Converter for one-pot rice dishes.

Rice Cooker Ratio Calculator