Stick of Butter Rice (2024)

FAQs

How much butter does rice need? ›

Basics of Cooking Rice

Combine 1 cup rice, liquid (see chart below), 1 teaspoon salt (optional), and 1 tablespoon butter or margarine (optional) in a 2 to 3-quart saucepan. Heat to boiling; stir once or twice as it begins to boil. Lower heat to a simmer; cover with a tight-fitting lid.

For tender grains of rice that easily separate, such as in a pilaf, use 2 cups of water for every 1 cup of rice. You can also use another liquid like stock in this 2:1 ratio. For slightly chewier, fluffy white rice, use 1 1/2 cups of water for every cup of rice, or a 1.5:1 ratio.

Drain the rice in a fine-mesh strainer. Return the rice to the saucepan, cover, and steam off the heat for 10 minutes. Add the salt and butter to finish. Add the salt and butter or oil, if using, fluff with a fork, and serve.

Depending on what type of butter you use, the rice may take on characteristics of tangy, salty, and sweet notes, per Taste of Home, but overall, the rice will be enhanced with rich and buttery flavors. This can be done in one of two ways: toasting the rice in butter or adding butter directly to a pot of rice.

The salt and butter are optional, so only rice and water are essential. The proportions are generally two to one: two cups of water to one cup of rice. 2. Add the rice, ½ teaspoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of butter, stir once.

1 full stick of butter equals 8 tablespoons (½ cup).

What is the ratio of water to rice? For basmati and all kinds of white rice, we recommend a ratio of 1:2 when cooking on the stove. So this would mean for every 1 cup of rice, you add 2 cups of water.

Bring water to a boil before adding it to the rice.

Meanwhile, bring 2 parts of water to a boil. Pouring already boiling water on top of the rice helps control the exact amount of water you're adding, something that's important for basmati and jasmine rice because they're on the starchy side and can end up gummy.

Ensure it's simmering and not boiling or the rice can cook too quickly. Simmer until water is completely absorbed and rice is tender – about 15-25 minutes (will depend on size and freshness of rice). Drain off any excess water if there is any (there shouldn't be).

Toasting the dry rice grains in a little butter or olive oil before adding the water brings out their flavor and adds a fantastic nutty note in the finished dish. I especially love doing this with brown rice and other whole grains like farro and barley.

Do you mix butter with rice? ›

butter should be added after the rice is cooked and stirred into the rice after fluffing. adding while the rice is cooking or too hot will just separate the butter. and it will take way more to get it to have the same flavor. this is pretty much true with everything you want to have a buttery taste.

But I could really make it better by playing the proactive game before the rice gets stuck: “Adding a little oil or butter at the beginning of cooking will coat the grains, which will help keep the rice from sticking to the bottom of the pot without making it mushy,” Rich says.

For Chinese-style rice, never toss in oil, butter or salt, or any other additive. Do not remove the pot lid until the rice is ready to serve. Do not wash rice after cooking. Short, medium and long grain rice are all eaten in China.

I learned about this dish from a Japanese anthology TV series called Midnight Diner (深夜食堂, Shinya shokudō). Butter Rice was introduces in Season 1 Episode 5. The original recipe only has 3 ingredients: rice, butter, and soy sauce. I added sushi nori, pork floss, and potato chips to make my butter rice more flavorful.

Butter makes your fried rice taste richer but also increases fat content. Since cooking with butter infuses food with a richer flavor and texture in general, you might find that frying leftover rice in oil leaves it bland in comparison.

butter should be added after the rice is cooked and stirred into the rice after fluffing. adding while the rice is cooking or too hot will just separate the butter. and it will take way more to get it to have the same flavor. this is pretty much true with everything you want to have a buttery taste.

But if you have the time, it enhances the natural flavor of the rice. Simply heat a teaspoon of butter or olive oil over medium heat in the pot you're going to cook the rice in.

Some people do, especially if the rice is served plain with nothing to mix in and no accompanying vegetables or sauces. If rice is the main dish and served plain, butter can enhance the flavor without adding a lot of salt.