Basics
Fluffy Rice Cooker Basmati Rice
Perfectly fluffy basmati rice doesn't need to be complicated. Soak the rice first, use the right amount of fresh water and give it a little time to rest once it's cooked, and you get light rice with lovely separate grains. I make mine in an automatic rice cooker, so it's genuinely hands off — start it, walk away and come back to fluff it.
- Prep
- 35 mins
- Cook
- Rice cooker cycle (approx. 25 mins)
- Method
- Rice Cooker
- Difficulty
- Easy
Ingredients
- 2 cups basmati rice (measured dry, before soaking)
- 1½ cups fresh water for cooking
- Water for soaking
- Pinch of salt
Method
- 01
Rinse the rice: place 2 cups of basmati rice in a bowl and rinse with clean water, repeating several times until the water runs considerably clearer. Don't rub the grains aggressively or they'll break.
- 02
Soak the rice: cover the rinsed basmati rice with plenty of fresh water and leave it to soak for at least 30 minutes.
- 03
Drain thoroughly: drain the soaked rice well and discard the soaking water — it isn't used for cooking.
- 04
Add to the rice cooker: transfer the drained soaked rice into the rice cooker, then add 1½ cups fresh water and a pinch of salt.
- 05
Cook: close the rice cooker and start the normal rice cooking programme. Mine is automatic, so I simply let it finish its cycle and switch itself over to Warm.
- 06
Rest the rice: once the cooker switches to Warm, resist opening the lid. Leave the rice to rest on Warm for at least 10 minutes — this stage really matters for the texture.
- 07
Fluff and serve: after the 10 minute rest, open the lid and gently fluff the rice with a rice paddle or fork, separating the grains without crushing them. Serve warm.
Rice cookers vary from model to model, so the length of the cooking cycle won't be identical in every kitchen. Let your cooker decide when it's done.
A little from me
Lackie's Notes
Measure the 2 cups of rice before soaking, not after.
Give the rice at least 30 minutes to soak — it makes a real difference to the grains.
Drain the rice thoroughly before you add the measured cooking water.
Use fresh water for cooking rather than the soaking water.
Try not to keep opening the cooker while it's working.
Once it switches to Warm, let the rice rest for at least 10 minutes before lifting the lid.
Fluff gently rather than stirring hard, so the grains stay whole.
Different rice cooker models run slightly different cycles, so go by your own machine.
Serve it with
Serving Suggestion
This is the rice I serve with saucy, well seasoned dishes. It's lovely alongside Air Fryer Whole Sea Bass with Fresh Kachumbari or Air Fryer Chicken Legs, soaking up all the juices on the plate.
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