Air fryer rice
by Air fryer rice is a simple, hands-off kitchen staple that ties any meal together. Using just three ingredients, this air fryer recipe delivers perfectly fluffy rice—never mushy—every time. As an Asian, I’m very picky about the texture of rice. I’m pretty impressed with this method!
Read on for tips on the best type of rice to cook in an air fryer, time and temperature, and the water-to-rice ratio to make the perfect rice in the air fryer. Be sure to give my air fryer fried rice recipe a try too!
Ingredients
If you’ve been wondering “Can you make rice in an air fryer?” the answer is YES! Cooking rice in air fryer is the easiest and most hands-off method for making perfect, fluffy rice. It requires very few ingredients, and clean-up is a breeze. Here’s what you need to make this simple airfryer rice:
Ingredients:
- Basmati rice: Or Jasmine rice. Long grain rice varieties have less starch so they work the best in the dry heat cooking of the air fryer.
- Water, coarse sea salt, olive oil
Tools:
- Cake pan: Or any oven-friendly cookware that can fit inside the air fryer basket.
- Tin foil: Putting a sheet of tin foil overtop of the air fryer basket is what allows the rice to steam properly.
Substitutions and variations
- Oil: Avocado oil, light olive oil, melted butter.
- Dry spice seasonings: Season uncooked rice with garlic powder, onion powder, or curry powder for added flavor. Spices should be dry so as not to affect the water-to-rice ratio.
- Liquid seasonings: Fluff the cooked rice with a dash of soy sauce and toasted sesame oil or pour some smokey sweet garlic chili sauce or this Shacha sauce over the rice before serving.
- Keep it simple: I do not recommend adding fresh or frozen vegetables to uncooked rice. The rice-to-water ratio and cooking time and temperature will need adjusting. My air fryer fried rice recipe is better for adding veggies.
How to cook rice in air fryer
Air frying rice is a hands-free and foolproof method for cooking rice. This section includes all you need to know about how long to cook rice in air fryer, from rinsing your rice, cook time and temperature, and water-to-rice ratio.
- Rinse and drain: Rinse uncooked rice in a fine-mesh strainer or a colander in cool water until it runs clear (about 1 minute). Shake and lightly press to drain.
- Season and add water: Add rice, water, salt, and olive oil to the cake pan. Use 1.25 cup water if the rice is rinsed; use 1.5 cup water if the rice is not rinsed. Tightly cover it with foil paper.
- Air fry time and temperature: Air fry at 300 °F (149 °C) for 30 minutes. Turn the unit off and let the rice steam inside the air fryer basket for 15 minutes before removing the foil paper.
- Fluff and serve: Carefully remove the cake pan with oven mitts. Fluff the rice with a fork or a rice paddle and serve.
Recipe note – rice texture
As I said, I’m very picky about rice texture! While I really enjoy the texture of white rice in air fryer, I should note that the texture of rice cooked in a pot, rice cooker and air fryer is different. Air fryer white rice will be slightly more crisp or “al dente.” Experiment with timing and ratios until you perfect cooking rice to your personal taste.
Tip 1: Reasons to rinse rice before cooking
- To clean: If there’s dust or debris, rinsing the rice can help remove it.
- To de-starch: It helps remove the starch so that the rice grains are less likely to stick to each other.
- For more details on why, when, and how to rinse rice, watch this video from America’s Test Kitchen.
Tip 2: Cooking with hot vs room temperature water
- After testing both, I do not recommend using hot water to cook the rice as the outer exterior of the rice gets cooked much faster than the center. This results in unevenly cooked rice grains where the outside is mushy and the inside is undercooked.
What type of rice works well in an air fryer?
Long-grain white rice varieties, like Basmati or Jasmine, are the most suitable choices when using an air fryer. One of the primary reasons for this is that they have a lower starch content compared to other types of rice. This keeps the rice from getting gummy and sticking together.
This is particularly important when using an air fryer, as its dry heat environment can easily cause rice grains to clump together if they’re too starchy. Varieties like Basmati or Jasmine will cook evenly throughout, without unwanted clumping.
How to make ahead and store leftover cooked rice
It’s easy to toss your rice into the air fryer and forget about it as you’re cooking the rest of your meal. If you prefer to cook it in advance, here are some tips on making ahead and storage:
- Make-ahead: Cook it the night before, which will require 30 minutes to cook, 15 minutes to rest (in the air fryer), and 20-30 minutes to cool to room temperature.
- Storage: Once cooled to room temperature, store leftover rice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days.
How to reheat rice in air fryer
Refrigerated (cooked) rice should not sit at room temperature because the spores in the rice can grow into harmful bacteria. I prefer reheating rice in air fryer, following these simple instructions:
- Transfer and cover rice: Put the refrigerated rice directly into a cake pan or oven-friendly bakeware), cover it with foil, and
- Add water (optional): If you prefer a softer texture, sprinkle a few drops of water to the rice before air frying.
- Air fry: Heat the rice at 320F for 5 minutes. Check and stir the rice, adding time as needed until it’s heated throughout.
To reheat frozen rice in an air fryer, break the frozen rice into chunks, place it in a cake pan, and cover with foil. Air fry at 320F for 10 minutes or until heated through, stirring as needed.
What to serve with air fryer rice
From stir-fries to salads and soups, almost all the dishes on this blog pair well with a side dish of fluffy steamed rice! That being said, I do have some favorites that I always serve with white rice.
- Meat dishes: My air fryer teriyaki chicken and air fryer teriyaki salmon are two great options since you have the air fryer warmed up. My Panda Express orange chicken copycat recipe and this finger-licking Chinese pepper steak are also great with rice!
- Vegetarian dishes: This quick and savory air fryer bok choy is an easy and delicious way to add vegetables to your meal. Or serve with vegetarian rice paper dumplings and this garlicky salt and pepper tofu in air fryer.
- Other topping ideas: Keep things super simple with protein like cooked chicken, pork, or beef and veggies of your choice (such as broccoli, carrots, corn, or green onions) for a simple yet satisfying meal.
Expert tips for fluffy and perfectly cooked rice in air fryer
- Type of rice: Long-grain basmati or Jasmine white rice works best for air frying. They are less starchy and rice grains are cooked more evenly,
- Rinse: Rinse the rice under cold water for 1 minute until the water runs clear to remove excess starch.
- Use room temperature water: I do not recommend using hot water to cook the rice as the outer exterior of the rice gets cooked much faster than the center. This results in unevenly cooked rice grains – the outside is mushy and the inside is undercooked.
- Rice-to-water ratio: A 1:1.25 rice-to-water ratio is generally recommended, but you might need slight adjustments based on your air fryer model.
- Choose the Right Container: Use an oven or air fryer-safe pan or dish that allows for even spreading of the rice. Ensure it’s not too deep to facilitate uniform cooking.
- Seal Well: Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil or a compatible lid to retain moisture and steam inside, which is crucial for cooking rice.
- Temperature and Time: Cook at a moderate temperature (around 300°F or 149°C). Start with 30 minutes and check for doneness, extending time as needed.
- Let it Rest: Once done, let the rice sit for 15 minutes before fluffing. This allows residual steam to finish the cooking process and ensures grains don’t break when fluffed.
- Fluffing: Use a fork or rice paddle to fluff the rice gently. This separates the grains and gives them a light texture.
- Test and Adjust: The first time you cook rice in air fryer, it’s largely experimental. Make note of the exact water ratio, temperature, and time that worked best for your specific appliance and adjust accordingly in the future.
FAQs
Yes, you can cook rice in an air fryer. Long-grain basmati rice works the best. First, rinse. Then, place the drained rice in an air fryer-safe pan or dish. Add water (1.25:1 water-to-rice ratio). Cover the dish with aluminum foil or a lid. Cook at 300°F (149°C) for 30 minutes. Let the rice sit for 15 minutes before fluffing it with a fork for serving.
While air fryers are versatile, they’re not suited for 1) wet batters (they’ll drip and not crisp properly), instead, coat the food with breading before air frying; 2) Overly large items that hinder air circulation 3) delicate foods that can easily dry out, like fresh leafy greens: 4) Thin and lean fish fillets, it’s better to wrap them in parchment paper before air frying; 5) Foods with high-fat content, like bacon, can cause smoke.
Long-grain white rice, such as Basmati or Jasmine, works best in an air fryer because they are less starchy. These varieties maintain individual grain separation, making them more suitable for the dry heat environment of an air fryer. It ensures even cooking and prevents clumping, resulting in fluffy and separate grains.
More fried rice recipes you might like
If you haven’t become addicted to cooking white rice in the air fryer, here are some other rice dishes you are sure to enjoy! Three of these recipes use shirataki rice, which is a low-carb alternative to white rice.
- Shirataki fried rice
- How to cook shirataki rice
- Omurice rice recipe (Japanese rice omelet)
- Turkey fried rice
Air fryer rice recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup Basmati rice, or Jasmine rice
- 1.25 to 1.5 cup water, room temperature
- ¼ tsp coarse sea salt
- 2 tsp olive oil
Tools:
- 1 cake pan, fits a 6-qt. Air fryer basket. My cake pan size is 7.5-inch height x 3.5-inch wide
- Foil paper
Instructions
- Add uncooked rice to a fine-mesh strainer or a colander. Rinse and wash under running cool water until it runs clear, scrubbing the rice in between your hands several times, about 1 minute. Shake and lightly press to drain. If you prefer not to rinse the rice, go to the next step directly.
- Add rice, water, salt, and olive oil to the cake pan. Use 1.25 cup water if the rice is rinsed; use 1.5 cup water if the rice is not rinsed. GIve it a stir and tightly cover it with foil paper. Carefully transfer it to the air fryer basket.
- Air fryer at 300 °F (149 °C) for 30 minutes. After that, unplug the air fryer machine but let the rice sit inside of the air fryer basket for 15 minutes before removing the foil paper. Do not peek underneath or remove the foil paper during that time, because the hot steam will continue to cook the rice, and the rice grains will continue to absorb the remaining water.
- Carefully remove the cake pan with oven mitten. Fluff the rice with a fork or a rice paddle and serve.
Notes
- I’ve tested using both hot water and room temperature water to make rice in an air fryer. I do not recommend using hot water to cook the rice as the outer exterior of the rice gets cooked much faster than the center. This results in unevenly cooked rice grains – the outside is mushy and the inside is undercooked.
- Rice to water ratio for air fryer :
- 1 cup rinsed basmati or Jasmine rice: 1.25 cup room temperature water
- 1 cup dry (not rinsed) basmati or Jasmine rice: 1.5 cup room temperature water
- Reasons to rinse rice before cooking:
- To clean: If there’s dust or debris, rinsing the rice can help remove it.
- To de-starch: It helps remove the starch so that the rice grains are less likely to stick to each other.
- To reheat refrigerated rice in an air fryer:
Transfer the refrigerated rice directly into a cake pan (or oven-friendly bakeware) that fits into your air fryer basket, cover it with foil paper, and air fryer at 320F for 5 minutes. Check and stir the rice. If the rice is not heated through, send it back for another 3-4 minutes. If you prefer a softer texture, sprinkle a few drops of water on the rice before air frying. - What to do with leftover cooked rice? Give my air fryer fried rice a try!
Nutrition
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We made it the other day with long grain white rice and it turned out great! Minimal hands-on time. This is a great hack to make rice in an air fryer. Thank you!