Converting cups to pounds or tablespoons to fluid ounces can be frustrating when you are in the middle of preparing a recipe.
Here is a brief guide on converting a pound of rice into cups, depending on the type of rice you are using.
We have also added some quick cooking tips for rice, making food prep more manageable and your culinary results better.
How many cups of rice are equal to one pound?
When it comes to raw white rice, then there are 2.5 cups of rice in a pound.
Measuring raw vs Cooked rice
It is essential to remember that the measurements will differ depending on whether the rice is raw or cooked, the type of rice you are using and whether the rice is packed gently or firmly in the cup.
Keep in mind that some types of rice pack closer and stick better than others. For example, basmati rice is not as firmly packed as white rice.
While the exact quantities are rarely crucial for the end results, it helps if you use as close to the recommended amounts of rice as required for the best results when cooking a specific meal.
Here is how to measure cups of rice in one pound, depending on the type of rice you are using:
- Raw long-grain white rice – 2.5 cups
- Raw medium-grain white rice – 2.3 cups
- Raw medium grain brown rice – 2.4 cups
- Raw wild rice – 3 cups
- Raw basmati rice – 2.3 cups
Keep in mind that rice expands when cooked
Any type of rice will expand in volume once it is cooked. White rice will grow three times, so one cup will expand to three cups once you boil, steam, or otherwise cook it.
Brown rice doubles in size, so you can expect to end up with two cups per cup of cooked brown rice.
For the best results, you can use a rice cooker so that you end up with perfectly cooked rice every time.
How much white rice to use per person when cooking?
The amount of rice you should prepare per person depends on how much you and the others eat and whether you are serving the rice as a main dish or a side dish.
In general, you can expect that a serving size of half a cup of white rice should be enough per person per serving. This means that you should use about 2.5 tablespoons of raw white rice per person.
If the rice is the main dish, or you prefer larger portions, you can plan to end up with a cup of cooked white rice per person. To achieve this quantity, use 1/3 of a cup of raw white rice per serving.
When cooking for more people, multiply the starting quantities per person, and you will have the amount of raw white rice you will need to start with.
If you don’t have a rice cooker and are unsure how to cook the rice to perfection, we have provided a quick guide for making fluffy and delicious white rice every time.
Steps to cook the best white rice
Use one cup of raw white rice if you want to end up with three cups of cooked rice. You will need a cup of rice and two cups of cold water.
Follow these steps to cook the rice to perfection:
- Rinse the rice under running cold water. This will help remove the starch, which causes the rice to clump together when cooked. To rinse the rice, pour it in a strainer, and hold it under the running cold water. Use your fingers to rub and rinse the rice gently. You will be able to see the murky whitish water which flows out of the strainer.
- Keep rinsing the rice under cold water for about 30 seconds for the best results.
- Pour the rinsed rice into a pot, and add cold water in a 2-to-1 ratio (2 cups of water per cup of white rice).
- Add a tablespoon of oil and salt to taste.
- Turn the heat on to high and wait for the water to start boiling.
- After it starts boiling, reduces the heat and let the water simmer for another 10 minutes until cooked.
- Remove the pot or saucepan from the stovetop and let it sit for another 10 minutes without removing its lid.
- Serve the cooked white rice and enjoy!
Other Useful Rice Cooking Tips
Always use cold water for rinsing the rice and for cooking it.
When cooking the rice, make sure that the water doesn’t boil out completely before the rice is cooked.
To do so, reduce to simmer once it starts boiling. If necessary, add 1/4 or more cups of boiling water to the saucepan and cook until necessary.
If the rice seems perfectly cooked and there is still some water or liquid left, take the pot off the heat and strain out the excess liquid.
Final words
Perfect rice can be difficult to cook, especially for newbies. But once you get the quantities and ratios of the rice to the water right, you will find this task much easier.
When cooking rice as part of a more complicated meal, remember that regular raw white rice can be converted into 2.5 cups of rice per pound. You can refer to our measurement conversions above to use other types of rice for the recipe.
If you want to make impeccable boiled white rice, then follow our easy recipe.
Good luck and enjoy your rice!
Related: How To Fix Mushy Rice: Not A Perfect Cook? No Worries!