Do You Know How Much Salt to Add to Rice? – You Need to Know

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What would be your answer if one asks what the simplest thing to cook is? Well, for me, it’s always rice.

However, one thing I always wonder while cooking rice is should I add salt to it? If I do, then how much? After all, while adding a little salt to your rice can amp up the taste, a slight mistake in the amount of salt can ruin your whole course.

So, the question is, how much salt to add to rice?

How much salt to add to your rice usually depends on your preference. However, the best way to achieve the correct taste is to utilize a simple ratio: for every 1 cup of rice, use 1 teaspoon of salt. This magic ratio usually works for most rice types. But depending on your dish, the amount may vary.

The piece also includes:

  • Should you add salt to rice?
  • Is it good to add salt to rice while cooking?
  • How much salt do you put in a rice cooker?
  • What to do if your rice tastes too salty?

Without further ado, let’s dig into the article to learn more.

Should You Add Salt to Rice?

Should You Add Salt to Rice

I often cook rice and red beans for my granny, which is her all-time favorite dinner. However, adding salt or not becomes a dilemma every time. So, should I add salt while cooking rice?

Well, adding salt to rice is a preference call. There is no Yes or No to this question. While it is an excellent technique to season rice in some meals, other dishes may not need salt. 

Therefore, it depends on what rice you are using and what dish you are preparing. So, it’s usually a good idea to double-check the recipe to see if adding salt to your rice is necessary. 

How Much Salt To Add to Rice?

How Much Salt To Add to Rice

Now that you know that adding salt to rice is your choice, how much you need to add becomes the next confusion.

The answer to this question depends on how you want to prepare it. The primary checkpoint is your recipe – what you need, how you want to prepare it, and how much salt is required.

To put salt in your rice, you must first learn how to cook it properly. Otherwise, you would end up with undercooked rice that is highly salty or under-salted rice that is overcooked.

So, what is the correct amount of salt in rice? Just follow an easy yet effective proportion – the magic ratio – 1 teaspoon salt in 1 cup of rice with 2 cups of water.

Additionally, you can use 1/4 teaspoon per kg of salt for a free-boil or a more precise cooking method. Use 1/2 teaspoon per kg of salt for rice you cook in the oven or on the stovetop in one pot of boiling water. 

If you’re going to fry your rice in oil before boiling it, use 4 tablespoons of salt per kg of uncooked basmati rice.

It’s vital not to overseason basmati rice, no matter which preparation method you employ, because large grains break easily and become mushy when overcooked.

You may ask, how much salt do I add to white rice? Is it the same or different? Well, it’s almost the same – ½ tsp. to a tsp for each cup of rice. However, if you want your plain white rice more flavorful, you can add 2 teaspoonfuls per person.

If it’s still confusing, here is a general guideline for the salt amount in different kinds of rice.

Rice (per cup)Amount of salt
White Rice½ – 1 teaspoon salt
Arborio Rice1 teaspoon salt
Basmati Rice2/3 teaspoon salt
Brown Rice1/4 teaspoon
Black Rice1/8 tsp salt

Is It Good to Add Salt to Rice While Cooking?

Is It Good to Add Salt to Rice While Cooking

There is not a direct yes/ no answer for this question. Adding salt to rice is, after all, a preference call and recipe requirement.

You have to remember that putting salt in your rice is not mandatory. But if you want a little flavor from your rice, you can add some salt. But before you do that, you need to know whether you can add salt to the rice breed you use for cooking.

In general, plain rice, like pasta and potatoes, is always seasoned a little before cooking in western cuisines.

Many oriental cuisines that use rice as a main dish practically never use salt when cooking it, but not all of them. It is especially true in Japanese cuisine, where foods are seasoned and served with simple rice. 

Salting the rice upsets the equilibrium, making the meal taste overly salty. Even in such cuisines, there will be an exception when rice is utilized in a dish and is seasoned. Salt and other ingredients will be called for in the recipe.

Salting the water in which the rice is cooked is common in cuisines where rice is a component of the dish, as it is easier to get homogeneous seasoning this way.

But some people think it’s good to add salt to the rice to prevent it from being undercooked. It seems ridiculous to attempt to prevent your rice from being undercooked. 

But there is an Asian method where they put the salt literally on the top of the pot so that the rice doesn’t come out undercooked. But this is a completely insane method to follow, and the Asians even agree that it doesn’t work. 

But some people still do it anyway because they saw their elders doing it. 

How Much Salt Do You Put in a Rice Cooker?

Using a rice cooker can minimize half of your cooking problems and save you energy and time. But is it very different from cooking rice in a pot? Not really. You just put rice, water, and salt in the right measurement and close the rice cooker’s lid. 

And voila, your rice will be ready in about 40 minutes. 

What you should be concerned about now is how much salt you should use. Well, ¼ of a teaspoon in one cup of uncooked rice is needed while you cook your rice in a rice cooker. Adding a little salt to your rice won’t harm your cooker. But it’s a nice touch to add some flavor to your rice. 

But as we mentioned before, adding salt to your rice to enhance the flavor doesn’t work for all types of rice. So, make sure you have done your research on the rice you are using in case it needs salt or not. 

What to Do if Your Rice Tastes Too Salty?

What to Do if Your Rice Tastes Too Salty

Accidents happen all the time. It’s very normal to make mistakes. And if you don’t know exactly how much salt to add to your rice, this mistake can happen quite often.

But what to do if your rice comes out too salty? 

Don’t go crazy over this simple matter. We can teach you some techniques to keep your rice from going to waste. Read below to know more. 

1. Add Unsalted Rice

You can cook unsalted rice with half the amount of your salted rice and mix it with the saucepan you cooked. You can double the amount of your unsalted rice if your previous batch is too salty.

Then gently mix the two batches until they are completely combined. If you’re short on time, you can microwave an unsalted batch of rice to combine with your salty batch.

2. Add Some Vegetables

Adding veggies is a clever move to salt down your rice. Add some finely diced cooked cauliflower, peas, carrots, or avocado to the mix. These salt-loving ingredients will take in a lot of salt.

An acidic element, like chopped tomato, will absorb a significant amount of the salty flavor. Of course, you can add more avocado or components like corn, low-sodium cheese, and vegetables. It will minimize the saltiness of your rice. 

3. Add Egg Whites

You can easily counter your oversalted cuisine with egg whites. This is also a fantastic method to make your meals more nutritious.

First, mix the raw egg whites into the rice to follow this method. Then start constantly stirring until the egg whites are completely cooked over low heat.

4. Add Tofu

If you are not a fan of eggs, you can also use a large amount of tofu. This will also boost the protein content while keeping the dish vegan.

You can toss in extra-firm tofu crumbles with the rice. Then stir constantly over low heat until everything is well mixed.

5. Hot Water Rinse

A hot water rinse will easily wash away the extra salt from your rice. For this, you need to bring a kettle of water to a boil. Then place the salty rice in a strainer and gently stir it around.

After that, fill a large bowl halfway with hot water and pour it over the rice. Then you should shake the strainer to extract any surplus water. You can heat the rice in a skillet to allow some water evaporation.

FAQ’s:

  • Can you salt rice after it has been cooked?

No. This method is not recommended since the rice will not be appropriately and properly salted, and you may wind up overcooking the rice by attempting to mix the salt in after it has been cooked.

  • How much salt do I add to 2 cups of rice in a rice cooker?

When cooking in a rice cooker, adding just half a teaspoon of salt to your rice will work for 2 cups. But sometimes a cooker can not hold 2 cups of rice, so read the manual carefully before putting your rice in the cooker. 

  • Can I add butter with salt to the rice cooker?

Yes, you definitely can. You can add butter and salt to the rice cooker, and it won’t harm your cooker if you are worried about that. Instead, adding butter and salt to your rice is a nice touch to give it an extra flavor. 

Bottom Line

Are you still confused about adding salt to rice? Or how much salt to add to rice? I guess you already get your answer.

Adding salt to rice is completely your choice and the recipe provision. Usually, 1 teaspoon of salt is sufficient for 1 cup of rice. This ratio works for most of the rice. However, few types of rice and dishes ask for a different measurement.

Therefore, follow the precise recipe while adding salt to your rice. But mostly follow your preference and heart to get your preferred flavor.

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