This super easy recipe for air fryer rice is just what you need for busy weeknights! It cooks to fluffy, savory perfection in a simple mixture of water, butter, and salt.
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Rice is one of those foods you can serve with just about anything. And once you see how easy it is to make fluffy, tender, oh-so-delicious air fryer rice, you’re going to want to make it a part of every meal!
This set-it-and-forget-it method couldn’t be easier. After rinsing the rice, mix it with a combination of water, butter, and salt, then let the air fryer work its magic. You’ll have amazing jasmine rice ready to serve in no time!
Here’s what I’m going to teach you in this post:
- How to make fluffy jasmine air fryer rice in 6 simple steps
- Why raw rice should always be rinsed before cooking
- Tips to make the best rice in the air fryer
- What to serve with this versatile side dish
- How to reheat rice in an air fryer
If you’ve ever wondered whether you can cook rice in an air fryer, I’m here to tell you that you absolutely should! I used to always steam my rice in a rice cooker, but once I saw how easy it was to make in the air fryer, I happily switched over. It’s become a weeknight staple in my family!
How to Cook Rice in an Air Fryer
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: Place the rice in a colander and rinse several times until the water runs clear.
STEP TWO: Meanwhile, combine the water, oil or butter, and salt in a large measuring cup. Heat it in the microwave for 3 and a half minutes.
STEP THREE: Transfer the rinsed rice to a 6-inch air fryer pan or cake pan. Pour the water mixture over the rice and swirl the pan.
STEP FOUR: Tightly cover the pan with a piece of aluminum foil, then place the rice in the air fryer basket.
STEP FIVE: Cook at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes.
STEP SIX: Allow to sit 10 minutes, then fluff with a fork and serve.
Tips to Make Rice in the Air Fryer
- You always want to rinse jasmine rice very well to remove the surface starch. Otherwise, the rice can clump together and get a gummy texture. I like to use a sieve to easily rinse it.
- After 25 minutes, check to see if the water has been absorbed. If not, add an additional 3 to 5 minutes as necessary. Once all the water has boiled off, turn off the heat.
- Letting the rice rest after it finishes cooking will give you the best, fluffiest texture. Don’t skip this step!
What to Serve with Air Fryer Rice
- Air Fryer Pork Belly
- Air Fryer Sweet and Sour Chicken
- Frozen Shrimp in the Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Orange Chicken
- Teriyaki Salmon in the Air Fryer
- Trader Joe’s Orange Chicken in the Air Fryer
Do I Need to Rinse the Rice Prior to Cooking?
Yes! Rinsing the uncooked rice removes the excess starch from the grains. If you skip this step, you’ll wind up with clumpy rice that can take on a gummy texture, and we definitely don’t want that.
Make sure to rinse the rice several times until the water runs mostly clear. It may never be completely clear, which is okay! As long as the rice has been thoroughly rinsed, it will be much easier to achieve that light and fluffy texture we all love.
How to Store Leftover Rice
The most important step is to let any leftover rice fully cool to room temperature. If you try to store the rice while it’s still warm, the condensation will cause the rice to clump together.
Once fully cooled, transfer your rice to an airtight container. It will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Can I Make Other Kinds of Rice in the Air Fryer?
Wondering whether you can make rice in an air fryer if you don’t have jasmine rice? The answer is yes, but the cooking time is going to vary.
Long grain and short grains of rice will have different cooking times. Brown rice, for example, will require more time. Other long grain white rice types like basmati rice will be similar to jasmine, but keep an eye on the water in the pan to make sure it isn’t over- or under-cooked.
How to Reheat Rice in the Air Fryer
- Transfer the leftover rice to a 6-inch air fryer pan or cake pan.
- Tightly cover the pan with a piece of aluminum foil, then place the rice in the air fryer.
- Cook at 320 degrees F for 5 to 6 minutes until nice and hot.
- Allow to sit 10 minutes, then fluff with a fork and serve.
Other Air Fryer Side Recipes You’ll Love:
Moew from Everyday Family Cooking
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Air Fryer Rice
Ingredients
- 1 cup jasmine rice
- 1 ½ cups water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees F.
- Place the rice in a colander and rinse several times until the water runs clear.
- Meanwhile, combine the water, oil (or butter), and salt in a large measuring cup and heat it in the microwave for 3 and a half minutes.
- Transfer the rinsed rice to a 6-inch air fryer pan or cake pan. Pour the water over the rice and swirl the pan. Tightly cover the pan with a piece of aluminum foil, then place it in the air fryer basket.
- Cook rice for 25 minutes.
- Check that water has been absorbed, adding an additional 3 to 5 minutes if necessary. Allow to sit 10 minutes, then fluff with a fork and serve.
Notes
How to Reheat Rice in the Air Fryer
- Transfer the leftover rice to a 6-inch air fryer pan or cake pan.
- Tightly cover the pan with a piece of aluminum foil, then place the rice in the air fryer.
- Cook at 320 degrees F for 5 to 6 minutes until nice and hot.
- Allow to sit 10 minutes, then fluff with a fork and serve.
Glad to see this. I will try it. Only I don’t have a micro. Do it on the stove
I didn’t think you were allowed to put anything with liquid in the air fryer.
This is true for directly in the air fryer, but this rice works great because it’s inside a bowl and covered while cooking. If you were to put the rice and water straight in the air fryer basket, that would be a mess.
Ok thank you, I love the tips and ideas you put on here.
Just tried this method of cooking rice …… PERFECT outcome …… will definitely cook it again this way.
Holistic doctors say aluminum is a heavy metal with negative health consequences, therefore it is to be avoided. As you recommend using aluminum foil to cover the bowl with the rice will it not leach into the food and contaminate it?
Second, can brown rice be used instead of the one you recommend?
Hi Bishwa, I cannot speak to the health of aluminum foil as there is always more and more research done. Yes, you can use brown rice, but the time and temperature will be different since it needs longer to cook than white rice.
Tried this a week or so ago and was thrilled. I have a French double door air fryer. I used a silicone bread pan to cook my rice. Absolutely perfect.One question…I need receipe for sticky rice. All suggestions/ideas welcomed. Thanks for your help…
I make this recipe all the time! It’s perfect every time! Sometimes when I make a big meal I wish I had more rice though, is it possible to double this recipe? Or is that risky for the air fryer? I’m pretty sure my cake pan is 8” so it might be possible to 1.5x the recipe instead…….
Hi Lou!
I would say as long as you have room in your pan for the expansion of the rice as it cooks then you should be able to. You can also just make the recipe twice, I know this would take longer but would make sure you have enough room for the rice as it cooks.
Thanks!
Will nobody give me weights and amount of water. So far none of the receipts have given me these. Not cups I am English
Hi Hazel, Here are the weights for this recipe: 185g Jasmine Rice, 354g water, 13.3g oil, 2.8g salt. I hope you enjoy your rice!