Brown Rice Vs. White Rice: Which One Expands More?

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Brown rice and white rice with a text "how much does brown rice expand"

Brown rice has a nutty taste. When cooked properly, brown rice has a chewy texture. How much does brown rice expand when cooked?

Brown rice doesn’t expand as much as white rice. Brown rice doubles when you cook it, while white rice triples. It takes about twice as long to cook as white rice. Brown rice comes in long, medium, and short-grain varieties.

How Much Does Brown Rice Expand When Cooked?

Brown rice doubles when cooked. For example, two cups of uncooked brown rice expands to about 4 cups of cooked rice. 

Uncooked brown rice with water in the rice cooker with a logo of fooducopia in the lower right side of the image.

Rice doubles in weight when cooked. So, 250 grams (or 1 US cup) of rice expands to 500 grams (or 2 US cups).

Cooked brown rice in the rice cooker with a logo of fooducopia in the lower right side of the image.

The exact amount your brown rice expands depends on:

  • How much water you use
  • The type of rice you cook
  • Your cooking method

Does White Rice Expand More Than Brown Rice?

Uncooked white rice with water in the rice cooker with a logo of fooducopia in the lower right side of the image.

White rice expands more than brown rice. One cup of uncooked white rice yields about three cups of cooked white rice. But one cup of uncooked brown rice equals about two cups of cooked brown rice

Cooked white rice in the rice cooker with a logo of fooducopia in the lower right side of the image.

What Type Of Rice Expands The Most?

Long-grain rice expands more than medium or short-grain rice. Most long-grain rice expands three to four times after cooking. Medium and short-grain rice are starchier and stick together once cooked. The grains clump together, causing them to expand less than long-grain rice.  

Basmati rice, a long-grain rice, expands the most. It grows in length as it cooks and can increase to four times its size. It doesn’t become as plump as other rice varieties. It remains the same width, whether cooked or uncooked. Basmati comes in both white and brown varieties

How Should I Cook My Rice To Maximize Expansion?

Boil your rice in a pot of water to maximize expansion. Rinse your rice and add one part rice with two parts water. Bring your pot to a boil, and then let your rice simmer. Once your rice is cooked, let it rest for about 10 minutes, and then fluff it with a fork.

What Else Affects Expansion?

  • Salt: Salt clings to the rice grains, making them less likely to expand. 
  • Acid: Vinegar and lemon juice can make the rice grains firmer and less likely to expand.
  • Oil: Oil helps soften the rice grains, making them more likely to expand.
  • Timing: Undercooked rice is firmer and less likely to expand. Overcooked rice can be mushy and won’t expand as much.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Does Sushi Rice Expand When Cooked?

One cup of uncooked sushi rice expands to about three cups of cooked sushi rice. This amount should make between four and six sushi rolls.

How Much Does Instant Rice Expand When Cooked?

Instant rice expands slightly less than other types of rice. One cup of uncooked instant rice expands to about two cups of cooked instant rice. Since instant rice is partially cooked before packaging, it has already partially expanded. 

How Much Brown Rice Should I Cook To Get Four Cups Cooked?

Brown rice doubles as it cooks. If you want four cups of cooked brown rice, start with two cups of dry brown rice. 

How Much Brown Rice Should I Cook Per Person?

One serving of brown rice is a half-cup of cooked rice. If you’d like to serve one person, start with ¼ cup (50 g) of uncooked brown rice. 

If you’d like to serve four people, start with one cup (200 g) of uncooked brown rice. It will double in volume as it cooks to yield two cups (400 g) of cooked rice.

The Bottom Line

White rice expands more than brown rice. Cooked brown rice yields twice as much as dry brown rice. White rice yields three times as much.  

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