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HowLongToCookRice.com
By HowLongToCookRice.com Editorial Team

How Long to Cook Instant Rice & Minute Rice

Instant rice is pre-cooked and dehydrated, making it much faster than regular rice.

Quick Answer

How long to cook instant rice?

Instant rice takes 5 minutes on the stove or microwave. Boil-in-bag rice takes 10-12 minutes. Ready rice pouches take just 90 seconds in the microwave. These quick-cooking options are pre-cooked and dehydrated.

5 minutes

Instant Rice Cooking Times

Instant rice is pre-cooked and dehydrated, making it much faster than regular rice. Different brands and formats have different cooking times.

Instant rice cooking times by type
TypeCook TimeWaterNotes
Minute Rice (Stove)5 min1:1Boil water, add rice, cover, rest
Minute Rice (Microwave)5 min1:1High power, covered
Boil-in-Bag10-12 minSubmerge bagKeep at rolling boil
Success Rice10 minSubmerge bagBoil-in-bag style
Uncle Ben's Ready Rice90 secNoneMicrowave in pouch
Rice Cups1-2 minNoneMicrowave, vent lid

How Long to Cook Minute Rice?

Minute rice takes 5 minutes to prepare. It is the most popular instant rice brand.

Stove Method:

  1. Bring 1 cup water to boil
  2. Stir in 1 cup Minute Rice
  3. Remove from heat immediately
  4. Cover and let stand 5 minutes
  5. Fluff with fork and serve

Microwave Method:

  1. Combine equal parts rice and water in microwave-safe bowl
  2. Cover loosely
  3. Microwave on high 5 minutes
  4. Let stand 1 minute

How Long to Cook Boil-in-Bag Rice?

Boil-in-bag rice takes 10-12 minutes in boiling water. This format is convenient and mess-free.

Boil-in-Bag Method:

  1. Bring large pot of water to rolling boil
  2. Submerge rice bag completely
  3. Maintain rolling boil 10-12 minutes
  4. Remove bag with fork, let drain
  5. Cut open and serve

How Long to Cook Success Rice?

Success rice takes 10 minutes in boiling water. It comes in convenient boil-in-bag format.

  • White rice bags: 10 minutes
  • Brown rice bags: 10 minutes
  • Keep water at rolling boil
  • Bag should be fully submerged

How Long to Cook Uncle Ben's Rice?

Uncle Ben's cooking time depends on the product type.

  • Ready Rice pouches: 90 seconds in microwave
  • Original converted rice: 20-25 minutes on stove
  • Brown rice: 30 minutes on stove, 90 seconds for Ready Rice

How Long to Cook Rice Cups?

Rice cups take 1-2 minutes in the microwave. These single-serve containers are the fastest option.

  1. Remove lid partially or vent corner
  2. Microwave on high 1-2 minutes
  3. Let stand 1 minute
  4. Stir and serve from container

Frequently Asked Questions

Instant rice takes 5 minutes on the stove. Bring water to boil, add rice, remove from heat, cover and let stand 5 minutes. Microwave method also takes about 5 minutes.

Minute rice takes 5 minutes. Boil water, stir in rice, remove from heat, cover and let stand 5 minutes. For microwave, cook on high 5 minutes with equal parts water and rice.

Boil-in-bag rice takes 10-12 minutes. Submerge the bag in boiling water and maintain a rolling boil. Do not open the bag while cooking.

Success rice takes 10 minutes in boiling water. Submerge the bag completely and keep water at a rolling boil. Let drain briefly before opening.

Uncle Ben's Ready Rice takes 90 seconds in the microwave. Squeeze pouch to separate rice, tear corner to vent, and microwave on high. Original Uncle Ben's takes 20-25 minutes.

Minute rice cups take 1-2 minutes in the microwave. Remove lid, vent corner, and microwave on high. Let stand 1 minute before serving.

Bag rice (boil-in-bag) takes 10-12 minutes in boiling water. Keep the water at a rolling boil throughout cooking. White rice bags cook faster than brown rice bags.

Uncle Ben's brown rice takes about 30 minutes for the original version, or 90 seconds for Ready Rice brown rice pouches in the microwave.

Was this helpful? Check our Rice Cooking Tips for more advice, or contact us with questions.