How Long to Cook Rice by Brand
Different rice brands have different cooking times based on processing method, rice type, and whether pre-cooked.
How long to cook popular rice brands?
Popular brand cooking times: Uncle Ben's 20-25 min, Mahatma 18-20 min, Tilda Basmati 10-12 min, Rice-A-Roni 15-20 min, Knorr 7-8 min. Always check package instructions as formulas may change.
Rice Brand Cooking Times
This guide covers the most popular rice brands with exact cooking times and water ratios.
| Brand/Type | Cook Time | Water Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uncle Ben's Original | 20-25 min | 2¼ cups per 1 cup rice | Parboiled, firmer texture |
| Uncle Ben's Instant | 5 min | 1 cup per 1 cup rice | Already cooked, just rehydrate |
| Mahatma White Rice | 18-20 min | 2 cups per 1 cup rice | Standard long grain |
| Mahatma Brown Rice | 45-50 min | 2½ cups per 1 cup rice | Whole grain |
| Tilda Basmati | 10-12 min | 1½ cups per 1 cup rice | Premium aged basmati |
| Canilla Rice | 18-20 min | 2 cups per 1 cup rice | Parboiled, popular in Latin cooking |
| Rice-A-Roni | 15-20 min | 2½ cups per 1 box | Sauté first, then simmer |
| Knorr Rice Sides | 7-8 min | 2 cups per 1 pouch | Flavored, quick cooking |
| Success Boil-in-Bag | 10-15 min | Boil in excess water | Submerge bag completely |
| Minute Rice | 5 min | 1 cup per 1 cup rice | Pre-cooked instant |
Uncle Ben's Rice
Uncle Ben's (now Ben's Original) offers several product lines. The Original parboiled rice takes 20-25 minutes because parboiling hardens the grain for firmer texture.
- Original: 20-25 min, 2¼ cups water per 1 cup rice
- Instant: 5 min, 1 cup water per 1 cup rice
- Ready Rice pouches: 90 seconds in microwave
- Brown rice: 45-50 min, 2½ cups water per 1 cup rice
Mahatma Rice
Mahatma is a standard long grain rice that cooks in typical times. Their brown rice takes significantly longer due to the bran layer.
- White rice: 18-20 min, 2 cups water per 1 cup rice
- Brown rice: 45-50 min, 2½ cups water per 1 cup rice
- Jasmine rice: 15-18 min, 1¾ cups water per 1 cup rice
Tilda Basmati Rice
Tilda basmati is aged for 12+ months, making it drier and faster-cooking than fresh basmati. The grains elongate significantly during cooking.
Rinse Tilda rice until water runs clear. Use 1½ cups water per 1 cup rice. Bring to boil, cover, reduce heat, and cook 10-12 minutes. Fluff with fork.
Flavored Rice Products
Rice-A-Roni
Rice-A-Roni contains rice and vermicelli pasta. Sauté in butter first until golden (2-3 minutes), then add water and seasoning packet. Simmer covered 15-20 minutes.
Knorr Rice Sides
Knorr rice sides are quick-cooking flavored rice. Add to boiling water with butter, reduce heat, cover, and simmer 7-8 minutes. Let stand 2 minutes before serving.
Boil-in-Bag Rice
Success and Minute brand boil-in-bag rice cooks in a perforated bag submerged in boiling water. No measuring required - just boil the bag for 10-15 minutes.
- Success white rice: 10 min in boiling water
- Success brown rice: 10 min in boiling water
- Minute boil-in-bag: 10-15 min in boiling water
Tips for Cooking Brand Rice
- Check the package - Formulas and processing methods change over time
- Altitude adjustment - Add 2-3 minutes at high altitude
- Parboiled rice - Takes longer but is harder to overcook
- Instant rice - Already cooked, just needs rehydration
- Store properly - Keep in airtight container in cool, dry place
Frequently Asked Questions
Uncle Ben's Original parboiled rice takes 20-25 minutes with 2¼ cups water per 1 cup rice. Uncle Ben's Instant rice takes only 5 minutes. Follow package directions for best results.
Mahatma white rice takes 18-20 minutes with 2 cups water per 1 cup rice. Mahatma brown rice takes 45-50 minutes with 2½ cups water per 1 cup rice.
Tilda basmati rice takes only 10-12 minutes because it is aged and drier than regular rice. Use 1½ cups water per 1 cup rice. Rinse before cooking for fluffy results.
Rice-A-Roni takes 15-20 minutes. First sauté the rice and pasta in butter for 2-3 minutes until golden. Add 2½ cups water, cover, and simmer for 15-20 minutes.
Knorr rice sides take 7-8 minutes. Add rice pouch to 2 cups boiling water with 1 tablespoon butter. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer 7-8 minutes. Let stand 2 minutes.
Uncle Ben's Original is parboiled (partially cooked then dried), which hardens the grain. This makes it take longer to cook but produces firmer, more separate grains.