1/4 Cup Dry Rice – How Much Cooked?

Rice is a staple in diets across continents and cultures. But sometimes, it's difficult to know how much rice you need to cook, whether it will be too much, not enough, or just right. So how much cooked rice does 1/4 of dry rice make? We've done the research, so you don't have to.

1/4 cup of dry white rice or dry wild rice will make 3/4 cup of cooked rice. 1/4 cup of dry brown rice will make 1 cup of cooked rice. And 1/4 cup of dry long-grain rice will make 3/4 cup-1 cup of cooked long-grain rice.

So now you have a basic answer to your question, but you may want to know more. Like why do the amounts of cooked rice vary? And also, what are the differences between each type of rice? Keep reading to learn more.

 

Dry To Cooked Rice

When you're making dinner and are unsure how much rice you need to feed your family, it's helpful to know how to convert the amount of dry rice to cooked rice.

However, this amount can differ a bit between types of rice. We'll discuss each kind of rice and how to determine the amount of dry rice you need to cook.

White Rice

White rice is the most extensively processed out of all rice. When milled, the husk, bran, and germ are all removed. So, this is what gives the rice its white appearance. And it ensures the rice has a longer shelf life as well.

However, the milling also removes the nutrient value of the rice. It has a higher calorie content than brown rice and less fiber.

When cooked, white rice has a ratio of 1:3. This means that 1/4 cup of dry white rice will become 3/4 cup when fully cooked.

A full serving of white rice is 1 cup. 1 cup has 266 calories, 4.8 grams of protein, and 59 grams of carbohydrates. You should boil 1/3 cup of dry white rice for each person who will share the meal.

Check out this white rice on Amazon.

Brown Rice

Brown rice is a whole grain, which means it is minimally processed. The husk, bran, and germ are still in place. So, this is why it keeps its brown appearance.

Also, this is why brown rice is much healthier than white rice. The bran layers contain vitamins, fiber, and amino acids. Brown rice is an essential part of a healthy diet.

Since the grains of brown rice are whole, they will expand more during cooking. Brown rice has a 1:4 ratio from dry to cooked. So, 1/4 cup of brown rice will expand to 1 cup when fully cooked.

1 cup of brown rice is also considered a full serving. 1 cup contains 218 calories, 5 grams of protein, and 35 grams of carbohydrates. So, you may want to cook 1/4 cup of dry rice per member of your family.

Take a look at this brown rice on Amazon.

Long-Grain Rice

Long-grain rice is available in the white or brown variety. So, it may be processed or unprocessed.

So what makes it different from short-grain white or brown rice? The difference is its texture. Long-grain rice does not hold moisture, and it's relatively dry after being cooked. Because of this, it's best used in pilafs and salads.

White long-grain rice has a 1:3 ratio when cooked. So, 1/4 cup of white long-grain rice will expand to 3/4 cup of white long-grain rice when fully cooked.

Brown long-grain rice has a 1:4 ratio when cooked. Therefore, 1/4 cup of long-grain brown rice will expand to 1 cup of brown long-grain rice when fully cooked.

Because 1 cup of each type of rice equals a full serving, you should cook 1/3 cup of long-grain white rice per person. Or, cook 1/4 cup of long-grain brown rice per person.

Take a look at this long-grain white rice on Amazon.

Wild Rice

Wild rice was originally a staple food in the Native American diet. The people grew this unique grass in marshes and harvested the seeds to boil.

It's considered to be just as nutrient-dense, with fewer calories than brown rice. Although it is a grain, it has a surprisingly high protein value.

Wild rice has a 1:3 ratio from dry to cooked. When boiling, 1/4 cup of dry wild rice will expand to 3/4 cup of cooked wild rice.

1 cup of wild rice is a full serving. In 1 cup of this nutritious rice, there are 166 calories, 6.5 grams of protein, and 35 grams of carbohydrates. When preparing a meal with wild rice, cook 1/3 cup per person.

Check out this wild rice on Amazon.

Related Questions

Now that we've given you an answer to your first question, we understand you may have some others. We've picked some of the most commonly asked to discuss for you.

How Much Liquid For 1/4 Cup Dry Rice?

Now that you're about to boil your rice, it would be helpful to know how much liquid you need. The rice to the liquid ratio that you will use will also vary between types of rice.

If you are making white rice, use a ratio of 1:1.25. To cook brown rice, long-grain white rice, or wild rice, use a ratio of 1:2.

And, if you are cooking long-grain brown rice, use a ratio of 1:1.75.

To calculate how much liquid is needed, simply multiply the amount of rice by the corresponding ratio amount. For example, if you want to make 2 cups of white rice, multiply 2 by 1.25. This will give you a total of 2.5 cups of liquid.

Is White Rice Bad For You?

Like most foods, white rice is OK in moderation. It will not harm you to eat once in a while. However, it is highly processed, and because of this, it's considered "empty calories".

In other words, it has a high-calorie content with few nutrients that would be useful to your body.

When consumed as a staple in the diet, it can contribute to health issues. Some studies have found there is a link between white rice and Type 2 Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome.

Also, the areas in which white rice is grown and harvested might have arsenic contamination. So, this will result in a trace amount of arsenic in the rice.

However, if contaminated rice is eaten routinely, it can become unhealthy, especially for small children.

How Much Does 1/4 Cup Dry Quinoa Make?

Quinoa is what's called an "ancient grain". South Americans have been harvesting it since ancient times. Recently, it's become popular as a gluten-free grain. It's also extremely nutrient-dense. It's very high in fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals.

Quinoa expands to 3 times its original size when boiled. This means that 1/4 cup of dry quinoa will equal 3/4 cup when fully cooked.

A serving of quinoa is equal to 1 cup. In this 1 cup, there are 222 calories, 8 grams of protein, and 39 grams of carbohydrates. If serving up quinoa for dinner, you should boil 1/3 cup of dry quinoa per person.

Try this quinoa from Amazon.

In Conclusion

So we found out how much 1/4 cup of dry rice would yield in cooked rice. And we also discovered that the amount of dry rice needed varied slightly between the different grains.

Keep in mind, 1/4 cup of dry short-grain, long-grain white rice, and wild rice will give you 3/4 cup of cooked rice. On the other hand, using 1/4 cup of dry short-grain or long-grain brown rice makes 1 cup of cooked rice.

We also discussed each type of rice's nutritional value and how much to cook per serving. We hope this information comes in handy in the kitchen. Happy cooking!

Want to learn more about cooking rice? Visit these related posts:

5 Best Rice Cookers For Brown Rice

Should You Rinse Rice Before Using The Rice Cooker?