Arborio (risotto) rice water ratio
Use about 3½ cups of hot stock per cup of arborio rice on the stove, or 3 in a rice cooker. Simmer 20 minutes, then rest 2.
For 1 cup of arborio rice, add
3½ cups hot stock
830 ml · ratio 1 : 3.5
- Simmer, lid on
- 20 min
- Rest off the heat
- 2 min
- Cooked yield
- ≈ 3½ cups
- Servings (¾ cup cooked)
- 4
How to cook arborio (risotto) rice
Rinsing: Do not rinse; the surface starch makes risotto creamy.
For risotto, add hot stock a ladle at a time, stirring, until the rice is creamy but still al dente.
| Dry rice | Water (stove) | Water (rice cooker) | Cooked |
|---|---|---|---|
| ½ cup | 2 cups | 1½ cups | 1¾ cups |
| 1 cup | 3½ cups | 3 cups | 3½ cups |
| 1½ cups | 5 cups | 4½ cups | 5¼ cups |
| 2 cups | 6½ cups | 6 cups | 7 cups |
| 3 cups | 9½ cups | 9 cups | 10½ cups |
| 4 cups | 12⅜ cups | 12 cups | 14 cups |
Stovetop water drops slightly per cup as the batch grows, because the amount lost to steam barely changes. See why.
Other rice
Questions cooks ask
What is the water ratio for arborio rice?
3½ cups of hot stock per cup of arborio rice on the stove, or 3 cups in a rice cooker.
How long does arborio rice take to cook?
About 20 minutes at a low simmer with the lid on, then 2 minutes resting off the heat.
How much does 1 cup of dry arborio rice make?
About 3½ cups cooked, enough for 4 side servings.