Rice is a staple food and satisfying starch found widely on different diets.
Rice is also an inexpensive grain that can be used to stretch and expand your grocery shopping dollars, fitting in most food budgets nicely.
You can buy rice in bulk to further save money and prepare with plain water and a dash of salt.
How much rice per person?
As a basic guideline, the average portion of steamed or cooked rice is one-half cup, when used as a side or accompaniment to protein, or one cup when served as a main or with veggies. A good rule of thumb is to use one-quarter cup of uncooked rice per person when preparing a single meal, but aim for one-third cup to ensure you have plenty and a little left over, too.
How much rice will you cook per person? Keep reading to learn more!
White and Brown Rice
Rice is an excellent way to stretch food shopping dollars and fill a family up for pennies per serving!
Brown rice is touted for its many health benefits and nutrients, while white rice is a popular family favorite that is cost-efficient to serve.
If you are serving rice as an addition or side dish, it is usually suggested that you plan on a 1/2 cup of cooked rice per person or serving.
This is typically the equivalent of between a quarter and a third cup of uncooked rice.
You should plan to double your serving size of rice to a full cup of cooked rice when it is the main dish or star of the meal.
For instance, if you are serving a vegetable stir fry with rice, plan on a cup per person, or around a half cup of uncooked rice per serving.
These generous serving sizes also ensure a little bit left over for later!
You should know that when it comes to preparing brown or white rice, it takes longer to cook brown rice.
It is a firmer grain, and it needs a longer cooking time. Most conventional rice cookers have a separate setting designed for the extended cook time for brown rice varieties.
Also, it should not be surprising that brown rice requires more water, too.
While white rice is one part rice to one and a half parts water, brown rice is typically one part rice to two parts of water.
Make sure to add a small pinch of salt to the rice and water before cooking, too.
It really makes a huge difference in the taste of your finished rice.
Leftover Rice
So, what is the big deal about having leftover rice?
There are so many things that you can do with cooked rice that it makes sense to keep some in the refrigerator for a quick and easy snack or meal prep.
Make a little extra on purpose, to plan ahead for the next meal or for one of the following cost-effective ideas!
- Add a bit of cooked rice to your morning oatmeal. Make sure to add sweetener, fruit, nuts, and milk- as desired- for a filling breakfast idea.
- Add cooked rice- white or brown- to a chopped salad or bowl of cold veggies.
- Use leftover rice for a deep-dish rice pudding that is sweet and satisfying. Add milk, eggs, sugar, and raisins to cold cooked rice to create a custard. Bake in a water bath according to recipe directions.
Sweet preparations of brown rice are an excellent and healthy treat for kids, too! Try one of these suggestions for your family tonight!
Frequently Asked Questions About How Much Rice Per Person
How much rice is needed to feed 50 people?
Since you typically need a half cup of cooked rice per person, when serving with other foods, so you would need approximately 25 cups of cooked rice in total. This equates to around four pounds of uncooked rice to feed the group.
How much rice feeds a single person per day?
Depending on how many rice meals you plan to eat in a day, you would want to plan on a minimum of one-fourth cup of uncooked rice per person, per meal. When cooked, this doubles in size which makes for a half-cup service of cooked rice.
How much rice does the average person eat per year?
According to experts, the average American adult consumes around 26 pounds of rice per year.
How many people are fed from a pound of uncooked rice?
One cup of uncooked rice would feed three to four people when prepared as a side dish.
How much water do you need to cook rice?
White rice needs one and a half times the water as rice. That is, if you are using a cup of uncooked rice, you will need a cup and a half of water. For brown rice, you need to double the amount of water to rice, so for a cup of uncooked brown rice, you need two cups of water to prepare.
How long does it take to make rice?
A rice cooker takes about half an hour to prepare a full pot of steamed white or brown rice.
Conclusion
Stock up on rice for a great staple that stays fresh in the pantry for months.
White or brown rice is an excellent way to fill up your family- on a budget.
Plus, rice is a versatile food that works as a main with veggies or as a side to your favorite protein.
Use these tips to cook exactly the amount of rice that you need!