Rice is a staple in cuisines around the world, but have you ever tried making rice in your air fryer? This modern kitchen hack transforms ordinary rice into fluffy, perfectly cooked grains with minimal effort. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through how to make air fryer rice step by step, discuss rice varieties, share pro tips, explore common mistakes to avoid, and even suggest creative ways to use leftovers. Let’s dive into this surprisingly easy method that will change how you cook rice forever!

🍚 Why Make Rice in the Air Fryer?

Using an air fryer for rice might sound unconventional, but there are fantastic reasons to try it:

• Even cooking: The hot circulating air ensures uniform heat distribution, which results in fluffy rice.
• Hands-off method: No need to watch boiling pots or adjust heat settings.
• Space-saving: Ideal if your stove is busy cooking other dishes.
• Versatile: Works great with Basmati, Jasmine, or other long-grain white rice.
• Energy efficient: Smaller than an oven, an air fryer uses less energy.

🔪 Ingredients and Essential Tools

To make air fryer rice, keep it simple but use quality ingredients for the best results:

✅ Basmati rice or Jasmine rice – Choose your favorite aromatic long-grain rice for fluffy texture.
✅ Water (room temperature):

• 1.25 cups for rinsed rice
• 1.5 cups if you skip rinsing
  ✅ Olive oil: About 2 teaspoons for subtle flavor and to help prevent sticking.
  ✅ Sea salt: Just ¼ teaspoon to boost natural flavor.

Kitchen tools:

• A cake pan (around 7.5 inches x 3.5 inches) that fits inside your air fryer basket.
• Aluminum foil to trap steam.
• Fine-mesh strainer or colander for rinsing rice.
• Oven mitts to safely remove the hot pan.

🧽 Step 1: Wash or Not Wash – Rinse Rice the Right Way

Rinsing rice removes excess starch and dust, which can help the grains stay separate. Here’s how to do it:

1. Add rice to a fine-mesh strainer or colander.
2. Run cool water over the rice, scrubbing gently with your fingers.
3. Continue until the water runs clear (about 1 minute).
4. Shake off excess water and lightly press to drain.

Pro tip: If you choose not to rinse, remember to increase the water quantity to 1.5 cups to compensate.

🥣 Step 2: Combine Ingredients in a Cake Pan

In your cake pan, add:

• Rinsed or dry rice
• Correct amount of room temperature water
• Olive oil
• Sea salt

Gently stir to mix. Cover tightly with foil to lock in steam.

🍽 Step 3: Air Fry with Precision

Set your air fryer to 300°F (149°C) and cook for 30 minutes.
After the timer ends:

• Do NOT open the foil.
• Leave the rice in the turned-off air fryer basket for another 15 minutes. This resting period lets steam finish cooking the grains for a light, fluffy texture.

🍴 Step 4: Fluff and Serve

Carefully remove the cake pan using oven mitts. Remove the foil, then fluff the rice with a fork or rice paddle. Serve hot and enjoy!

📏 Air Fryer Rice Water Ratio

Getting the right rice-to-water ratio is key:

• Rinsed rice: 1 cup rice : 1.25 cups room temperature water
• Not rinsed: 1 cup rice : 1.5 cups room temperature water

Using hot water might seem like a shortcut but often results in unevenly cooked rice with mushy exteriors and undercooked centers. Stick to room temperature water for consistent results.

🔁 How to Reheat Rice in the Air Fryer

Leftover rice? Don’t let it go to waste! Here’s how to reheat:

1. Place cold rice into the cake pan.
2. Cover with foil.
3. Air fry at 320°F for 5 minutes.
4. Stir and check temperature. If needed, heat an extra 3–4 minutes.
5. For softer rice, sprinkle a few drops of water before reheating.

🍳 Creative Ideas with Leftover Rice

Transform plain rice into flavorful meals:

• Air fryer fried rice: Sauté leftover rice with eggs, veggies, and soy sauce.
• Rice bowls: Top rice with grilled chicken, roasted veggies, or tofu.
• Stuffed peppers: Use leftover rice as a filling.
• Rice pudding: Add milk, cinnamon, and honey for a quick dessert.

🍽 Serving Suggestions

Pair your fluffy air fryer rice with:

• Curry (chicken, lamb, or vegetarian)
• Grilled kebabs
• Stir-fried vegetables
• Teriyaki chicken or salmon
• Mediterranean dishes like shawarma or kofta

The neutral taste makes it the perfect base for bold, flavorful sauces.

🧂 Flavor Boosters

If you want to level up your rice, try these:

• Replace water with vegetable, chicken, or beef broth.
• Add a bay leaf or cardamom pod before cooking.
• Stir in fresh herbs or lemon zest after cooking.
• Mix in peas, corn, or diced carrots.

📝 Expert Tips and Common Mistakes

✅ Always cover with foil to keep steam in.
✅ Avoid peeking during resting time – steam is essential!
✅ Fluff rice gently, don’t stir too hard to prevent breaking grains.
✅ Adjust cooking time slightly if your air fryer has higher or lower wattage.
✅ For brown rice: increase cooking time and add more water.

🧪 Nutrition Facts (Approximate per serving)

• Calories: ~186 kcal
• Carbs: ~37 g
• Protein: ~3 g
• Fat: ~2 g
• Sodium: ~151 mg
• Fiber: ~1 g