How many pounds is a cup of dry rice?

Recipes can be frustrating when they mention ingredients in pounds and you want it in cups. A common question that pops up on cooking forums is how many cups of rice in a pound? We’ll answer that question in this article as well and provide some extra information to help convert rice measurements into your preferred option.

Let's get started by answering your most important question...

• How many cups of rice in one pound?
• How much white rice is needed when cooking for one person?
• Cooking rice: the simple steps
• Final words

There are 2.5 cups of raw white rice in a pound.

Measuring raw vs cooked

Keep in mind that uncooked rice can easily be measured into a cup and the results are very accurate. However, when measuring cooked rice the results will vary depending on whether the rice is gently or firmly packed in. The type of rice used will also influence how much fits into a cup. For example, basmati rice doesn’t stick together as much as white rice does. Although the measurements aren’t exact, they’re unlikely to ruin a dish if the quantities are a little out.

Summary conversion table

Remember that rice expands when cooked

• White rice will triple its size and weight once cooked. 1 cup of white rice expands to 3 cups when cooked.
• Brown rice will double in size and weight once cooked. 1 cup of brown rice expands to 2 cups when cooked.

Quick Tip
If you enjoy rice, have you considered investing in a rice cooker? They make perfect, fluffy rice every time. Check out our review of Korean rice cookers here. You'll find out why they're worth adding to your kitchen.

How much white rice is needed when cooking for one person?

Do you fill up easily? A serving size of ½ cup of white rice should be a sufficient amount. This means you’ll need to start with 2 ½ tablespoons of raw rice.

If you prefer a larger portion of rice then you’ll want one cup of cooked rice. To cook this much, you’ll start with ⅓ cup of raw white rice.

For two people simply double the amounts above, add some protein and vegetables, and you’ve got yourself the makings for a delicious meal.

Cooking rice: the simple steps

Cooking rice can be a headache for many; getting the ratio of water and rice correct is the best way to create perfect rice every time.

What you'll need

To make 3 cups of rice you'll need 1 cup of raw rice and 2 cups of water.

The steps to cooking rice.

The steps

1. Rinse the raw rice in cold water to remove any starch that will cause the rice to clump together once cooked. Pour rice into a strainer and gently shake the handle as the water flows over it. You'll notice murky water filtering out the bottom. There is no need to keep rinsing until the water runs clear, about 30 seconds will be fine.
2. Add rice and cold water to a pot using a 1:2 ratio. For every cup of rice added, pour in 2 cups of water.
3. Add salt to taste and one tablespoon of oil.
4. Heat on high until boiling then reduce to a simmer and continue cooking for 10 minutes.
5. Remove saucepan from the heat and allow to sit for 10 minutes with the lid on, then serve.

Quick Rice Cooking Tips

• Use cold water to rinse the rice before cooking.
• Keep a close eye on the rice as it cooks to ensure the water doesn't boil off before the rice is cooked. If you're faced with uncooked rice and no water, simply add a quarter of a cup extra boiled water and continue cooking. Repeat this step again if necessary.
• If your rice is tender and there is still extra water pour into a strainer to remove excess water.

Prefer to watch? Here's a super helpful video for making rice.

Final words

Rice can be a challenge to cook. To start with you need to get the measurements correct so if a recipe calls for a pound of rice and you only have measuring cups, you'll need to do a quick conversion. We've done the work for you and can confirm that there are 2.5 cups of rice in a pound. This if for your standard long grain white rice, if you have a different type of rice check the conversion table provided above to get an accurate answer.

I'd also recommend trying the recipe on this page for cooking rice. It takes the pain out of cooking this staple ingredient that's very easy to get wrong. Following the recommended steps will result in delicious, fluffy rice every time.