Finding the right ratio between rice and water can confuse you because each seems to have a different opinion about that. Even so, the cause is simple: rice absorbs only a certain amount of water before it reaches the right gelatinization. The ideal starts at one part water for one part rice by volume.
But you must add extra water to compensate for what evaporates during the cook
How Much Water to Use for Rice
Most folks start with two cups of water for every cup of rice. The secret is using the same measure for both. This consistency helps more than you would think.
If you cook a bigger amount, only increase the ingredients proportion. Honestly, use two identical cups and keep to that is probably the most important cause for getting reliaebl results.
White rice works well with a ratio of 1:1.5 until 1:2. On the stove, the ratio 1:1.5 usually is the best. Brown rice requires a bit more liquid, somewhere between 1:1.75 and 1:2.
Basmati and jasmine rices work well around 1:1.5, although some basmati kinds even favor 1:2.5. Generally, long-grain rices absorb more water than short-grain, but brown rice requires more than all.
The bases are simple: rice absorbs water in 1:1. But here it gets interesting. When you actually cook, not every dose of water stays here, because part goes as steam.
That is exactly why the recommendations range like this a lot. It all depends on the evaporation and various factors: your heat, the width of the pot, if the cover is tight, and even the size of the hole in your rice cooker.
Rice cookers do white rice fine in 1:1. When you cook bigger portions, the ratio can a bit sink because the surface area of the pot stays the same. Sushi rice and short-grain rice shine with one and a quarter cups of water for a cup of rice, that gives them that special sticky texture.
Short-grain sushi rice simply has more starch in every grain than long varieties.
Soaking alters the equation. If you soak the rice for an hour or more, one and a half cups of water become sufficient. If you do not soak, two cups for one cup work better.
New rice acts different than old stock (it requires a bit more water). If your rice is already a year old, adding 10 until 20 percent more water helps a lot.
Many details affect how soft rice you receive: the natural starch of the rice, the ratio of water and the cooking time. Even so, choosing the right type of rice is more important than exactly counting the portions. Fully rinsing the rice before the cook always helps.
Useful note: you can substitute the water with broth in the same ratio if you want more taste. Worthnoting: you can substitute the water with broth in the same ratio if you want more taste.