Bap: cooked rice
Cooked rice
밥
Cooked rice, or bap (밥), is served with soups and stews and used in dishes such as bibimbap and fried rice. Short- or medium-grain rice gives a tender, lightly cohesive texture.
Recipes using this ingredient
Full ingredient guide
Cooked rice is called bap (밥) in Korean and is at the center of most Korean meals. The word does not simply mean a side dish. Rice is so closely connected with everyday eating in Korea that bap can also be used more broadly when talking about having a meal.
For Korean food, the ideal cooked rice is tender without being mushy and has enough natural stickiness for the grains to hold together. Korean short- or medium-grain rice is commonly used, although other varieties can work if they do not cook up too dry and separate.
Freshly cooked rice is served with soups, stews, meat dishes, and banchan. It is also the base for dishes such as bibimbap, jumeokbap, and many simple Korean home-cooked meals.
Cooled rice is especially useful for fried rice, including kimchi fried rice, because it is slightly drier and separates more easily in the pan. Leftover rice should be cooled promptly, stored covered in the refrigerator, and reheated thoroughly before eating.
When a Korean recipe lists cooked rice as an ingredient, the quantity normally refers to rice that has already been cooked rather than the weight of uncooked rice.
Where to buy it
- Uncooked short- or medium-grain rice at grocery stores
- Ready-cooked rice packs; check their storage instructions
How to use it
- Rice served with soups and stews
- Bibimbap and rice bowls
- Fried rice made with safely stored cooked rice
What to check
- For a classic Korean texture, choose a short- or medium-grain rice.
- Cool rice promptly if you plan to keep it for later.
- Do not leave cooked rice standing in the rice cooker to cool.
Can you substitute it?
Another short- or medium-grain rice can work if Korean rice is unavailable. Long-grain rice has a looser texture and changes the result in rice rolls.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I buy Cooked rice?
Uncooked short- or medium-grain rice at grocery stores, Ready-cooked rice packs; check their storage instructions
How do I use Cooked rice?
Rice served with soups and stews, Bibimbap and rice bowls, Fried rice made with safely stored cooked rice
Can I substitute Cooked rice?
Another short- or medium-grain rice can work if Korean rice is unavailable. Long-grain rice has a looser texture and changes the result in rice rolls.
How should I store Cooked rice?
Cool cooked rice quickly, ideally within one hour. Refrigerate and eat within 24 hours. Reheat only once, until steaming hot throughout. Follow package instructions for ready-cooked rice.