This little trick has saved me from countless hours of scrubbing scorched pots while freeing up stovetop space at the same time. When you’re cooking for 60-120 people with only six electric burners and aluminum pots that are deeper than they are wide, learning to cook rice in the oven has really come in handy. I love any trick that lets me “set it and forget it,” allowing me to focus on the more important aspects of a meal.

How long to bake the rice in the oven at 400 F really depends on the type of rice grain you use and the type of oven you have. For white rice and a standard oven, expect it to take about 25 minutes. If you use brown rice, it will take closer to 1 hour. Also, if you have a convection oven or use the convection setting, you can reduce the oven temp to 350 F to prevent burning.