Wash the rice! Place the rice in a large bowl and fill it with room temperature water. Give the rice a solid swirl with your hand, rubbing the grains to remove the starch. The water will be cloudy. Drain the water, and continue to rinse the rice (3-4 times) until the water runs clear.
(Optional) Fill the bowl with fresh water again. Soak the rice for 30 minutes, then drain it for softer rice.
Heat a pot on high heat and add the rice and 1.5 - 2 cups of water (see notes). Optionally, add a pinch of salt, a bay leaf, or ½ tablespoon of butter.
Bring the water to a boil. Then, turn the stove temperature down to low and cover the pot with a lid. Cook the rice for 8-10 minutes. Do not disturb or stir the rice.
Turn off the stove once the water has been fully absorbed. Let the rice rest for 5 minutes to finish steaming. Uncover the rice and use a fork to fluff it up. Keep it covered until it's ready to serve.