The invention provides an ink-jet water-based ink that can stably record images having high fastness properties and excellent quality over a long period of time even in any case, and further provides an ink-jet recording method, by which images having excellent fastness properties and quality can be recorded, and an ink cartridge and an ink-jet recording apparatus containing such an ink. The ink-jet water-based ink principally includes a water-insoluble coloring material, a water-soluble organic solvent, an auxiliary component and water, wherein at least polyoxyethylene castor oil or polyoxyethylene hardened castor oil is contained as the auxiliary component.