Cooking rice in the microwave is cheaper and extra handy than having a rice cooker. we’ll present you the way to cook rice in the microwave, with perfect outcomes, every time.
substances for cooking rice in the microwave
- raw rice (jasmine, basmati, common long-grain, short-grain (corresponding to Korean rice or Japanese sushi rice))
- water
- microwave-safe container with lid (massive container, pyrex, corningware, microwave-safe plastic container)
- after testing 6 totally different strategies, the finest outcomes got here from the Cook’s Illustrated Check Kitchen.
- use ratio of 1-1/2 cups of rice: 2-1/4 cups of water
- microwave 5 minutes on full energy, quarter-hour on 50% energy, 5 minutes off
- microwaved rice seems the similar
- microwaved rice tastes the similar
- microwaved rice smells the similar
- Microwave rice will fluff up simply the similar
how to cook rice in the microwave
why cook rice in the microwave?
cooking rice in the microwave is cheaper.
There isn’t any want for a stand-alone rice cooker to fill your pantry. Years in the past, I invested in a $300 zojirushi, the mom of all rice cookers. lately, I solely take out that equipment after I’m cooking rice for a big group of individuals.
for household cooking, I exploit a $16 nordicware microwave rice cooker or a corningware/pyrex dish with a glass lid.
microwaving rice means much less cleanup.
Pots designed for microwave rice cookers normally have 2 elements: a lid and a base. each are dishwasher protected.
My rice cooker has a lid, a plastic gasket, a small cup for extra water, and a base. moreover, I’ve to clear in the slim crevices of the kitchen.
microwaving rice means much less childcare.
Should you’re cooking rice on the range, you may want to watch the pot till the water boils, flip the warmth down, cowl the pot, after which set the timer. as soon as the timer goes off, you have to to instantly flip off the warmth. there’s little or no leeway over time when cooking on the stovetop. the intense warmth underneath the cooker will both overcook the rice or create burnt, caught rice in the cooker that might be troublesome to scrape.
cooking rice in the microwave tastes precisely the similar.
At first, I used to be very skeptical that microwaved rice might compete with my rice cooker.
Boy, was I incorrect. fluffy rice and completely cooked in the microwave. Aspect by facet, I would not find a way to inform the distinction between the $300 rice cooker or the $16 rice cooker. Simply do not inform my husband that, okay? he won’t ever let me purchase costly cookware once more.
microwave rice cooking secret
The key to cooking rice in the microwave is including the correct quantity of water. an excessive amount of water = soggy rice. too little water = dry rice. simply water = simply rice. the ratio:
1-1/2 cups of raw rice: 2-1/4 cups of water
how to cook rice in the microwave
To cook rice in the microwave, you may begin with microwaveable, raw rice (corresponding to basmati, jasmine, or sushi rice). for 4 individuals, you have to 1 1/2 cups of raw rice. rinse the rice. throw out all the water. add 2-1/4 cups of water. microwave 5 minutes excessive/quarter-hour at 50% energy/relaxation 5 minutes.
this can make about 3 cups of cooked rice.
be aware: brown rice and wild rice have totally different cooking strategies. learn the way to cook brown rice in the microwave right here.
let’s break it down:
Add the raw rice to your microwave-safe bowl. pour some chilly water and shake the rice to wash it. fastidiously pour off the water, maintaining the rice in the pot. simply tilt the pot – the water will spill out and the rice will stay at the backside. You possibly can even use your arms to cup the rice to stop it from spilling over as you pour out the water. repeat this 3 extra occasions. your water might be much less and fewer cloudy. be aware: the water won’t ever be fully clear – rice is a starch, the starch will cloud the water a bit!
The aim of that is to wash the rice, eradicating dust, mud, little bugs, and extra starch that coats the rice. the further starch in the rice makes the rice very sticky and rubbery. while you wash it, you’ll discover an enormous distinction in the high quality of the cooked rice.
Are you eradicating the vitamins from the rice? No.
if you’re shopping for “fortified rice”, which is a fortified meals product. Some firms, like Uncle Ben’s Rice, spray the rice with nutritional vitamins throughout processing. do not buy this kind of rice…it has a nasty style. get your vitamins from greens and protein, not from a twig. wash uncooked rice as a result of it’s dusty, soiled and will have small bugs.
when you’re carried out with the wash, pour the water out once more.
You may nonetheless have some water in the pot… that is okay. simply pour as a lot as you may.
measure into 2 1/4 cups of water.
put the lid on. Please be aware that this rice cooker has air vents; this permits steam to escape throughout cooking, which is an effective factor. when you use a microwave that has a tight-fitting lid, the lid will burst.
corningware/pyrex glass lids will work nice.
microwave 5 minutes on excessive. then microwave quarter-hour at 50% energy. let stand (don’t open lid) for five minutes.
now you will have completely cooked rice.
microwave cookware I like to recommend
How I Microwave Rice: In the images above, I used the Nordicware Microwave Rice Cooker, but it surely’s not accessible and the high quality is not nearly as good. I additionally actually like the worldwide progressive microwave rice cooker, and it is truly cheaper, about $10 on amazon. get it right here.
I additionally like this prep options microwave rice cooker (contains colander, measuring cups too) for $16
how I make smooth and hard-boiled eggs in the microwave: nordicware microwave egg hotter $11 (amazon.com)
