It is cheaper to cook rice in the microwave than to buy a rice cooker. Cooking rice in the microwave sounds crazy to many, but it is definitely a good option for many.
You can cook rice in the microwave just fine without the rice drying out. In this article, I’ll tell you how to cook rice in the microwave successfully every time.
What do you need for cooking rice in the microwave?
- A measured amount of water
- Raw rice
- Microwave-safe container with a lid on top
The right amount of water is really important, and the right proportions are very important to pay attention to. This is the same in regular cooking.
Why cook rice in the microwave
Cooking rice in the microwave is a lot easier than you think.
You make sure you have the right amount of rice, in some cases, you need to wash the rice. Frozen rice needs to be defrosted on damp kitchen paper and if you put the rice in the microwave then you just need to watch it to get the process right.
But difficult? It certainly isn’t!
It saves a lot of money
Let’s face it, it’s very easy, and an electric rice cooker is quite expensive. If you use the microwave then you are using an appliance you usually just have in your house. And it is not at all true that cooking rice in the microwave always results in dry rice. On the contrary. You can make the tastiest recipes if you cook rice in a microwave-safe dish.
A basic rice cooker is relatively cheap but there are also more advanced rice cookers that can cost quite a lot. These are appliances that do their job, but it’s a waste if you don’t use it too often.
Less tidying up
My rice cooker has a lid, a plastic seal, a cup for excess water and then the ”base” or main unit. You also have to clean all the little corners of the cooker.
This is a lot easier with a microwaveable bowl, which usually has two parts: the lid and the bowl itself, both of which can often be put in the dishwasher. So you have a lot less work to do there!
How do you cook rice in the microwave?
The packaging does not always have instructions for cooking in the microwave. Fortunately, I have them for you! A lot easier than cooking in the rice cooker and in the pan.
Put the rice in the microwave-safe bowl. Add water if necessary. This may possibly be the case with some types of rice.
How many cups of water can sometimes vary. I will come back to this later. For extra flavour, you can also add a pinch of salt if necessary.
The usage ratio
The use ratio is 1-1 / 2 cups of rice: 2- 1/4 cups of water. You should microwave for 5 minutes on the highest setting, 15 minutes at 50% power, 5 minutes. This is the optimum cooking time for cooking rice in general and this is where you cook all types of rice very well in the microwave.
After 5 minutes, strain the cooled rice by pouring it into a colander and rinse the microwave-safe container immediately. Otherwise, the rice may start to stick. After draining, put the rice on a plate and serve immediately. Enjoy your meal!
Dry rice
When cooking dry rice, it is important to first wash the grains in cold water until the water remains clear. To do this, put 1.5 times as much water as rice in the bowl.
This does not have to be done per tablespoon of water but can be done in larger doses. This is easiest,