Most people cook rice using a pot or rice cooker. If you don't have both, or are looking for a more efficient way to cook small amounts of rice, consider using the microwave.
Step
Step 1. Rinse or soak the rice before you cook it if you prefer
This step is required for some types of rice (especially brown rice, which is much tougher than white rice), but it will usually improve the taste and texture of most types of rice. To rinse the rice, put some rice in a bowl, then fill the bowl with cold water. Use clean hands to sift the rice in the water. Drain, then repeat. To soak rice, put some rice in a bowl, then fill the container with cold water. Leave for 30 minutes, then drain.
United States rice is usually fortified with vitamins, which may be lost in the rinsing or soaking process. However, this is nothing to worry about if your diet is healthy and balanced
Step 2. Combine the rice and water in a microwave-safe container
One of the most basic rules for you to try is to add water and rice in a 2:1 ratio (eg 4 cups of water to 2 cups of rice). You can adjust the ratio after trying it, depending on how dry and moist you want the rice to be, the power of the microwave, and the size/shape of the container you're using.
- You can use chicken stock instead of water to enhance the flavor of the rice.
- Make sure that the container you use is large enough to hold the rice as it rises, as well as to accommodate the boiling water. This means that the container used must be at least 4 times larger than the combined amount of water and rice added.
- There are containers specially designed for cooking rice, which can be processed in the microwave.
Step 3. Enrich the rice flavor
Add salt, vegetable oil, olive oil, or butter before you cook it. One teaspoon of salt/vegetable oil or 1/2 tablespoon of butter should be enough for every cup of cooked rice.
You can season the rice again once it is cooked
Step 4. Gently stir the rice mixture with a wooden spoon
Mix all ingredients until evenly distributed. This step is especially important if you are adding other ingredients to add flavor.
Step 5. Cover the rice
Put the container in the microwave, then set the timer. Here are some guidelines for a 700-watt microwave and white rice:
- 1/2 cup rice, 9 minutes
- 3/4 cup rice, 12 minutes
- 1 cup rice, 16 minutes
- 1 1/4 cups rice, 20 minutes
- 1 1/2 cups rice, 23 minutes
Step 6. For brown rice, start with three cups of boiling water for each cup of rice, then cook for 25 minutes
Adjust the amount of water and the length of the cooking process as you try and make mistakes.
Step 7. Leave the rice in the microwave for five minutes after the power stops
Do not open the microwave door. Let the steam complete the cooking process. You may notice that the grains of rice that are starting to ripen will be facing vertically, as if they were "paying respects."
Step 8. Stir the rice with a fork, then serve
Tips
- If you are reheating rice, such as Chinese take-out rice, try to sprinkle a little water (about a teaspoon for each cup of white rice) on the surface of the rice before you heat it. That way, the rice will not dry out due to the hot temperature which causes dehydration. Be careful not to splash too much water, or the taste of the rice will be lost.
- Alternatively, when heating the rice, you can wrap or loosely cover the surface of the rice with a damp paper towel to prevent the rice flavor from being lost.
- You don't need to cover or stir the rice in the cooking process. If you still want to close it, don't close it completely. Doing so will cause high pressure build-up, and may cause the container to explode and your microwave will fall apart.
- If you have two bowls, another way to microwave rice is to place the rice in an inner bowl. After that, put the inner bowl into the outer bowl, then fill the outer bowl with water. Cover the surface of the bowl, then cook in the microwave for the specified time.
Warning
- Don't use these "shortcuts" when cooking rice for sushi.
- Do not leave the rice at room temperature for more than an hour. Undercooked rice may contain spores of Bacillus cereus, the bacteria that causes food poisoning. When the rice is finished cooking, the spores may survive. Then, if the rice is left at room temperature, the spores will begin to grow into bacteria. The bacteria will multiply, and may produce toxins that cause vomiting or diarrhea. Reheating the rice will not remove the poison.
- Make sure that the container you are using is large enough to prevent boiling water from escaping. For example, if you cook 1/4 cup of rice and 1/2 cup of water, even a 1 liter container is not enough.
