How to Microwave Rice

Rice is the staple food of millions of people all over the world.  For Americans, though, rice is not as popular as starchy foods like bread and potatoes, and rice has been relegated to the exoticism of New World and Oriental cuisine.  If you want to cook rice quickly and still get that fluffy consistency that comes with good rice, here’s how you can cook it using your microwave.

Rice and Microwaving

Many grain products like wheat semolina (couscous) and millet are prepared by introducing water to them and cooking them over a heat source.  In Oriental cuisine, rice is either steamed, boiled, or fried to introduce water to the grain, which rehydrates and reconstitutes the starch.  A stove on low heat or a rice cooker may be used to cook rice, but you may also use a microwave oven to cook rice.

Microwave cooking works by exciting water molecules in the food, causing the fluid to become superheated and cook the dish through.  Like in a conventional stove or rice cooker, rice expands as it cooks, introducing moisture to the starch molecules.  Unlike conventional cooking methods, though, microwaving minimizes the possibility of overcooking or burning the rice.

Steps

To cook rice in a microwave oven, follow these steps:

1. Most microwave ovens come with a rice microwaving kit along with other microwave-safe cookware.  If you don’t have the kit, a microwave-safe bowl is great.
2. Wash the rice (preferably long-grain rice) to get rid of any excess starch.  Wash the rice until the rinsing water runs clear.  You may want to hold on to rice washings, because they make a great base for Oriental-style soups like Thai tom yum goong, or Chinese egg drop soup.
3. Place the rice in the bowl, making sure that the surface is flat to permit even cooking.
4. The most common method applied to adding liquid to rice is called the “Mount Fuji.”  Place just enough water on the rice so that the level of the water reaches the knuckle of your middle finger when you lay your hand flat on the surface of the rice.  For microwaving, you may want to add a little less because not a lot of water will be lost to steam.
5. Place the bowl into the microwave, set the temperature to high, and cook for at least ten minutes.
6. Set the temperature to medium low and cook for at least 15 minutes.  Do not stir or mix the rice grains.
7. When the cooking is done, fluff the rice up with a wooden spoon or a dinner fork.

For many people, rice is the source of all sustenance.  With these steps, you can make the perfect batch of rice to serve to friends, guests, and family members for any meal of the day.