To cook rice in the microwave, follow these steps for fluffy and well-cooked rice: Ingredients and Equipment:
- 1 cup of raw white rice (such as jasmine, basmati, or sushi rice)
- 2 cups of cold water
- Microwave-safe bowl with a lid (glass or ceramic preferred)
- Optional: salt to taste (about ½ to 1 teaspoon)
Instructions:
- Rinse the rice: Place the rice in the microwave-safe bowl and rinse it 2-3 times with cold water until the water is just slightly cloudy. Drain carefully to keep the rice in the bowl
- Add water and salt: Add 2 cups of cold water to the rinsed rice. Add salt if desired and stir gently
- Microwave cooking:
- Cover the bowl with a microwave-safe lid or a microwave-safe plate.
- Microwave on high power for about 8-10 minutes
* Then, reduce the power to medium (about 50%) and microwave for another 15 minutes
- Resting: After microwaving, let the rice sit covered for 5 minutes. This allows the rice to steam and absorb any remaining moisture, resulting in fluffy grains
- Fluff and serve: Remove the lid carefully (watch out for steam), fluff the rice with a fork, and serve immediately
Additional Tips:
- The rice-to-water ratio is generally around 1:2 (1 cup rice to 2 cups water) but can be adjusted slightly depending on rice type and microwave power
- If after cooking the rice is still a bit firm or there is excess water, microwave for an additional 1-2 minutes and then rest again
- For brown rice or wild rice, cooking times and water ratios differ, so look for specific instructions for those types
This method is convenient, quick, and yields consistent results without a rice cooker
