Use a Microwave Rice Cooker

Microwave rice cookers are special plastic containers that are specifically designed for cooking rice in the microwave. The benefit of these cookers is that you can cook rice in about half the time that it normally takes, and it’s nearly impossible to overcook the rice. These rice cookers can also be used to cook similar dishes like polenta, quinoa, and couscous. Some cookers even come with a steamer basket that makes it fast and easy to steam vegetables, pasta, and other foods.

Ingredients

Rice

Makes 4 servings

• 1½ cups (293 g) rice
• 2½ cups (588 ml) water

Chili

Makes 8 to 10 servings

• 1 pound (454 g) ground meat
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 small green pepper, chopped
• 14.5 ounces (411 g) canned diced tomatoes, in juice
• 15 ounces (425 g) canned black beans, drained
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons (10 g) chili powder
• ¼ cup (59 ml) chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons (28 g) tomato paste

Potato salad

Makes 4 to 6 servings

• 4 medium potatoes, cut to half-inch (1.3-cm) cubes
• Water, to cover
• ¼ cup (60 g) mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) apple cider vinegar
• 1½ tablespoons (23 g) Dijon mustard
• 1 small celery stalk, finely diced
• ½ small red onion, finely diced
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Black Beans and Rice

Makes 6 to 8 servings

• 2½ cups (588 ml) water
• 1½ cups (293 g) rice
• Pinch of salt
• 15 ounces (425 g) canned black beans, drained
• 14.5 ounces (411 g) canned diced tomatoes, in juice
• ¼ cup (6 g) chopped fresh cilantro
• 2 tablespoons (30 ml) fresh lime juice
• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon (2 g) chili powder
• Shredded cheese, to garnish

Steps

Making Rice

1. Rinse the rice. Place the rice into the rice cooker. Fill the bowl with water, or enough to cover the rice plus an extra inch (2.5 cm) of head room. Use your hand or a spoon to stir the rice and swirl the water around. Drain the rice by pouring it into a fine-mesh sieve.
   • Rinsing rice may prevent it from sticking together, and it will also help rinse off traces of arsenic.
2. Combine the rice and water. Transfer the rinsed rice back to the rice cooker. Add the water. For flavored rice, you can also add a bouillon cube in with the water, or salt, pepper, herbs, or other spices to taste. For different types of rice and other foods, you'll need a different ratio of water per cup of:
   • Long-grain brown rice, use 3 cups (705 ml) water
   • Wild rice mix, use 3 cups (705 ml) water
   • Quinoa, use 1½ cups (353 ml) water
   • Polenta, use 2 cups (470 ml) water
   • Couscous, use 1 cup (235 ml) water
3. Secure the lids. Most microwave rice steamers come with an inner and an outer lid. You're supposed to use both when you're cooking food. Place the inner lid into the recess. Place the outer lid over top of the inner lid. Latch the handles in place if your cooker has locks.
   • If your inner and outer lids have holes in them, offset the holes to ensure the best results.
4. Set the microwave. Set your microwave to 70 percent power if your microwave is 1,000 watts or more. This will prevent the water from evaporating too quickly and the rice from becoming crunchy.
5. Cook the rice. Place the rice into the microwave. Set the timer for 13 minutes and press “start” to cook the rice. If you're cooking something other than rice, the cooking times will be different:
   • Cook long-grain brown rice and wild rice mixes for 30 minutes
   • Cook quinoa for 13 minutes
   • Cook polenta and couscous for 4 minutes
6. Rest and fluff the rice before serving. When the microwave has finished, carefully remove the rice cooker and place it on a heat-proof mat. Set the rice aside and let it stand for five minutes. When the time is up, remove the outer lid, followed by the inner lid. Remove the far side first to let the steam escape away from your body.
   • Before serving, stir the rice with a fork to fluff it up and let excess moisture out.

Cooking Other Meals

1. Make chili. Chili is a simple, healthy, and filling meal you can make in the microwave rice cooker in no time. You can use any type of ground meat you like, such as beef or turkey. You can also use tofu if you want to make a delicious vegetarian chili. To make chili in the rice cooker:
   • Cover and cook the turkey (in the rice cooker) for four minutes.
   • Drain the turkey.
   • Add the green pepper and onion and cook for two minutes.
   • Stir in the remaining ingredients.
   • Cover with the lid and cook for an additional 10 minutes.
2. Whip up a batch of potato salad. Potato salad is another delicious meal or side dish that you can make in the microwave rice cooker. Place the potatoes in the rice cooker and add enough water to cover them. Cook the potatoes for 10 minutes. Drain the water. In a separate bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, salt, and pepper. Add the dressing, celery, and onion to the potatoes and stir to coat.
   • You can also make mashed potatoes in the rice cooker using the same method. Cook the potatoes and drain them. Mash them with a fork or potato masher. Add ¼ cup (59 ml) of milk and continue mashing. Stir in butter, salt, pepper, chives, sour cream, or any other mashed potato fixings you fancy.
3. Make black beans and rice. This dish is similar to chili, but it calls for rice instead of meat, and the seasonings are different. Combine the water, rice, and salt in the rice cooker. Cover and cook for about 14 minutes, until the water has been absorbed. Set the rice aside for five minutes. Stir the rice with a fork and add all the remaining ingredients. Stir to combine.
   • You can serve the rice as is, or garnish it with some shredded cheese, sour cream, or fresh parsley or cilantro.

Using the Steaming Basket

1. Insert the steamer basket. Some microwave rice cookers come with a steamer basket that fits inside the cooker. You add food to the basket and water to the bottom of the cooker. Because the food is not sitting directly in the water, it gets steamed instead of boiled.
   • Place the empty steamer basket directly inside the rice cooker.
2. Add the food and water. The steamer basket is ideal for pasta and vegetables, including potatoes, greens, corn, carrots, and more. Add the desired vegetables to the steamer basket and add ½ cup (118 ml) of water to the bottom of the cooker.
   • For pasta, it’s better to boil than steam. For every 12 ounces (340 g) of pasta you use, add about 7 cups (1.65 L) of hot water, or enough to cover the pasta.
   • Do not fill the steamer basket more than three-quarters full to leave room for expansion.
3. Close the lids and cook the food. Insert the inner lid over the steamer basket. Add the outer lid and close the latches on the handles. Set 1,000-watt microwaves to 70 percent power. Cooking times will vary depending on the food. For a pound (454 g) of food, microwave for:
   • 4 minutes for pasta
   • 4 to 7 minutes for spinach and peas
   • 5 to 9 minutes for corn and Brussel sprouts
   • 7 to 13 minutes for asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots
   • 11 to 16 minutes for beans
4. Let the food stand before draining and serving. When the cooking time is up, remove the cooker from the microwave and set it on a heat-proof mat. Let the vegetables or pasta stand for two minutes. Then, remove the lids, pull out the steamer basket, and discard the excess water.
   • Transfer the veggies or pasta to bowls or plates and serve.
   • Spinach should not be left to stand after cooking. When the cooking time is up, remove it from the cooker immediately to prevent wilting and sogginess.

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Sources and Citations

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