Prepare Rice using Microwave

Now based on my earlier blog on Microwave Cooking, you would have felt that, this is something new or probably we can buy or make use of Microwave in a better way!

Usually there are two ways of preparing rice...

Traditional way of putting the rice in boiling water and filtering the starch.
Conventional way : putting the rice + water in the pressure cooker and waiting for two to three whistles.

Traditional way of preparing rice :
+ Starch is removed, so the rice is not smoggy
+ - the rice stays good for 4 to 6 hours [shelf life], depending upon the climate
- you need to very careful in this preparation. If the rice is over boiled, then it becomes sticky.
- risk involved, to filter the starch from the rice

Conventional way of preparing rice by pressure cooker:
+ You get the benefit of essentials from the starch, so that food taste improves
+ rice stays good for long hours
+ no risk [as water & rice mix together]
- rice turns brittle after 3 to 4 hours
- eating pressure cooker rice, you will get belly as the gas in the rice are still there and this increases the size of our stomach. This is long term effect, it will take 3 to 5 years to see the person having belly who is eating pressure cooker rice on a daily basis.

Preparing rice using Microwave, mixes both these factors, and you get a product that are good for health with ease.

How to prepare rice using microwave?

1. Take the quantity required. say 1 cup of rice.
2. Put it in bowl and wash it 2 to 3 times, until the dust or the rice mill extracts come out.
3. Now soak the rice by pouring water in the bowl that has rice. Ensure that water level is higher that the rice level.
4. Wait for 5 to 10 minutes [max]
5. Drain the water and pour fresh water [2 x Cup] in the rice or the water level should be 1 inch above the rice level.
6. Close the Lid
7. Keep it in Microwave Oven for 17 to 18 minutes [max].

When you open the oven, you find little amount of starch is spread in the microwave glass. Don't worry. Remove the bowl and open the lid. You will find the rice, that is very nicely prepared.

Remove the microwave glass and clean it, so that your Microwave is ready for next cooking.

NOTE: In case you have poured less water, and find that the rice is still not boiled properly, pour some amount of water again and keep it for 5 minutes. Rice is ready.

Some doubts will come like this?
Will the little amount of starch spread in the microwave glass, will come every time we prepare rice or rice items?
My answer is Yes & No.

It will come only, if you prepare only plain rice.
It will NOT come, if you mix some items or ingredients with rice like Tomoto Rice, Pongal, Veg Briyani or Non-Veg Briyani, as the ingredients consume those, so you get a clean outcome.

Follow the tips & prepare your rice and let me know the feedback.

Microwave Cooking

The one thing, I hated most was Microwave Oven. I know people using it and most of them say that, they use it for re-heat or make coffee ...basically for simple chores. I used to think, why someone should invest Rs 10K for this purpose.

Time came for me to experiment with it, due the handle that broke in my pressure cooker, which I got it & surviving during my initial days of my onsite trip.

With my initial experiments, its outcome was pretty bad with Microwave Oven.

However with the days going by and understands how it works, I can say that I have perfected the approach and can cook some of the daily need or variety of Indian recipe with ease which uses less oil.

Remember Microware Oven is used for less oil or no oil. But still you can use a max of 4 to 5 table spoons. Most of the dish recipe use this much only.

If you need to fry something like onion, chicken or potato …you need to still use the pan with required amount of oil. Never try those in Microwave Oven.

This way of cooking is healthier as it contains less oil but still the taste remains the same.

What are the things that I have tried till now?

1. Normal Rice
   
2. Roti / Chapathi
   
3. All types of Pongal
   
4. All types of Briyani
   

Why I recommend Microwave Oven…

1. Same taste as you get it in Pressure Cooker
   
2. Fewer vessels mean less work & less cleaning.
   
3. No need to wait & watch. Set the time and based on the signal, you know what needs to be done next, if needed.
   
4. Healthier, as it uses less oil or ghee.
   
5. Hygienic & Less space
   
6. Running cost compared to Gas is less or same. Microwave Ovens usually come with 1000 watts to 1500 watts. 1000 w will consume 1 unit per hour if used, translates to Rs 6 per day / Rs 180 a month.
   

What are the vessels that are required?

Typically when you buy a microwave oven, manufacturers bundle free offer of microwave cookware in India. Usually they will be fiber make. My recommendation is glassware for preparing rice items.

Why Glassware?

It handles the pressures due to its weight and cooks evenly similar to pressure cooker.

What type of Glassware?

Get any glassware that has a proper fitting lid. Sample picture below,

Next time, I will write down on how to prepare rice, so that you can give it a try and give its feedback.