Cooking Rice: Old-Style Microwave Steamer Method

Cooking rice in the microwave is a quick, easy, and mess-free alternative to using a rice cooker or stove. Here's a step-by-step guide to achieving fluffy, evenly cooked rice using an old-style Tupperware microwave steamer:

Step 1: Wash Your Rice

Rinsing the rice in a mesh strainer until the water runs clear of starch will help ensure your rice is fluffy.

Step 2: Add Rice and Water to the Steamer

Place 1 cup of rinsed rice and 1.5 cups of cold water into the steamer.

Step 3: Cover and Microwave

Secure the lid and cook in the microwave on medium power for 12 minutes. Use oven mitts to handle the steamer as it will be hot.

Step 4: Let the Rice Sit and Fluff

Remove the steamer from the microwave and let it sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Then, fluff the rice with a fork or rice paddle. If the rice isn't quite done, return it to the microwave for an additional 2-3 minutes.

Tips for Success:

- Check the wattage of your microwave, as this will affect cooking time.

- Avoid adding fats like butter or oils, or liquids with fats like milk or broth, as these can cause mess and affect the cooking process. Season your rice after cooking instead.

- For brown rice, increase the cooking time by 5 minutes or until the rice is tender.

- For Minute Rice, use 1.5 cups of rice, 1.75 cups of water, and 0.5 teaspoons of salt. Cook for 5 minutes on high power, then 3 minutes on power level 4, and finally, let it stand for 5 minutes before fluffing and serving.

Wash your rice

Washing your rice is an important step in the cooking process, and it's not just about getting rid of dirt or bugs. It's mainly about managing the starch levels on the surface of the rice grains.

When rice grains rub against each other during processing and packaging, they create a superfine powder of starchy residue that coats the exterior of each grain. This is especially true for white rice, which has had its husk, germ, and bran removed, exposing the softer starchy endosperm.

By washing the rice, you remove this excess starch, which can cause the rice to become sticky and clump together during cooking, resulting in a mushy or gummy texture. The goal is to wash until the water runs clear, or almost clear—this usually takes one to two minutes for white rice and about 30 seconds for brown rice.

There are a few different methods you can use to wash your rice:

• Use a fine-mesh sieve: Place the rice in a fine-mesh sieve and hold it under cold running water. Gently shake the sieve for one to two minutes (30 seconds for brown rice) until the water runs clear.
• Use a bowl: Place the rice in a bowl and fill it with water. Agitate the rice with your hand, then dump out the water and refill. Repeat this process two more times, or until the water becomes clearer.
• Combine the sieve and bowl methods: Agitate the rice in a bowl of water, then pour the water and rice through a sieve to catch the rice and release more residual starch.

Remember, you don't want to wash away all the starch, especially if you're making dishes like risotto or paella, where the starch helps create a creamy or sticky texture. So, don't wash your rice until the water is completely clear. A little starch left on the grains is okay!

Add rice and water to a microwave-safe container

Cooking rice in the microwave is a convenient and mess-free method. Here is a step-by-step guide to achieving fluffy rice:

Step 1: Wash the Rice

Rinsing the rice in a mesh strainer until the water runs clear of starch will help achieve fluffier rice.

Step 2: Add Rice and Water to a Microwave-Safe Container

Place 1 cup of rinsed rice and 1.5 cups of cold water into a microwave-safe container. You can use a microwave rice cooker or a bowl with a lid.

Step 3: Cover the Container

If you are using a microwave rice cooker, secure the lid and insert. Otherwise, cover the container with plastic wrap or a lid.

Step 4: Microwave

For white rice, microwave on medium power for 12 minutes. The cooking time may vary depending on the wattage of your microwave and the type of rice used. For example, an 800-watt microwave may take closer to 12 minutes, while a 1200-watt microwave may take around 10 minutes.

Step 5: Let the Rice Sit

After microwaving, let the rice sit covered for 5-10 minutes to allow it to fluff up. If the rice is still not at your desired consistency, return it to the microwave for an additional 2-3 minutes.

Cooking Times for Different Types of Rice

• Brown Rice: 1 cup rice with 2 cups water, cook for 18-20 minutes
• White Rice: 1 cup rice with 1.5 cups water, cook for 10-12 minutes
• Jasmine Rice: 1 cup rice with 1.25 cups water, cook for 10-12 minutes
• Basmati Rice: 1 cup rice with 1.5 cups water, cook for 10-12 minutes

Cover the container

The Tupperware Rice Maker comes with an outer cover and an overflow guard insert. The cover is designed to be tight-closing and to release steam. This prevents leaks and overflow, giving you peace of mind. The overflow guard insert also helps to prevent messes and means you don't need to pause and stir the rice while it's cooking.

The Rice Maker is made from microwave-safe, heat-resistant material. It's important to note that it is not safe for use with the grill/broil function and should not be used on a stovetop.

The Rice Maker is designed to be easy to handle. It has "flip closure" handles that make it easy to open and close, and a see-through window with a maximum filling line so you can see the contents level and don't overfill.

The Rice Maker can be used to cook rice or other grains such as bulgur, quinoa, couscous, or polenta. Simply add the rice or grains to the base, rinse and drain using the insert as a strainer, then add the correct amount of water and cook. The Rice Maker works with the full water absorption method and uses the precision of microwave cooking to achieve consistent results.

Tips for covering the container

• The Rice Maker has a lid that should be secured before cooking.
• If you are not using the Rice Maker, you can cover your container with plastic wrap or a lid.
• It is important to use oven mitts when taking your container out of the microwave, as it will be hot.
• The Rice Maker has cooling grips to make this easier.

Microwave for 12 minutes

Now that we have all agreed that cooking rice in the microwave is simple, energy and mess efficient- it's important to consider the various elements that can affect our perfectly light and fluffy microwave rice.

We suggest 10-12 minutes for white rice, and 18-20 minutes for brown rice. For example: An 800-watt microwave will take closer to 12 minutes, whereas a 1200-watt microwave will take closer to 10.

The cooking time can also be affected depending on what rice you are cooking- so good thing we explain that below!

Basmati, Jasmine, White & Brown Rice: How To Cook The Different Types of Rice Using a Microwave

If you’re wondering how to cook brown rice in the microwave for a hearty alternative, or cooking basmati for your flavourful Indian/ South Asian dishes - follow the chart below for some light changes.

Brown Rice – 1 cup rice: 2 cups water (18-20 min)

White Rice – 1 cup rice: 1.5 cups water (10-12 min)

Jasmine Rice – 1 cup rice: 1.25 cups water (10-12 min)

Basmati Rice – 1 cup rice: 1.5 cups water (10-12min)

How to cook rice with an old-style Tupperware microwave steamer

To cook rice with an old-style Tupperware microwave steamer, follow these steps:

• Wash your rice. This is a controversial step in rice cooking, but it helps with the fluffiness of your microwave rice. Simply rinse your rice in a mesh strainer until the water runs clear.
• Add the rice to your Tupperware microwave steamer, along with the correct amount of water (see the chart above).
• Secure the lid of your Tupperware microwave steamer.
• Microwave on medium power for 12 minutes.
• Let the rice sit for 5-10 minutes before serving. This allows it to finish cooking and fluff up.

Let the rice sit for 5-10 minutes

Once the rice is cooked, it is important to let it sit for 5-10 minutes. This is because the rice will continue to steam and become extra fluffy during this time. Do not be tempted to peek or the steam will escape!

Frequently asked questions