If you've ever tried to reheat rice in the microwave, you may have noticed that it often dries out, becoming anything but appetizing. By adding a little water and closing the container to facilitate the formation of steam, you can better heat the leftover rice in the microwave, on the gas or in the oven.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Reheat it in the Microwave Oven
Step 1. Place the rice in a microwave safe container
Pour the rice into a microwave-safe plastic dish, bowl, or bowl. If it was served in a cardboard take-out container and you don't want to move it, make sure the box has no metal staples or handles.
Step 2. Add some water
The quantity must be calculated according to the rice, but in principle it is good not to use more than a tablespoon of water for each cup (350 g) of rice. This quantity should be enough to favor the formation of steam, but avoiding that the rice remains immersed in a well of water after heating it.
Step 3. Break the lumps with a fork
The large, sticky lumps of rice will not be able to heat up in an equally homogeneous way, not to mention that the grains found in the lumps will not receive the necessary water to soften again. Mash the lumps with a fork to separate them, so that the beans are distributed evenly.
Step 4. Cover the container with a plate or napkin
To keep the rice moist, cover the bowl with a light plate or a microwave-safe plastic lid (but avoid closing the bowl completely). Alternatively, try covering it with a damp paper towel to make the process even more effective.
Step 5. Reheat the rice
Set the microwave to maximum. How long does it heat up? This depends on the amount of rice you have. One or two minutes should be enough for one serving.
- If the rice was frozen, reheat it in the microwave for two to three minutes.
- The container will likely be hot, so leave it in the microwave for a minute or two at the end of the process, or remove it while wearing oven gloves.
Method 2 of 3: Reheat it on Gas
Step 1. Put the rice in a saucepan
Pour it into the pot directly from the container. Choose any pot, just consider that it should be large enough to allow you to pour all the rice into it without having to press or compact it.
Step 2. Add some water
The amount of water to use depends on the portion of rice, although a couple of tablespoons should be enough for an individual portion. Since the pot is placed on the stove rather than in an oven, it remains exposed, so you can add a little water during the process if the rice continues to look too dry.
Step 3. Add oil or butter
Pour a drizzle of olive oil or a knob of butter (less than a tablespoon) over the rice. This little trick helps to recover the moisture and taste that have been lost due to storage in the fridge, it also helps to prevent the rice from sticking to the pot.
Step 4. Break up the rice lumps with the help of a fork
Mash larger pieces of rice using a fork, as the lumps hardly heat up evenly. This procedure also helps to better mix the rice along with the water and oil.
Step 5. Cover the pot tightly with a lid
If you have the lid of the pot itself, close it tightly in order to retain the steam. If you don't have this accessory, opt for a larger lid, so that you can cover all the edges of the pot.
Step 6. Heat the rice on low
The time varies depending on the amount of rice used, but for a single serving it should take about three to five minutes. Stir often to keep it from burning. At the end of the process the water should evaporate completely, while the rice should give off steam and recover its initial softness.
Method 3 of 3: Reheat it in the Oven
Step 1. Put the rice in a baking dish
The pan should be oven-safe and large enough to hold all the rice without having to squeeze it in.
Step 2. Add some water
For a single serving, calculate about 2 tablespoons (15-30 ml) of water. For larger quantities of rice you have to use more.
Step 3. Add some oil or broth
Pour any olive oil or broth over the rice to make it even more moist and flavorful. Mix it lightly so that the liquid coats it as evenly as possible.
Step 4. Break up the rice lumps with a fork
Make sure the rice has no lumps and is spread evenly across the pan, so that each individual part heats up at the same speed as the others.
Step 5. Cover the rice with a tightly fitting lid or a sheet of aluminum foil
If the pan has a lid, put it in place before putting it in the oven. If you don't have a lid, just tear off a large sheet of aluminum foil and wrap it around the edges of the pan.
Step 6. Bake at 150 ° C for 20 minutes
If after 20 minutes it seems to you that the rice is still too dry, remove it from the oven, pour in another tablespoon of water and put the lid back in place. Let it rest on the hob or on a trivet for about five minutes to help steam build up.
