Microwave "rice cookers" are plastic containers specifically designed for cooking rice in the microwave. The advantage offered by this special pot is the reduction of cooking time by half compared to normal methods. In addition, it is almost impossible to risk overcooking the beans. You can also use the rice cooker to cook other similar foods, for example quinoa, couscous or polenta. Some models of rice cookers also come with a steam cooking basket, which allows you to cook vegetables, pasta and other foods quickly and easily.
Ingrediants
Rice
Doses for 4 servings
- 300 g of rice
- 600 ml of water
Chilli with beef
Doses for 8-10 servings
- 450 g of minced meat
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 small green pepper, chopped
- 415 g of rustic tomato sauce
- 425g canned black beans, drained
- 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons (10 g) of chili powder
- 60 ml of chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons (30 g) of tomato paste
Potato salad
Doses for 4-6 servings
- 4 medium potatoes, cut into cubes about 1.5 cm per side
- Just enough water to cover the potatoes
- 60 g of mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of apple cider vinegar
- 1½ tablespoon (25 g) of Dijon mustard
- 1 small stalk of celery, finely chopped
- ½ small red onion, finely chopped
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Rice with Black Beans
Doses for 6-8 servings
- 600 ml of water
- 300 g of rice
- 1 pinch of salt
- 425g canned black beans, drained
- 410 g of rustic tomato sauce
- Chopped fresh cilantro (about 5 g)
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon of chili powder
- Grated or flaked cheese to taste
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Prepare the Rice
Step 1. Rinse it
Pour the rice into the rice cooker. Fill the container with a sufficient amount of water, so that the rice is submerged in about 2.5 cm of liquid. Stir the rice with a spoon or hand, swirling it in the water. At this point, drain it by pouring it into a fine mesh colander.
Rinsing the rice serves to prevent the grains from sticking to each other. In addition, it allows you to wash away the traces of arsenic naturally present in rice
Step 2. Prepare the ingredients in the rice cooker
Return the freshly drained rice to the cooking container, then add the necessary water. If you want, you can flavor the rice by adding a nut or spices to the water. For example, you can use salt, pepper and some herbs. The amount of water varies according to the variety of rice or the ingredient you want to cook in the rice cooker. The following doses refer to about 200 g of the ingredient to be cooked:
- For long grain brown rice, use 700ml of water;
- For wild rice, use 700ml of water;
- For the quinoa, use 350ml of water;
- For the polenta, use 470 ml of water;
- For couscous, use 235ml of water.
Step 3. Secure the lids
Most rice cookers have two lids: one inside and one outside. You will need to use both of them to cook the rice or the selected ingredient. Place the first lid in the compartment, then place the outer lid on top of the inner lid. If there is a latch that locks the lids by the handles of the container, secure them in the correct position.
If the two lids are punctured, try to align them correctly to ensure the best result
Step 4. Set up the microwave
If your oven has a power equal to or greater than 1,000 W, set it to 70% to prevent the water from evaporating too quickly. Otherwise, you risk the rice becoming crunchy.
Step 5. Cook the rice
Put the rice cooker in the microwave. Set the timer for 13 minutes, then press the "Start" button to start cooking. If you are cooking an ingredient other than rice, the cooking time varies as follows:
- Long grain brown rice or wild rice must cook for 30 minutes;
- The quinoa must cook for 13 minutes;
- The polenta and couscous must cook for 4 minutes.
Step 6. Let the rice rest, then stir it before serving
After cooking, take the rice cooker out of the microwave very carefully and place it on a trivet. Let the rice sit for 5 minutes. When it's time, remove the outer cover followed by the inner one. Remember to start lifting the lid on the side furthest away from your body to avoid getting burned by the hot steam.
Before serving the rice, stir it with a fork to separate the grains and allow the excess moisture to evaporate
Method 2 of 3: Prepare Other Recipes
Step 1. You can use the rice cooker to make chili con carne
It is a healthy and complete dish that you can cook in the microwave quickly and easily. You can use any variety of ground beef, from beef to turkey. If you follow a vegetarian diet, you can even use tofu instead of meat. To make chili using the microwave rice cooker:
- Put the minced meat in the rice cooker, then cook it in the microwave for 4 minutes;
- Drain the meat;
- Add the chopped onion and green pepper, then continue cooking for 2 minutes;
- Incorporate the remaining ingredients;
- Close the rice cooker again and cook the chili for another 10 minutes.
Step 2. Make the potato salad
This is another delicious dish that you can serve either as a main course or as a side dish. Preparing it using a microwave rice cooker is quick and easy. Place the potatoes in the rice cooker container, then add enough water to completely cover them. Cook the potatoes for 10 minutes, then drain them from the water. In a bowl, mix the mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, salt, and pepper using a spoon or small whisk. Now pour the sauce into the rice cooker, followed by the chopped celery and onion. Stir to mix the ingredients evenly.
Using the same method, you can also make a great mashed potato. Cook the potatoes in the microwave rice cooker, then drain them from the water. At this point, mash them with a fork or potato masher. Incorporate 60ml of milk, then continue to process the potatoes. You can also add butter, salt, pepper, chives, sour cream, or whatever other ingredient you want
Step 3. Make the rice with black beans
This recipe is similar to chili, but the meat is replaced by rice and the spices are different. Add the water, rice, and salt to the rice cooker, then stir to combine the ingredients. Close the rice cooker and put it in the microwave for about 14 minutes. To find out if the rice is cooked, check that it has absorbed all the water. Once ready, let it rest for 5 minutes. Stir with the fork to separate the beans, then add the other ingredients from the recipe. Distribute them evenly.
You can serve the dish as is or add grated cheese, sour cream, parsley, or chopped fresh cilantro
Method 3 of 3: Using the Steamer Basket
Step 1. Insert the basket
Some models of microwave rice cookers also come with a handy steamer basket, which can be inserted directly into the main container. You will need to put the food in the basket and pour the water into the bottom of the rice cooker. Since the ingredients will not be in contact with the water, they will steam rather than boil.
Place the empty basket directly inside the rice cooker
Step 2. Add the ingredients and water
The basket is ideal for steaming ingredients such as pasta and vegetables, including potatoes, corn, carrots, green beans and many more. Place the desired amount of vegetables in the basket, then add 120ml of water to the bottom of the rice cooker.
- Remember that pasta is made to be cooked in boiling water, not steam. For every 340g of pasta, you should add 1.65 liters of hot water or enough to completely cover it.
- Do not fill the basket more than ¾ of its capacity as some ingredients may expand during cooking.
Step 3. Close the container with its lids and cook the food in the microwave
Insert the inner lid over the steamer basket. Add the outer lid and secure it in place using the handles on the container itself. If the microwave has a power equal to or greater than 1,000 W, set it to 70%. The time required for cooking varies according to the foods you want to cook. The times indicated below refer to 450 g of the selected ingredient:
- The pasta must cook for 4 minutes;
- Spinach and peas need to cook for 4-7 minutes;
- Corn and Brussels sprouts need to cook for 5-9 minutes;
- The asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower and carrots need to cook for 7-13;
- The beans need to cook for 11-16 minutes.
Step 4. Let the food rest before draining and serving
When the kitchen timer goes off, take the rice cooker out of the microwave very carefully and place it on a trivet. Let the vegetables or pasta sit for a couple of minutes. When finished, remove the lids, take out the basket and discard any remaining water.
- Transfer the vegetables or pasta to serving plates.
- Remember that spinach should not be allowed to rest after cooking. As soon as they are ready, take them out of the rice cooker to prevent them from becoming limp or mushy.
