Can you eat microwave rice without microwaving it?

In this brief article, we will answer the question, “Can you eat microwave rice without microwaving it?” We will look at the differences between microwave rice and regular rice. We will discuss how to select healthy microwave rice and how to make it.  We will briefly look at  the nutritional value of microwave rice.

Can you eat microwave rice without microwaving it?

Yes, you can eat microwave rice without microwaving it. Packets of microwave rice are usually precooked and are ready to eat straight from the bag. It is good to microwave them however, so as to give them some heat as they will taste better.

Microwave rice is instant rice that has been precooked, dehydrated and repackaged in dry form so as to have a longer shelf life. 

What is the difference between microwave rice and regular rice?

The main difference between the two types of rice is that regular rice only goes through the milling processes that all rice go through inorder to become edible. This makes it become an edible seed from the seed of the original plant.

The amount of milling done on the rice determines the level of nutrition that the final rice seed will have. To put that into context brown rice that is milled one less step than white rice has more nutritional value. 

Microwave rice or instant rice on the other hand is usually milled from a seed on the plant all the way to the white rice. It is then fully cooked and then dehydrated to boost the shelf life. The downside of this, is that it removes all the nutritional content and a lot of the flavor, it also loses its texture.

It is even worse because milled rice is also much more expensive than natural rice because the manufacturing companies charge you for cooking the rice.

How do you select healthy microwave rice?

Avoid microwave rice that is flavored because the added ingredients used in flavoring usually result in the rice having a high amount of sodium or sugars in some other instances.

It is therefore very important to always look at the label when you are purchasing microwave rice from the store in order to check the sodium levels, sugar levels and also the preservatives.

How do you make microwave rice in the oven?

Microwave rice is a very convenient item to cook, it helps you to avoid the hassles that come with either undercooking or overcooking rice. 

Let us look at how to make microwave rice.

You can make microwave rice in two simple ways, you can make it on your stove or just cook the rice on the microwave. A guide to the serving sizes is as below:

• To get 2 servings – Use 1 cup water and  1 cup Microwave Rice
  
• To get 4 servings – Use 2 cups water and  2 cups Microwave Rice
  
• To get 6 Servings –  Use 3 cups of water and 3 cups of Microwave Rice.

Making the rice using the microwave is the easiest ways just follow the below:

To make Microwave Rice using the  microwave, just add 1 cup of water or chicken broth to a medium sized microwavable bowl with a cup of Minute Rice. Throw in a pinch of salt for the flavor, then cover and microwave for about four minutes with the microwave set on HIGH.

Remove your rice from the microwave and let it cool at room temperature for about two minutes. Fluff  the rice with a fork and serve with some soup, veggies, salad, burritos or any dish of your choice.

To cook the rice using a stove, do as below;

Boil water or broth using a saucepan. Add the rice, stir and cover it and remove from the heat. Wait for 5 minutes, or until water is absorbed, then fluff with a fork.

What is the nutritional value of microwave rice?

The nutritional value of microwave rice largely depends on the brand and the added ingredients in it, but the nutrients can typically be as below for a serving size of 55 grams equivalent to half cup dry and one cup cooked.

Other FAQs about Rice that you may be interested in.

Can you eat rice without reheating?

Can you eat rice without cooking it?

Can you eat rice without chewing?

Conclusion

In this brief article, we have answered the question, “Can you eat microwave rice without microwaving it?” We have looked at the difference between microwave rice and regular rice. We have discussed how to select healthy microwave rice and how to make it.  We have finally briefly looked at  the nutritional value of microwave rice.

Citations

https://www.eatthis.com/minute-instant-rice-vs-brown-rice/