When I became a busy parent, learning how to elevate microwave rice, store bought sauces and other "semi-fast foods" helped me keep cooking delicious meals even on days when I felt I didn't have the energy. Here are my top 3 home chef hacks to make microwave rice taste better so you can do the same!
1. Don't Cook It in The Microwave
Yep you heard me. As long as the packet has instructions for alternatively cooking on the hob (which most microwave rice packets do), cook the rice in a pan rather than the microwave.
This will give you a lot more control over the texture, flavour and seasoning of the rice.
For depth of flavour, I love to cook my microwave rice in the same, unrinsed pot I just made the main component of the meal with. So the rice gets lightly coated in any remaining oil, meat juices, sauce etc.
I usually add in a little more water than the packet says and cook it for slightly longer too. This way, I can add things like powdered spices without the rice drying out.
2. Add The Right Extras
For cooking on the hob:
One of my favourite ways to elevate microwave rice is to fry some diced onion - a small handful from a bag of frozen diced onion works a treat - in oil for a few minutes before adding the rice.
Along with the onion, or on their own, you can fry some:
- powdered spices like cumin, smoked paprika or turmeric
- tomato paste or passata
- a clove of diced garlic
- a generous pinch of freshly ground black pepper
- whole spices like cloves, mustard seeds or cardamom
For both microwave and hob:
Once the rice is heated as per packet instructions, you can add in extras which don't require cooking themselves.
Some of my favourite garnishes to elevate microwave rice include:
- a squeeze of lemon juice
- finely chopped, fresh corriander
- jalalapeños and a dollop of sour cream or grated cheese
- crispy fried onions / dried onion flakes
3. Choose The Plain, High Quality Option
It's tempting to go for the cheapest option when it comes to microwave rice. But if you're really invested in making your microwave rice taste better, spending a little more does actually make a difference.
No matter what quality you can afford however, my hard and fast rule is to go for something plain. My favourite option, Basmati rice, is extremely versatile.
Basmati has a natural fragrant quality without being pre-seasoned. This makes it the perfect base upon which to add in some extras like the ones mentioned above.
Remember, basmati rice isn't just great for indian food. I use it with east asian, mediterranean and mexican dishes with great success.
Remember to never reheat your microwave rice. If you make more than you need, just throw the remaining rice in the compost and save yourself a tummyache!
Now you're ready to truly get the most out of microwave rice! And you can feel less guilty about not cooking it all from scratch 😇.
If there are any tips on how to elevate microwave rice that you think I've missed out, don't hesitate to email me as I'm always aiming to improve my own cooking skills!
