Jasmine rice is one of the world’s most popular long-grained rice varieites. It is traditionally used in Thai cuisine, but because it is so easy to pair with various meats and vegetables, the rice can now be found in many modern dishes.
Cooking is often a time-consuming task, with cooking jasmine rice taking up a large chunk of that time. But is skipping out on tradition and using your microwave to cook jasmine rice worth it? It can be!
To microwave jasmine rice, add 1.5 cups of water for every 1 cup of rice to a microwave-safe container, partly cover then microwave for 5 minutes on high and a further 10 minutes on medium.
How to Microwave Jasmine Rice
Microwaving jasmine rice is just as simple as cooking the rice in a rice cooker or using your stove. The only difference really is ensuring that you use a microwavable bowl.
Here is the most effective method for microwaving jasmine rice:
- Wash The Rice
As is the case with all rice, ensure that you wash, rinse and dry your raw jasmine rice grains before cooking. - Water The Rice
Add 1 1/2 cups of water for every 1 cup of jasmine rice used in the same bowl as you washed the rice. - Partly Cover
You don’t want to cover the rice entirely. Stretch some plastic wrap over the top of the bowl and poke a few holes in the plastic to allow steam to escape. - Microwave On High Power
Set your microwave to its highest power and microwave for 5 minutes. - Microwave Again
As soon as the 5 minutes are up, microwave the rice again for 10 minutes on medium heat. - Leave To Sit
Jasmine rice only needs to microwave for a total of 15 minutes. However, it will need to be left to sit in the warm microwave for a further 10 minutes to allow the steam to finish cooking the grains. - Uncover
After 10 minutes, uncover the rice. Be careful of the scolding steam that will be released as soon as you remove the plastic. - Serve
Do not wait to serve your jasmine rice. Plate it up immediately!
How to Microwave Jasmine Rice Successfully
Cooking jasmine rice in a microwave is not a very difficult task. The hardest part is ensuring the water-to-rice ratio is spot on to get the perfect fluffy rice texture.
That being said, there are some common rice tips that you should keep in mind when using a microwave to cook your jasmine rice:
- Check The Packaging – We have outlined a relatively standard water-to-rice ratio in the method above. However, check the packaging of your favourite jasmine rice to see if that particular grain requires a different water-to-rice ratio.
- Thoroughly Wash The Rice – Most people find jasmine rice very sticky, but that is only because they have not properly washed the rice before cooking it. Wash, rinse and drain jasmine rice at least 4-5 times or until the drained water is no longer cloudy. This can take longer, depending on the quality of the grains.
- Do Not Uncover The Rice – When microwaving jasmine rice, do not stir it at any point in the cooking process. You will remove too much heat from the rice, and it will take even longer to cook.
Why You Should Microwave Jasmine Rice
No matter how you cook jasmine rice, its sturdy floral and sweet flavour will improve your meal by a mile. But there are plenty of benefits to using a microwave specifically to cook your jasmine rice:
Delicious
Jasmine rice is excellent for pairing with a range of dried herbs, particularly rosemary. Microwaving jasmine rice does not stop you from adding any flavouring you want to make your jasmine rice taste delicious.
In fact, you may find experimenting with new jasmine rice flavours less intimidating when using a microwave. You will have a deliciously flavoured rice meal.
Fluffy Every Time
Jasmine rice is usually used by those who prefer fluffier rice for their meals. Microwaving jasmine rice with the right amount of water will produce super fluffy jasmine rice every time with little effort.
You will not need to use a fork to fluff the rice up after cooking like you would cooking jasmine rice on the stove or in a rice cooker.
Why You Shouldn’t Microwave Jasmine Rice
Rice cookers are made specially to ensure you have perfect rice with every meal for days. You do not have the same reassurance when using a microwave to cook your jasmine rice, which can cause a few issues:
Limited Servings
Bulk cooking rice is the easiest way to save a little time later in the week when you really can not be bothered to cook an elaborate dinner. However, when microwaving jasmine rice, there is only so much rice you can cook at once.
Typically, 1 cup of jasmine rice is good for 2 servings.
Depending on the size of your microwave and your microwaveable bowl, you may be able to cook 2 cups of jasmine rice. But depending on the size of your family, this may still not be enough for leftovers.
Over Fluffy
Although jasmine rice is generally fluffy, using a microwave to cook the rice can sometimes make it too fluffy, especially if you use too much water.
Because you should not mix the jasmine rice as it is microwaving, you will not be able to tell the texture of the rice until you are ready to serve it.
There isn’t an effective way to check that your rice hasn’t become too fluffy without ruining the microwaving process.
Microwaving Jasmine Rice FAQs
If you have further questions about microwaving jasmine rice then these FAQs might be of use:
It won’t be as good as jasmine rice cooked in a rice cooker. But it is far quicker, more convenient and easier without requiring specialist equipment so it is a good way to cook jasmine rice.
Yes, it is completely safe to cook jasmine rice in the microwave. The only thing to check is that the dish you microwave it in is safe to use in the microwave.
Acacia may be a freelance writer by day, but they are a food fanatic by night. They are always trying out new recipes or finding different ways to elevate classical dishes. But their biggest culinary aim is to educate others on the basics of the kitchen so that they too can enjoy delicious food.
