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Original poster

DIY microwave rice thats as nice as Uncle Ben packets

42 replies

MoiraNotRuby · 21/12/2021 00:39

Boring but life changing post...

My teens get through a LOT of microwave packet rice. I resent paying £1 for something that's probably worth 5p and the packaging is so wasteful.

It is very convenient through. So I was wondering about a DIY version. I will figure out amount and timing i.e. x grams of rice in a takeaway tub with x ml of water for x minutes on high.

However where I'm stuck is what would you flavour it with for maximum easiness? The packet ingredients helpfully include 'spice' along with onion powder and garlic powder.

OP posts:
Thebathneedscleaned · 21/12/2021 00:43

I boil mine in a stock cube. Fully prepared to be called a heathen.
Alternatively try different spice jars.

minipie · 21/12/2021 00:44

Hmmm interesting idea. But the packet rice is already part/mostly cooked? So you’d have to cook a load of rice and then package it up for them in takeaway tubs. TBH I’d be nervous about food hygiene since reheated rice is a real risk and yours wouldn’t be sealed like the packets are (my guess is they are cooked at high temp then sealed straight away to ensure no bugs). How long would you expect it to keep and would you keep it in the fridge?

Blueberrycreampie · 21/12/2021 00:48

Waitrose microwave pouches of long grain rice are about 60p and they are nice in my opinion.

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Hen2018 · 21/12/2021 00:49

Twice as much boiling water as rice. I do about 100g of rice per adult.

Big bowl, cling film over, 12 minutes on high.

Original poster
MoiraNotRuby · 21/12/2021 00:50

Sorry I wasn't clear - it will be cooked in full in the tub each time they want some.

So to begin with I will prepare say 10 tubs of weighed out rice plus seasoning. Each time they want some they add a mug full of water then microwave for 10 mins or however long.

Then in future I will get them to prepare batches of the tubs in advance themselves.

(They like the convenience of not measuring and boiling in a pan each time but won't mind it taking longer to cook. )

Stock cube is a good idea, I had sort of forgotten they exist! Thank you

OP posts:
Hen2018 · 21/12/2021 00:51

Oops. You couldn’t cook it in advance (food poisoning) and a takeaway tub wouldn’t be deep enough to cook it in (it comes up the sides of the bowl).

Marigold stock powder would be my choice.

Original poster
MoiraNotRuby · 21/12/2021 00:51

@Hen2018

Twice as much boiling water as rice. I do about 100g of rice per adult.

Big bowl, cling film over, 12 minutes on high.

Thank you!
OP posts:
Snugglybuggly · 21/12/2021 00:51

Tesco's also 60p

Ariela · 21/12/2021 00:52

Get one of [https://sistemaplastics.com/products/microwave/rice-steamer these] to cook the rice. About £10-12. And use whatever is available to add to it, we do a good egg fried rice (add whatever is in the fridge eg mushrooms, onions, pepper etc to frying pan, soften, add cooked rice and egg (beaten).

minipie · 21/12/2021 00:56

Ah got it! Sorry I misunderstood

ISpyCobraKai · 21/12/2021 00:56

Boring, boring, but batch cooking and freeze.
You need garlic powder, onion powder, cajun spice mix, oregano, mixed herbs, dried thyme, chip seasoning, chilli, salt and pepper obvs.
Basically all the dried stuff to mix in so it doesn't taste plain when they reheat.

Mosaic123 · 21/12/2021 00:56

Have you considered buying an electric rice cooker? Perfect rice is created according to my fs

Original poster
MoiraNotRuby · 21/12/2021 00:57

@Snugglybuggly

Tesco's also 60p
I've tried a few own brands, lidl 50p one is nice, but still very wasteful when it comes to packaging.
OP posts:
Thebathneedscleaned · 21/12/2021 00:58

Do people really cook proper rice in the microwave?

My tiny mind has been blown.

Original poster
MoiraNotRuby · 21/12/2021 00:59

@ISpyCobraKai

Boring, boring, but batch cooking and freeze. You need garlic powder, onion powder, cajun spice mix, oregano, mixed herbs, dried thyme, chip seasoning, chilli, salt and pepper obvs. Basically all the dried stuff to mix in so it doesn't taste plain when they reheat.
Thank you, thats a very helpful list. I have most of those and will also get some Marigold.
OP posts:
Hen2018 · 21/12/2021 01:00

@Thebathneedscleaned

Do people really cook proper rice in the microwave?

My tiny mind has been blown.

How do you think people manage when they don’t have a cooker/hob?
Original poster
MoiraNotRuby · 21/12/2021 01:01

@Mosaic123

Have you considered buying an electric rice cooker? Perfect rice is created according to my fs
I think it would be clutter and they would each say the other used it last and why should they clean it 😒 ....
OP posts:
KloppsTeeth · 21/12/2021 01:01

@Ariela

Get one of [https://sistemaplastics.com/products/microwave/rice-steamer these] to cook the rice. About £10-12. And use whatever is available to add to it, we do a good egg fried rice (add whatever is in the fridge eg mushrooms, onions, pepper etc to frying pan, soften, add cooked rice and egg (beaten).
We do this too. Microwave rice cooker and egg fried rice. Or we use soy or teriyaki sauces to add flavour. Mixed spices like chicken seasoning are good too.
ISpyCobraKai · 21/12/2021 01:02

Oh yes Moira, definitely stock of some sort.
I just buy the cheap cubes for things like this.

Breastfeedingworries · 21/12/2021 01:03

I always buy aldis 30 something p rice. It’s lovely great with lot of foods.

Loveisthere · 21/12/2021 01:54

Oh no as pp said no way should you reheat rice look it up on Google Go to aldi or Asda and buy there own

Original poster
MoiraNotRuby · 21/12/2021 01:59

@Loveisthere

Oh no as pp said no way should you reheat rice look it up on Google Go to aldi or Asda and buy there own
I'm not reheating rice, I'm cooking it from scratch in the microwave, and I don't want own brand packet rice because all the packaging is very wasteful. I agree the own brands do taste nice.
OP posts:
Newcomer68 · 21/12/2021 02:31

You can buy tiny rice cookers for 1to 2 people) we have a tiny kitchen) and you will get perfect rice every time. It's worth having an extra gadget on the bench for the benefit, we store it on top of the equally compact slow cooker when not in use. The cleaning is a separate issue though....

immersivereader · 21/12/2021 02:36

Don't reheat rice. You can be really sick.

I know you're not op, but just for other folks! Labour pains were worst than my night after reheated rice Confused

PurpleFire · 21/12/2021 02:37

Aldi version is great and you can recycle the packaging at co-op