"Instant rice" by Hyeon-Jeong Suk is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
May 16, 2025
RICE!
Summer is a great time to experiment with microwave cooking! It takes less energy to cook your food, it takes less time to prepare a meal, and it keeps the kitchen cooler as the temperatures rise throughout the summer, saving money on utilities. While you have probably used the microwave in your dorm room to heat up ready meals or leftovers, there are also simple recipes that you can try. The only thing you need to be sure of is that your dish is big enough that your food will not boil over. So let’s get started with this month’s ingredient - instant rice!
Instant rice is rice that has been partially boiled in water and then dried. This means that it will cook faster. It also means that it tends not to boil over as much in the microwave - at least that is how it works for me! Instant rice in the microwave takes 5-7 minutes, much less time than traditional rice on the stove or in a rice cooker which is around 30 minutes. So, we have saved energy and time.
Instant rice is also versatile. You can add brown sugar and butter to leftover rice in the morning, heat it in the microwave and you have a grain breakfast. You can also add fruits and a variety of sweeteners. For lunch you can stuff it into a burrito or stir it into a salad. For supper you can add vegetables, meats (canned or lunch meats), cheese, and sauces to create quick but filling meals. Need some suggestions to get you started? Try these!
Breakfast
Rice, apples and brown sugar
Rice, raisins and honey
Rice, blueberries and maple syrup
Rice, an egg, and pre-cooked bacon
Lunch
Mexican bowl - rice, beans, cheese, and salsa
BLT salad - rice, lettuce, tomatoes, and bacon
Italian salad - rice, beans, tomatoes, tuna, and italian dressing
Supper
Rice and a can of beef stew
Rice, hot dogs and a can of hot dog sauce
Rice, a can of chicken, peas, alfredo sauce, and parmesan cheese
Combinations are endless!
But is it frugal?
A 14 oz box of instant brown rice is regularly $2.29 at Ralph’s Food Fair. This is enough for 9 servings. One half cup of uncooked rice makes 1 cup of cooked rice, which is a lot of rice for one person! There are 9 servings in a box. That is a less than 26 cents per serving.
So this summer, experiment with cooking rice based meals in the microwave and keep your eyes open for 8 cup measuring cups at yard sales to use in your microwave. They are the perfect size. Everyone at home will appreciate you cooking some meals frugally! The bonus? You will not only look “cool” doing it. You will keep your kitchen and your wallet cool too!
