
PASTA AND RICE
Microwave cooking and conventional cooking of pasta, rice, and cereal require about the same amount of time, but the microwave is a more convenient method because you can cook and serve in the same dish. There is no stirring needed and leftover pasta tastes just like fresh cooked when reheated in the microwave oven.
Cooking Pasta and Rice: Tips and Techniques
If you are planning to use rice or pasta in a casserole, undercook it so it is still firm.
Allow for standing time with rice, but not for pasta. The Pasta and Rice Cooking Tables below provide specific directions, with Power Level and cooking time settings for most common types of pasta and rice.
PASTA COOKING TABLE
PASTA | POWER | COOKING | DIRECTIONS | |
LEVEL | TIME | |||
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Spaghetti | HI | Combine hot tap water and salt, if desired. | ||
4 cups water | Use a | |||
Add 8 ozs. | 5 | vented plastic wrap for spaghetti and lasagna noodles. | ||
spaghetti |
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| Use microwavable lid or vented plastic wrap for macaroni | |
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| and egg noodles. | |
Macaroni | HI | |||
Cook as directed in chart or until water boils. | ||||
3 cups water | 5 | |||
Stir in pasta; cook covered as directed in chart or until | ||||
Add 2 cups |
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| tender. | ||
macaroni |
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| Drain in a colander. | ||
Lasagna noodles | HI |
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4 cups water | 5 |
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Add 8 ozs. lasagna |
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noodles |
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Egg noodles | HI |
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6 cups water | 5 |
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Add 4 cups noodles |
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RICE COOKING TABLE
RICE | POWER | COOKING | DIRECTIONS | |
LEVEL | TIME | |||
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Long grain | HI | Combine hot tap water and salt, if desired, in 2 quart | ||
21⁄4 cups water | microwavable casserole. | |||
Add 1 cup rice | 5 | 14 minutes | Cover with microwavable lid or vented plastic wrap. | |
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| Cook as directed in chart or until water boils. | |
Brown |
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| ||
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| Stir in rice and any seasonings. | ||
21⁄2 cups water | HI | |||
Cook covered as directed in chart or until water is absorbed | ||||
Add 1 cup rice | 5 | 28 minutes | ||
and rice is tender. | ||||
Long grain and | HI | Let stand covered 5 to 10 minutes. | ||
wild rice mix | Fluff with fork. | |||
21⁄3 cups water | 5 | 24 minutes |
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Add 6 ozs. package |
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Quick cooking | HI | Cook water until it boils. | ||
1 cup water | Stir rice into boiling water and let stand, covered 5 to 10 | |||
Add 1 cup rice |
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| minutes or until water is absorbed and rice is tender. | |
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| Fluff with fork. |
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