How to use an ICE CUBE to reheat your leftover rice in the microwave – leaving it perfectly steamed and fluffy every time
- A home cook shares simple method for reheating cooked rice in the microwave
- Mon Mack, from Brisbane, placed ice cube on top of her leftover portion of rice
- After heating for 30 seconds, she removed ice cube, which appeared unmelted
- Water molecules from the ice helps steam the day-old rice without drying it out
A home cook has revealed her simple method for reheating cooked rice in the microwave without drying it out even further.
Mon Mack, from Brisbane, placed one ice cube on top of her leftover portion of rice before covering the plate with a scrunched up sheet of baking paper.
After heating the salmon dish in the microwave for 30 seconds, she removed the baking paper and the ice cube, which appeared unmelted.
The method works because the baking paper helps the steaming process in the microwave, leaving rice perfectly steamed, fluffy and fresh.
Scroll down for video
A home cook has revealed her simple method for reheating cooked rice in the microwave without drying it out even further. Mon Mack (pictured) placed an ice cube on top of her leftover portion of rice before covering the plate with a scrunched up sheet of baking paper
According to Test Kitchen, the water molecules from the ice helps steam the day-old rice without drying it out.
Science research editor Paul Adams explained the chemistry behind why the ice cube remained intact on top of rice after being in the microwave.
‘Microwaves heat food up by causing particular types of molecules – mostly water molecules – inside the food to vibrate rapidly. In ice, the water molecules are rigidly locked to each other in a crystal structure, so they don’t vibrate,’ he said.
‘In this hack, the rice gets hot (because its grains contain water), and the heat from the rice warms up the surface of the ice cubes, so they melt a little bit.
‘Then that liquid water released from the melting ice be boiled by the microwave, so it turns to steam, and steams the rice.’
She covered the plate with a sheet of baking paper before microwaving it for 30 seconds
After heating the dish, she removed the baking paper and the ice cube, which appeared unmelted
After sharing her meal idea video on TikTok, many were curious to know why Mon added an ice cube to her bowl of rice.
‘What’s the ice cube in the middle of the salmon bowl meant to do?’ one asked, while another added: ‘What’s the ice for?’
Many quickly responded to the questions, with one explaining: ‘The ice cube steams the leftover rice… If you have fresh rice you don’t have to do it.’
Another said: ‘It makes the leftover rice fluffier and taste fresh.’
While one woman added: ‘It helps steam the rice in the microwave… I usually just add a bit of water so the rice doesn’t go hard.’
Advertisement