How to Cook Pasta and Other Grains in the Microwave
Learn how to cook pasta in the microwave. It's simpler than you think!
While there are microwave pasta options like pasta cups and macaroni and cheese cups, the cost per unit is much higher than normal pasta. If your microwave-only situation is longer than a few days, it is much more practical to use regular pasta.
This procedure can also be used to cook other grains like quinoa and millet in the microwave. These other grains rarely come in microwave-ready convenience options.
Be sure to check out the 3 Common Microwave Problems and Their Simple Solutions article and our general Microwave page for more information about cooking in the microwave.
Supplies needed:
- Pasta
- Water
- Microwave
- Microwave-safe bowl
Procedure:
1. Fill the bowl 50-75% full of pasta.
2. Fill the microwave-safe bowl to the top with water. It's fine to leave a small space at the top so that you can load the bowl into the microwave without spilling. But it should be mostly full of water. Be sure the water completely covers the pasta. Any pasta that is not submerged will not cook properly and may get scorched.
NOTE: Pasta should expand and absorb some of the water while cooking. If some of the pasta starts to stick up above the water line, add more water.
3. Look at the directions on the pasta box/bag and microwave for 3 minutes longer than the recommended time. For example, if the package recommends a cooktime of 9-12 minutes, you would microwave the pasta for 12-15 minutes instead. Pause the microwave every 3 minutes and stir well before continuing.
NOTE: It may be necessary to add a couple minutes to the end if the pasta is not done yet, as microwave strengths and individual preferences vary.
4. Add pasta sauce and other toppings. Apply the sauce and toppings directly to the pasta and either eat as-is or heat for another 1-2 minutes if the sauce or toppings need to be warmer.
And that's it! You're ready to enjoy your meal.
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