Microwave Rice Cooker

I got this Microwave Rice Cooker from Giant Hyperstore for $3.90. It is dishwasher safe, microwave safe, freezer safe and food container safe. The 1700ml plastic pot comes with inner lid, outer lid and a little plastic scoop. No measuring cup & no instructions! However, I've managed to make rather decent steamed rice in it. I would highly recommend overseas students to get this for dorm use. You can use it to cook porridge and sweet bean desserts too.

Rice grains expand 3-4 times when cooked. I'd use 2 Cups of grains for a family of 5 (adjust for appetites). Using the standard, smaller rice measuring cup, that would be 3 Rice Cups. Use 5 parts of water to 4 parts of long grains for the usual Chinese steamed rice. By the way, I keep my rice grains in a plastic rice bin with a whole bulb of garlic to repel pests.

Microwave Steamed Rice:
2 Cups of rice grains
2.5 Cups of tap water (adjust for preference. About 2.4 Cups works best for me)

Wash the grains: add water, swish about by hand & pour off the water. Save the starchy water for plants. Repeat 1-2 times till water looks clear. Drain (tilt the pot & let the water run off, stopping the grains with your hand). Add water, fit on both inner and outer lids, and place on a plate (to catch spills) in the microwave oven. On 800W oven, cook on HIGH for 5 mins + 70% for 5 mins. Stand undisturbed for 15 mins before opening the lids. Fluff with chopsticks & serve.  For a nice dome-shaped serving, use a small bowl to scoop rice & invert over individual bowls / plates.

Standard Steamed Rice using metal pot: 
Use 2 C rice + 3 C water. Add water to washed rice. Or use "knuckle" method - add water till it just covers your knuckle when your hand is laid flat on the rice. This is about 1" of water above the rice level. Note that this is only good for "family" quantities. At the soup kitchen where I volunteer and the rice cooker is huge, I add water up to my wrist joint, which is about 1.5".

Bring to the boil uncovered, then simmer till most of the water has evaporated, about 10 mins. Cover & cook on lowest heat possible for 10 minutes. Turn off heat and leave it undisturbed for another 5 minutes.