Microwave method: the damp paper towel trick

Free everyday life tip: Microwave method: the damp paper towel trick (step 10 of 13 from "Meal Prep Sunday: Five Lunches in One Hour").

Remove the lid and place a damp (not wet) paper towel over the top of the container. Microwave on medium power (50–70%) for 2 minutes, then stir or rotate the container 180 degrees and microwave for another 60 seconds. The damp towel creates a mini steam environment that rehydrates the grain without making it mushy.

Full power for 3 minutes straight is the number-one reason reheated meal prep tastes terrible. It overheats the edges while the center stays cold, and it turns rice into a rubber puck. Medium power and two stages cost you 30 extra seconds but give you food that tastes almost fresh. If your microwave does not have a power setting, microwave for 1 minute, rest for 30 seconds, repeat twice.