Step 4 of 13 · Meal Prep Sunday: Five Lunches in One Hour
Rinse and start your grain
Rinse and start your grain — step 4 of 13 in Meal Prep Sunday: Five Lunches in One Hour. Rinse 2 cups of rice or quinoa under cold water in a fine-mesh sieve until the water runs clear — this removes surface starch that causes…
Free everyday life tip: Rinse and start your grain (step 4 of 13 from "Meal Prep Sunday: Five Lunches in One Hour").
Rinse 2 cups of rice or quinoa under cold water in a fine-mesh sieve until the water runs clear — this removes surface starch that causes clumping. Transfer to your saucepan, add the water ratio on the package (usually 1:1.5 for quinoa, 1:2 for white rice), a pinch of salt, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to the lowest simmer, cover, and set a timer for 15 minutes. Do not lift the lid.
While the grain heats up, turn your oven to 200 °C (390 °F) with the rack in the middle position. Line your sheet pan with parchment paper now — not after your hands are covered in raw chicken. The oven needs 8–10 minutes to reach temperature, which dovetails perfectly with your protein prep time.
Pro tip: If you're using a gas oven, the actual temperature can be 10–15 °C off. An oven thermometer costs $8 and prevents every future over- or under-cook.
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