I never realised just how much I relied on my microwave until I didn’t have one. When I moved into an apartment and discovered it wasn’t equipped with one, I was panicked. Suddenly, tasks that had been so simple became annoyingly complicated: I had to dirty a whole pot if I wanted to melt butter, fill up a kettle to boil water, or actually wait for my ice cream to soften (the horror!). Having to do all these extra steps made it harder to focus on the things that actually needed my attention, and my food suffered as a result. After months of trying to make it work, I couldn’t take it anymore. I finally invested in my own microwave, and I’ve appreciated it so much more ever since.
Recently, I’ve even noticed that chefs sing the praises of microwaves, because the appliance is really that useful. [Microwaves are] convenient for multitasking, especially if you already have a few items cooking on the stove or are simply busy with other tasks so that if you get tied up, you don’t have to worry about burning anything. It’s also a much faster method of cooking, ideal for beginners as it cuts down cooking time and prepping steps.
My favourite things to do with a microwave that minimise prep, cooking, and cleanup time—plus, some quick and easy dishes you can make with the handy appliance.
1. Dry Herbs
Because microwaves work by targeting and heating up water, they can also be a great tool for drying herbs. However, it’s better to stick with heartier herbs like rosemary or thyme, because more delicate herbs like mint or basil can’t stand up to the strength of a microwave. To do it yourself, put the herbs between two paper towels and microwave them on high for 2 to 3 minutes.
2. Peel Garlic Faster
Sick of having dry and smelly garlic hands from all the peeling you’ve been doing? Let your microwave do the work instead. Simply put a whole head of garlic into the microwave for about 15 to 20 seconds on high and the cloves easily come out of their skin.
3. Steam Fish
I would often steam fish in the microwave to guarantee it wouldn’t overcook—and the method consistently turns out perfectly cooked results. To do it yourself, simply set your fish of choice in a shallow bowl. Top it with a bit of butter or olive oil, salt, pepper and any other spices you want to use, then fill the bowl with several inches of water, cover it tightly with microwave-safe plastic wrap, and use a fork to poke a few holes to allow for ventilation. Then, cook on high for 6 to 7 minutes.
4. Ripen A Banana
There are times when I can’t wait for a bunch of bananas to ripen enough to bake with them, I use microwave to speed up the process. To do it yourself, use a fork to poke holes all over the banana (this will keep it from exploding). Then, pop it in the microwave for a minute or two.
5. Melt Butter Or Chocolate
Softening butter and melting chocolate are two of the things that I use my microwave for the most. And there’s really no reason to dirty any extraneous tools for these simple tasks. For melting chocolate, everybody uses the technique, where you have to be paying attention and it takes forever. Put it in the microwave and forget about it. To avoid burning your chocolate, cook it in 30-second increments, stirring in between each time. This will help evenly disperse the heat and prevent burning.
6. Cook Grains
I love microwaving grains like rice and quinoa. It’s so easy and you don’t have to use a pot. I will microwave my grains in a glass bowl that I also use as a storage bowl, so I don’t have to transfer anything. To do it yourself, combine the grains with water (according to the instructions) in a large microwave-safe glass bowl, cover with microwave-safe plastic wrap, and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, checking on it every five minutes.
7. Juice A Lemon More Easily
If you are having a hard time squeezing all the juice out of your lemon, try popping it in the microwave for a a bit. It will release the juices more easily and lessen your workload. Just pop a whole lemon into the microwave for 15 seconds to soften it up, give it a quick roll, and then juice.
8. Whip Up A Quick Dessert
My favourite thing to do [with a microwave] is make cake in a coffee mug. You can have a simple, easy, and delicious dessert whenever you want without heating up the oven. You can find a few microwave mug recipes to get you started here.
9. Bake A Potato
I swear by baking potatoes in the microwave. All you need to do is put a bit of water and the potato in a bowl, and then microwave for five minutes on each side—no need to rub it in olive oil, and definitely no need to turn your oven on.
10. Make A Quick Quesadilla
When I need something quick to eat, love to make my microwave quesadillas. All you have to do is, zap the tortilla with veggies, meat or no meat and cheese and fold over for a quick meal. Of course, feel free to use whatever kinds of fillings you prefer.
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