6 Microwave Cooking Hacks

Have you discovered about the joys of cooking with a microwave? Just to tell you that a microwave is good for more than just re-heating leftovers. True, you’re not going to refuse that it surely does save you a lot of time and makes for a decent substitute when you don’t have an oven around. Kitchen enthusiasts would be interested in knowing what other uses a microwave can be put to.

So make yourself ready with microwave-safe bowls and plates and try out these tricks and believe it or not, these are seriously so good.

Word of caution: Before you get to it, microwaves vary in model, size and power, so it’s best to get to know your own microwave a little better.

• Experiment no-fry potato chips

If you can slice potatoes to just the right thickness (almost an eighth of an inch), crunchy potato chips will be the most wondrous dish ever to come out of your microwave—slightly crinkled and surprisingly crispy. Craving for those French fires? We got something similar to it. With an earthy potato flavour, all you have to do is arrange thinly-sliced potatoes in a single layer on a plate and microwave for three minutes at a time, decreasing the power level and flipping the potatoes in every next round. They involve a bit of effort but think how healthy it would be when you cook without that dripping calorie dense oil.

• Dry the herbs

You might wonder how we can do that. But maybe, we shouldn’t be thinking about it because we got the microwave, since it does the job in a fraction of the time. Just layer washed, dried, and de-stemmed herbs on a paper plate or paper napkin and microwave on high for 30 seconds, flipping the leaves in each round. The time will depend on on what herb you’re drying and may take two to four minutes.

• A saviour in peeling garlic

Peeling garlic could be a tiring and boring task; however consuming most of your time and not to forget it is a daunting chore due to its pungent smell and sticky texture. However, you can put the garlic in the microwave and heat it for not more than 10 to 15 seconds. The heat will draw out the moisture from the garlic clove which gets trapped between the skin and loosens it. Once you take it out, the skin will easily get peeled off and would have partially slid off already.

• Ripen a banana.

Can’t wait for a bunch of bananas to ripen enough to bake your favourite banofee pie? Use a microwave to speed up the process. To do it yourself, use a fork to poke holes all over the banana (this is crucial to keep it from exploding). Then, pop it in the microwave for a minute or two. Tada! Bananas are ready to be used in baking!

• Crunchy nuts in microwave

While we can’t be agreed enough that nuts are best toasted in the oven, it seems like an awful waste to heat up an entire utensil on stove and wait for about 10 to 20 minutes when all you want are easily made, handful of nuts to add to your morning cereal or evening snack. To try out this technique of handy nuts, spread a handful of nuts in a single layer on a plate and zap them for 4 to 8 minutes, stopping every minute to mix them up. They won’t turn golden brown like oven-toasted nuts, but they’ll have a similar look and flavour.

• Steam fish

Microwave guarantees steam fish to not get overcooked—and the result is a consistently-perfectly cooked fish. To do it yourself, simply set any fish of choice in a shallow bowl. Top it with a bit of butter or olive oil, salt, pepper and any other spices of your choice you may 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 some ventilation. Then, cook on high for about 6 to 7 minutes. Keep checking the level of water so that it the fish doesn’t get end up too dry.

Over to you
Invented few decades ago, you couldn’t agree less that the microwave oven has become a kitchen staple; helping us cook tasty, simple meals and makes us swift whenever we need it. Make sure you are using yours to its full potential.