I’m sure most of you just use your microwave to reheat your leftover food and maybe defrost frozen foods right? But guess what, your microwave has so many more uses apart from just reheating and defrosting food items!
I’ve got 15 different food hacks that you can do with your microwave, so go ahead and check them out below!
15 Foods You Had No Clue You Could Microwave
1. Stale leftover bread to be made fresh
If you’ve got some extra bread that’s got stale, simply wrap the bread in a damp paper towel and toss it in the microwave for about 20 seconds. The moisture from the paper towel will be absorbed by the bread making it fresh again.
2. Brown sugar to be de-clumped
Brown sugar sometimes clumps up and hardens. So, simply moisten a paper towel and place it in the sugar box (a microwave safe box) and microwave for 25 seconds. This will make it softer and easier to scoop the brown sugar out.
3. Crystallized honey to be made liquid again
Honey sometimes crystallizes and becomes difficult to use. So, just microwave it for 20 to 40 seconds and mix in between, to be able to get the smooth texture once again.
4. Onions to be sliced easier
When you chop a raw onion, you tend to get teary. So, just microwave the raw onion for about 30 seconds before cutting it and it will help you slice it easily without tearing up.
5. Collard greens to be softened
Collard greens can be used in wraps, but most often tend to crack and split when wrapped, because they’re stiff. Therefore, you can relax the leaf, by washing it and microwaving it for about 10 seconds, so it can be easier and more flexible to roll into a wrap.
6. Butter to be flavoured
Take a stick of butter and pop it in the microwave for about 30 seconds and it will soon melt. Then, add in any seasonings of your choice or chopped fresh herbs. Then, give it a mix and drizzle over any bread or other dishes for that extra flavour.
7. Milk to be frothed
For frothing up of milk, pour some milk into a mason jar (about half the jar maximum) and then screw on the lid tightly and shake it very vigorously for a minute or two. Then, remove the lid and microwave it for half a minute until the foam rises and this can be uses as milk foam for your coffee.
8. Bacon to be made crispy
On a large plate, place the bowl upside down and drape the strips of bacon over it. Place it in the microwave for around a minute per slice of the bacon. No sooner, the bacon will become crispy.
9. Veggies to be skinned easily
Some vegetables can be hard to peel, like squashes and root vegetables. So just place them in the microwave for 2 to 4 minutes and then it will make it easier for the skin to peel off.
10. Dough for quick rising
Dough takes a long time to rise once the yeast is put in. You can microwave the dough in a in a bowl for around 3 minutes on the lowest setting and just place a cup of water at the back of the microwave at the same time. This will help it double in size/rise easily.
11. Nuts for toasting
Take a handful of nuts in a microwave-safe bowl, toss it with a dash of oil and microwave for around 60 seconds, stirring in between each time for about 5 minutes all in all.
12. Garlic for quick peeling
Place the pods of garlic (with the stems) in the microwave for 15 seconds. This will help you be able to peel off the skin easily, as the water in the garlic stems break down the bond between the skin and the pod.
13. Corn on the cob for cooking
Simply leave the husks on and put the corn on the cob in the microwave for around 3 to 4 minutes on high heat. In no time, your corn on the cob will be ready to eat!
14. Citrus fruits for quick and easy juicing
The peels of citrus fruits can sometimes be thick and hard and difficult to juice. So pop the uncut fruit in the microwave for 10 seconds and this will help loosen the fruit fibres and make it easy for you to juice it out.
15. Quinoa for cooking
Rinse a cup of quinoa and then place it in the microwave in a bowl of 2 cups of water, covered for around 6 to 7 minutes. Then, remove, stir and set aside for around 10 minutes, to absorb the water. Then, add in the other ingredients and its ready to eat.
16. Ripen banana
You can use a microwave to quickly ripen bananas in just a few minutes. Poke holes in unpeeled bananas with a fork or a small knife, place them on a microwave-safe plate, and then microwave the bananas in 30-second increments until they reach your desired softness.
17. French Toast –
Whisk 1 tbsp milk, 1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla, and 1/2 tsp cinnamon together in a shallow bowl. Soak 1 slice of bread in egg mixture, then flip it over and soak the other side. Place eggy bread on a microwavable plate, and microwave on High for one minute. Repeat with other slices of bread.