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10 Easy Microwave Cooking Tips for Busy Days
Microwave cooking is a quick and easy way to prepare meals, especially when you’re short on time. Here are 10 tips to make your microwave cooking experience even easier:
- Use microwave-safe containers and covers to avoid any mishaps.
- When defrosting meat, place it on a microwave-safe dish and defrost using the “defrost” setting.
- Wrap vegetables in a damp paper towel before cooking to keep them moist.
- Cover food with a microwave-safe lid or microwave-safe plastic wrap to prevent splatters.
- Cut food into small pieces to ensure even cooking.
- Use a microwave-safe thermometer to check the internal temperature of cooked meat.
- Cook rice and pasta in a microwave-safe dish with enough water to cover them, stirring occasionally.
- Microwave eggs in a microwave-safe bowl with a small amount of water, stirring occasionally.
- Reheat leftovers in a microwave-safe dish on medium heat to prevent them from becoming soggy.
- Clean your microwave regularly to prevent any buildup of grease or food particles.
With these tips, you can enjoy quick and easy microwave cooking, even on your busiest days.
10 Easy Microwave Cooking Tips for Busy Days
Tip 1: Use the Right Dish
Choose microwave-safe dishes that won’t get too hot to handle and won’t damage your microwave. Avoid using metal or dishes with metallic trim as they can cause sparks.
For more information on microwave-safe dishes, visit FSIS.
Tip 2: Cut Food into Smaller Pieces
Smaller pieces of food will cook faster and more evenly in the microwave. Cut vegetables, meat, and other foods into smaller pieces before microwaving.
Tip 3: Cover Your Food
Covering your food with a lid, microwave-safe plastic wrap, or microwave-safe paper towel helps to trap steam, which can help to cook your food more quickly and prevent it from drying out.
Tip 4: Stir Food Frequently
Stirring your food frequently helps to distribute heat evenly and ensures that your food is heated or cooked thoroughly.
Tip 5: Add a Bit of Water or Liquid
Adding a bit of water or liquid, such as broth or juice, to your food can help it to cook more evenly and prevent it from drying out. This tip works especially well for microwaving vegetables.
Tip 6: Use the Right Power Setting
When using a microwave, it is important to use the correct power setting to ensure that your food is heated or cooked evenly. For example, if you’re heating up leftovers or cooking meat, use a lower power setting to prevent your food from cooking too quickly on the outside and not enough on the inside.
Tip 7: Let Your Food Rest
Letting your food rest for a minute or two after microwaving can help it to continue cooking and allow the heat to distribute evenly throughout. This is especially important for meat, which needs to rest for a few minutes before slicing to allow the juices to redistribute.
Tip 8: Don’t Overcook
Be careful not to overcook your food in the microwave, as this can make it tough and dry. Check your food at regular intervals and adjust your cooking time accordingly.
Tip 9: Use Microwave-Specific Recipes
There are many recipes specifically designed for cooking in the microwave. These recipes will help you to cook your food evenly and thoroughly, and save you time in the process.
For microwave-specific recipes, visit BBC Good Food.
Tip 10: Always Follow the Manufacturer’s Instructions
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your microwave, as these will ensure that you are using your microwave safely and efficiently.
For more information on how to use your microwave safely, visit Consumer Reports.
10 Useful Kitchen Tricks You Need to Know
1. Keeping Herbs Fresh
If you can’t use up a bunch of herbs right away, keep them fresher for longer by trimming the stems and placing them in a glass of water, just like a bouquet of flowers. Cover the herbs loosely with a plastic bag and store them in the refrigerator.
2. Easy Peel Hard Boiled Eggs
Add a teaspoon of baking soda to the water when boiling eggs to make the shells easier to peel. You can also steam your eggs instead of boiling them for easy peeling.
3. Ripen Bananas Faster
If you have green bananas that you need to ripen quickly, place them in a paper bag with a ripe avocado or apple. The ethylene gas produced by these fruits will speed up the ripening process.
4. Soften Brown Sugar
If your brown sugar has gone hard, place a slice of bread or a damp paper towel in the container with the sugar. The moisture will soften it up in no time.
5. Quick and Fluffy Rice
To make fluffy rice in a hurry, add a teaspoon of vinegar to the boiling water before adding the rice. This helps the grains separate and results in perfect, fluffy rice every time.
6. Grate Cheese with Ease
If you want to avoid a messy cheese grater, freeze your cheese for 30 minutes before grating. This will make the cheese firmer and easier to grate evenly.
7. Keep Avocado Guacamole Fresh
To keep your guacamole fresh and green, store it with a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the dip. This will prevent air from oxidizing the guacamole and turning it brown.
8. Peel Garlic with Ease
To quickly and easily peel garlic, place the cloves in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake vigorously. The papery skins will come right off, and your garlic will be ready to use in seconds.
9. Save Time with Parchment Paper
Use parchment paper to line baking sheets and cake pans for easy cleanup and less sticking. You can even use it to create a pouch for cooking fish or vegetables in the oven.
10. Clean Your Blender in Seconds
To clean your blender quickly, fill it halfway with warm water and a drop of dish soap. Blend on high for a few seconds, then rinse with clean water. Your blender will be clean and fresh in no time.
For more kitchen tips and tricks, check out the Cooking page on Wikipedia.
FAQs: 10 Easy Microwave Cooking Tips for Busy Days
1. Can I cook an entire meal in the microwave?
Yes, you can! You can easily prepare pasta, rice, vegetables, and proteins such as chicken or fish in the microwave. Just make sure to follow cooking times and stir occasionally.
2. Is it safe to cook in the microwave?
Yes, it is safe. Just make sure to use microwave-safe containers and cover your food to prevent splatters. Always use oven mitts when removing the container from the microwave as it can get hot.
3. Can I cook frozen food in the microwave?
Yes, you can! Frozen vegetables, chicken and fish can be cooked in the microwave. Check the cooking time on the packaging and adjust accordingly.
4. How can I prevent my food from getting dry or overcooked in the microwave?
One simple way is to cover your food with a damp paper towel or microwave-safe lid. This will trap the moisture and prevent your food from drying out.
5. Can I make desserts in the microwave?
Yes, you can make various desserts in the microwave, including cakes, brownies, and puddings. Use a microwave-safe container and follow the recipe instructions for cooking times and power levels.
6. Can I reheat pizza in the microwave?
Yes, you can! To prevent it from becoming soggy, place a damp paper towel over the pizza, and microwave it for 30 seconds to 1 minute (depending on the size of the slice).
7. How can I make scrambled eggs in the microwave?
First, crack one or two eggs in a microwave-safe bowl. Add milk, salt, and pepper to taste and whisk everything together. Microwave the mixture for 30 seconds, stir, and continue microwaving in 30-second intervals until the eggs are cooked to your liking.
8. Can I cook bacon in the microwave?
Yes, you can! Place the bacon slices on a microwave-safe plate lined with paper towels. Cover with another paper towel, and microwave for 4-6 minutes (depending on the bacon thickness) or until crispy.
9. How can I steam vegetables in the microwave?
Add your vegetables to a microwave-safe dish with a lid. Add a tablespoon or two of water and cover the dish. Microwave for 3-5 minutes or until the vegetables are tender but still crisp.
10. Can I cook potatoes in the microwave?
Yes, you can! Poke holes in the potatoes with a fork, place them on a microwave-safe plate, and microwave for 5-7 minutes (depending on the size of the potatoes) or until they are soft.
1. Always use microwave-safe containers and utensils
Using non-safe containers can be dangerous and damage your microwave.
2. Know your microwave’s power level
This will help you adjust cooking times based on your microwave’s wattage.
3. Use the right cover or wrap for your food
Covering your food while microwaving can prevent splatters and retain moisture.
4. Stir your food often
Stirring your food helps distribute heat evenly and prevent uneven cooking.
5. Use the microwave for small amounts of food
The microwave is particularly great for heating up small portions of food.
6. Use the defrost setting for frozen foods
Defrosting in the microwave is a quick and easy way to thaw frozen foods.
7. Cut food into smaller pieces for more even cooking
Smaller pieces of food cook more evenly and quickly in the microwave.
8. Use a microwave-safe thermometer to check food temperature
Always make sure food is cooked to a safe temperature.
9. Let food sit for a few minutes after microwaving
This allows the food to finish cooking and helps avoid hot spots.
10. Experiment with recipes designed for the microwave
There are many recipes specifically designed for the microwave that can save you time and make cooking easier.
