Most people purchase a microwave to reheat meals or thaw frozen food, but this compact appliance has numerous other uses. You can use your microwave for all sorts of household tricks and cooking cheats. Here are 15 more ways in which you can use your microwave that you probably didn’t know about:
Microwaved food often overheats and explodes, creating a mess on the inside of the appliance. When this happens, place a glass bowl of water with a drop of vinegar in your microwave and heat for five minutes. The inside will steam up, making it easy for you to wipe away the gunk that has accumulated.
Instead of waiting for your hot water to run or your kettle to boil, place a wet hand towel or washcloth in the microwave on high for one minute. You'll have an instant hot compress when the time's up.
Squeeze more juice out of your lemons or limes by zapping the fruit on high heat for 10-20 seconds. This will make the fruit juicier and easier to squeeze.
8. Tear-free onion experience
Avoid tearing up when chopping onions with this neat trick. Trim the ends and heat the onions on full power for 30 seconds. You won't feel the sting anymore due to the heat.
Avoid tearing up when chopping onions with this neat trick. Trim the ends and heat the onions on full power for 30 seconds. You won't feel the sting anymore due to the heat.
9. Steam vegetables
Thick-skinned vegetables such as potatoes, squash and tomatoes can be cooked in the microwave, but often explode because steam gets trapped. To avoid this, pierce the skins with a toothpick or knife before you begin cooking so that the steam can escape and your food won't explode.
Thick-skinned vegetables such as potatoes, squash and tomatoes can be cooked in the microwave, but often explode because steam gets trapped. To avoid this, pierce the skins with a toothpick or knife before you begin cooking so that the steam can escape and your food won't explode.
For a single garlic clove, heat for 15 seconds. The heat removes the moisture that gets trapped between the skin. The moisture-free clove can be easily peeled. For tomatoes and peaches, heat the fruit for 30 seconds on high. Let the fruit sit for two minutes. Now the peel should slip off without much effort.
11. Poach an egg
Quickly make perfect poached eggs with this method. Boil water in the kettle and pour it into a microwave-safe bowl. Add a dash of white vinegar and an egg into the bowl. Lightly pierce the yolk with a toothpick and then cover the bowl with cling wrap. Microwave this on full power for 30 seconds. Remove the bowl and gently turn the egg over. Cook for another 20 seconds on full power.
Quickly make perfect poached eggs with this method. Boil water in the kettle and pour it into a microwave-safe bowl. Add a dash of white vinegar and an egg into the bowl. Lightly pierce the yolk with a toothpick and then cover the bowl with cling wrap. Microwave this on full power for 30 seconds. Remove the bowl and gently turn the egg over. Cook for another 20 seconds on full power.
12. Save time soaking food overnight
If you spot a recipe you want to make but notice it calls for an overnight soaking, use the following shortcut. Place the beans in a bowl with a pinch of bicarbonate of soda and cover with water. Heat the beans for 10 minutes on high. Let it sit for 30 minutes, and you've saved yourself an overnight soaking.
If you spot a recipe you want to make but notice it calls for an overnight soaking, use the following shortcut. Place the beans in a bowl with a pinch of bicarbonate of soda and cover with water. Heat the beans for 10 minutes on high. Let it sit for 30 minutes, and you've saved yourself an overnight soaking.
Rehydrate stale bread by wrapping it in a damp kitchen towel. Heat it on high for 10 seconds at a time until the bread is moist enough.
No comments:
Post a Comment