10 Amazing Microwave Hacks That Will Change Your Life

by John Griffith
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The microwave is a great invention that makes our everyday lives much easier. It’s a quicker and easier way to reheat food, defrost frozen food, soften up your butter and so on. This appliance is super useful and is super convenient when you need to multitask in the kitchen, especially if you are cooking a few items at once. But there are a ton of things you can use your microwave for that you’ve never even expected. That’s why today we will show you our favorite microwave hacks.

The microwave is a great invention that makes our everyday lives much easier

microwave hacks stainless steel microwave in green kitchen

Microwave Hacks

There are a ton of things you can do with your microwave to help minimize prep, cooking, as well as clean up time in the kitchen. You just have to know how to do it. But don’t worry, that’s why we are here! Check out these amazing hacks.

Minimize prep, cooking, as well as clean up time with your microwave

microwave hacks white microwave on a white counter

#Dry Herbs

Microwaves essentially work by targeting and heating up water. This makes it the perfect tool to dry herbs. So, you can easily get dried herbs by popping them in your microwave. However, this trick works best when it comes to heartier herbs such as thyme or rosemary, because other more delicate herbs such as mint or basil can’t handle the microwave’s strength. If you want some dried herbs, just put them between two paper towels and then microwave them on high heat for around 2 to 3 minutes.

You can easily get dried herbs by popping them in your microwave

different types of herbs on white background

#Cook Dessert

One of our favorite things about owning a microwave is how easily you can whip up a dessert. With just a few simple ingredients and a mug, you can enjoy a freshly baked dessert without having to heat up the oven or spend hours baking. There are a ton of mug cake recipes you can try out.

One of our favorite things about owning a microwave is how easily you can whip up a dessert

chocolate mug cake in white cups

#Reduce Onion Tears

Onions have the talent to make you cry your eyes out. But we say no more! Before you go to chop your onion, place it in the microwave for around 45 seconds. By heating up the onion it will break down some of the chemicals that cause the tears.

Onions have the talent to make you cry your eyes out

red onions on cutting board with0knife

#Ripen Fruits

Waiting for fruits to ripen can be a pain. But with a microwave you can speed up the process. We got this trick from the cake boss himself – Buddy Valastro. When he can’t wait for bananas to ripen, he uses the microwave to speed up the process. When it comes to bananas, take a fork and poke some holes all over the bananas (this will keep them from exploding). Then pop them in the microwave for a minute or two. You can also do this with some other fruits, such as kiwi.

Waiting for fruits to ripen can be a pain

banana bunches next to each other

#Decrystallize Honey

If your honey has started to solidify or crystallize, don’t fret. The honey can be brought back to a liquid state. All you need to do for this hack is to open up your honey jar and place it in the microwave on medium heat for 30 seconds to 1 minute. The honey should drizzle now.

Open up your honey jar and place it in the microwave on medium heat for 30 seconds

drizzling honey in a jar

#Cook Grains

While you may be used to cooking grains on the stove, the microwave can also do a pretty good job, especially for grains like rice and quinoa. It’s much easier than the stove. All you need to do is place your grains in a glass bowl, add enough water (according to the instructions) to cover the bowl with some microwave-safe plastic wrap. Cook for around 15 to 20 minutes and make sure to check on it every 5 minutes.

You can cook your grains in the microwave

microwave hacks fluffy white rice in bowl

#Get all The Citrus Juice

If you are struggling to get out all the juice out of a citrus, try putting it in the microwave for a little bit. The heat will help to release the juices more easily, which will lessen your workload. Put your lemon or lime in the microwave for around 15 seconds to soften it up and give it a roll. And then just juice it.

The heat will help to release the juices more easily, which will lessen your workload

lemons cut and whole on white blanket

#Peel Garlic

Peeling garlic takes an unnecessary long time. But on the bright side, you can use the microwave to save yourself some time. It will do most of the work for you. Just pop your garlic head in the microwave for around 15 to 20 seconds on a high heat. Then, when you take the garlic, the cloves easily slide out of the skin.

Just pop your garlic head in the microwave for around 15 to 20 seconds on a high heat

microwave hacks garlic in a hwite cloth

#Heat Two Dishes At Once

One of our favorite microwave hacks. The only con to the microwave is that it’s super hard to heat two things at once. Or at least it was. With this hack, this is a problem no more. Take your two dishes and place one at the edge of the turntable, then take a mug or a bowl, and place the other one on top of the mug or on the upside-down bowl. This creates a second story.

Heat up two dishes at once with this hack

heating two dishes in a microwave

#Steam Fish

Steamed fish is a tricky dish to accomplish. It’s kind of hard to not overcook it. Well, unless you are cooking it in the microwave. This method consistently turns out perfect. All you need to do is get your fish of choice and place it in a shallow bowl. Then just top it with some olive oil or butter, some salt and pepper and whatever other spices you want. Then fill the bowl with several inches of water. Cover the bowl tightly with microwave-safe plastic wrap and with a fork, poke some holes in it to allow for ventilation. Finally, cook on high heat for around 6 to 7 minutes.

All you need to do is get your fish of choice and place it in a shallow bowl

salmon on a bake tray

These were some of our favorite microwave hacks. We hope you found this article interesting. Now you can start using these little tips and tricks and make your life easier.

These were some of our favorite microwave hacks

stainless steel microwave in kitchen

 

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John Griffith

John Griffith is a young, passionate journalist. Writing has been John’s hobby ever since he was a boy. He has worked in some of the UK’s most successful news portals over the course of his professional career but found his forever home at Archzine.