This article (ORIGINAL IN SPANISH AT https://www.tastyarea.com/es/never-things-capable-microwave?ly=native_one) was originally published on RightLivin
In general, we all use the same appliances in our kitchens. Therefore, if what we want is to heat food and defrost something, the microwave is the appliance of choice. However, it turns out that it has many uses that we are unaware of. That is why, in this article, we will tell you about some of the best functions of this wonderful invention. Read on to the end, and you’re sure to get rid of the other kitchen appliances (we may be exaggerating a bit, but trust us, you’ll be amazed).
Easily peels stamps off envelopes
Have you ever had a problem removing a stamp that you put on by mistake? If so, don’t despair. You can use the microwave to remove it in no time if you follow these simple steps.
Just place the envelope in the microwave on medium heat for 20 seconds. That should be enough time for the glue to loosen and you can peel it off without a problem.
Disinfect kitchen sponge
Let’s face it, we usually forget to clean or change the kitchen sponge. But once you find out how many germs grow on it, you may want to do it more often.
So that you can disinfect it quickly and efficiently: you must submerge it in a little water for a few minutes. Then, you put it in the microwave at medium temperature for about two minutes. That should be enough to kill any bacteria, and if you want to flavor it, add a few drops of lemon.
Brings stale bread back to life
Before you throw away your stale bread, try this little trick. For example, baguettes. Without a doubt, they are the favorite of many, but many people prefer not to buy them because they harden quite quickly.
You just need to wrap the bread in a kitchen towel moistened with a little water and heat it in the microwave for ten seconds on high temperature. This will return the necessary moisture to the bread.
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Build a homemade pottery kiln
In addition to cooking food, the microwave can be useful in other aspects of life. For example, if clay pottery is something you always want to do, but don’t want to pay for expensive classes, then do it at home.
For a home oven, try microwaving clay pieces covered in parchment paper. After a few minutes, they should be ready.
Brings the crunch back to fries
Don’t you hate it when you grab the bag of chips and realize someone has left it open? Now they are all soft and that took all the fun out of it, but could they be saved with the microwave?
Place the potatoes on a paper towel and put them for a couple of seconds on very high heat. And so, they will be crispy again.
Roast dried fruit
Let’s face it, who doesn’t love roasted nuts? While countless times we don’t choose them because they take too long to cook, this trick will help you toast them in no time.
We spread a cup of nuts so that they are well distributed on a plate, previously oiled. You put them in the microwave for three to eight minutes, it depends on the fruit. Don’t forget to remove them!
Peel tomatoes or peaches with ease
This trick works if you want to eat or cook fresh vegetables or fruits without the skin, but don’t feel like doing it.
A quick and easy solution is to microwave the tomatoes or peaches for about 30 seconds on medium heat. Then, let them sit for about two minutes before peeling them.
Don’t throw away that dry mascara
While some people love to apply makeup on a daily basis, others only do it once in a while. For the latter, you should know that mascara can dry out a bit over time.
If you think you can still use it, just pop the mascara in the microwave for a couple of seconds and you’re good to go.
Peel garlic easily
You can love or hate garlic, but there is no doubt that it has a unique flavor and its uses are endless. However, sometimes it does not peel easily and that discourages many from using it.
To make your life easier, place a head of garlic in the microwave for 15 seconds at medium temperature and you will be able to peel them without problems.
Avoid tears when cutting onions
Cutting onions is not as easy as it seems, and while there are several tricks to avoid crying, many of them do not work. So the next time you cook, try this trick: cut the root of the onion and the tip.
Then you pop it in the microwave for about 30 seconds on full power and it’s ready for you to slice without worrying about watery eyes.
Create a heating pad
Heating pads are useful for different things: they warm us up when it’s cold and soothe us if any part of our body hurts. Whatever the case, there is no need to buy one, as you can make it simply and easily.
You just have to take a clean sock, fill it with a handful of rice and sew the top. Then you put it in the microwave and voila: you have a heating pad.
bake a cake
For many of us, baking a cake in the microwave is unheard of. But believe it or not, it is possible, and it is delicious.
There are many recipes on the internet, but most of them just use flour, oil, salt, and whatever milk you prefer. A little cocoa powder wouldn’t hurt either.
Prepare some delicious marshmallows
Who says you need a campfire to cook up some marshmallows? It turns out that the microwave can do the job just fine. You just have to microwave them for 15 seconds until you see the marshmallows puff up.
Once they’re done, you can take them out and top them with your favorite cookies.
Heat hardened beauty products
Many of us have drawers or even cabinets full of beauty products that we haven’t used for years. And when you finally remember them, they may not have the same consistency.
So if you want to heat up products that have solidified completely, just pop them in the microwave for a couple of seconds and they’re ready to go.
Shell the corn in the microwave
Using the microwave to shell the corn will save you a lot of time. This may sound too good to be true, but it’s a trick used by chefs all over the world. You need to cut off the stem end of the corn first, and make sure you keep the husk intact.
You then cook it in the microwave for two to four minutes. Once done, grab the uncut end and shake it, you will see how the grains fall.
Speeds up the soaking time of beans and lentils
Many times you don’t have time to soak lentils and beans properly. Instead of waiting overnight, put them in a bowl and cover them with water.
Add a bit of baking soda, and then microwave them on high for about ten minutes. Afterwards, you should let them rest for about 30 or 40 minutes.
Steam vegetables
Who says you need a fancy steamer? The microwave is an excellent option and it is also quite fast. First of all, cut the vegetables as you like.
Then, put them in a microwave-safe bowl with a little water, covered with a plastic lid. Cook them on high heat for a few minutes.
Cooking pasta has never been so easy
Even if you think you shouldn’t cook pasta in the microwave, this trick may make you rethink it. You only need dry pasta, a bowl and water.
You have to put the amount of pasta you want in the container, add water until it is all covered by a few centimeters. Then you microwave it for two to three minutes longer than the instructions suggest.
Make homemade fries
Who doesn’t love some delicious home fries? And the best thing is that you can make them if you have a microwave. You just need some potatoes cut as thin as possible. You put them in the microwave with a little olive oil and salt.
For it to work, you have to make sure you place them in a single layer and on maximum heat for about four minutes. Once they cool… eat!
Soften old brown sugar
Brown sugar doesn’t take long to clump together, so if you have this little problem, you can use the microwave to fix it.
Put the sugar in a bowl, cover the top of the bowl with a damp kitchen towel, then microwave for about 30 seconds. In a short time, the lumps should disappear.
Cook the corn on the cob dish
Who would have thought that cooking corn on the cob in the microwave could taste so good? Apparently it is true, and you can prepare it at home.
Just remove all the leaves and silk, then add about two tablespoons of water to a bowl and put another plate on top. They cook in five minutes in the microwave.
Sterilize the potting soil
Have you ever believed that the microwave can help you in gardening? Although it sounds strange, there is a trick that is very useful. To start, put some soil in a ziplock bag and add a little water.
Put the open bag in the center of the microwave and heat it to about 180 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit for about three minutes; then, you close it until it cools down.
Cook some delicious pieces of bacon
It is undeniable that the smell of bacon is one of the best smells out there. It reminds us of good times, and they are the perfect aperitif to accompany anything.
If you want to cook it, you should cover a plate with a paper towel, add the bacon in one layer, and then cover it with more sheets of paper. Pop it in the microwave for a few minutes and it should be crispy in no time.
soften the ice cream
The next time you crave ice cream but feel bummed out that it’s frozen, think about this trick. To soften the ice cream you should place the entire pot in the microwave for a couple of seconds.
You can also put some water in a bowl in the microwave and stick a spoon in it for a minute or so until it warms up. So, you can eat ice cream, no problem.
dye yarn at home
Although Kool-Aid is a refreshing drink, it can also be used for a craft project. Save yourself some extra money by mixing some powdered Kool-Aid with a little water.
Choose the color you want to use in the thread and add just the right amount to the mixture you have created. Make sure it’s all covered and then pop it in the microwave for a couple of minutes.
Clean and sanitize cutting boards
Cutting boards are very useful, but they are another item in our kitchen that we often forget to clean properly. If you want an easy way to keep them germ-free, there’s a trick you can try.
You cut a lemon in half and rub them on the board. Then, you put it in the microwave at medium temperature for a minute. That will leave it smelling fresh and germ-free.
bake bread
Bread ovens can cost hundreds of dollars. If you want to make your own with tools you already have at home, then listen up: First, heat a cup of water in the microwave for a few minutes.
Let it fill with steam and then place the dough inside it and let it ferment. And that’s it, the bread is ready to be enjoyed.
Make some poached eggs
Many of us have mastered the art of making scrambled and boiled eggs, but what about delicious poached eggs? They are not easy to cook, although if you use the microwave, you can find a solution.
Put a third of a cup of water in a bowl, add a little vinegar, break the egg into the water, and then prick the yolk with a toothpick. Once you cover the bowl with plastic wrap, you put it in the microwave for a minute, and voila.
Bake brownies
Everyone loves brownies, so how about you learn a quick way to make them? Instead of spending hours in the kitchen, just melt some butter in a bowl, add sugar, cocoa, some eggs and flour.
Mix everything together and pour it into a buttered microwave-safe container. In five minutes the brownies will be ready!
make a cloud
If you have children and are looking for new ways to entertain them, then try this DIY science project. Take a bar of soap, place it on a plate on high heat for about two minutes.
You will see how the bar of soap expands in front of you and in a second a cloud will be created.
Put an end to explosions in the microwave
Nobody likes explosions in the microwave, especially when we have to clean up afterwards. However, there is a very simple way to avoid them.
If you want to cook things like potatoes, tomatoes, or squash, take a knife or fork and prick them before you microwave them, this will allow the steam to escape without making a mess.
Improves the flavor of lemons
Many people don’t know that microwaving lemons for a while will make their flavor stronger than usual.
You only have to heat it for a few seconds, but make sure you don’t leave it too long because the lemon could explode. While it’s still hot, you can roll it and the juices should flow.
Make some french toast
To make the best French toast in the microwave, put some butter in a cup and melt it, then add some nutmeg, cinnamon, milk, and of course an egg. Mix it all together and start adding bread pieces.
Once mixed, let it absorb a bit, microwave it for about 70 seconds until solid.
clean the microwave
Many of us use it daily and hardly ever do a deep clean. Don’t scrub anymore! Cut a lemon and squeeze it into a bowl of water.
Next, place each lemon half in the bowl and microwave it for five minutes and all the grime will loosen up so you can easily clean them.
Get the juice out of any citrus
Be sure to get all the juice out of the citrus the next time you make freshly squeezed juice. Put the oranges, limes, or lemons in the microwave for about 10 to 20 seconds.
This will allow them to release much more juice when you start juicing the fruits. Make sure you don’t leave them in the microwave for too long.
Test the container before putting it in the microwave
Grab a cup or container that you know for sure is microwave safe and fill it with water. Then place the cup or pot in the new container without putting water in it.
Then, microwave both containers at the same time for a couple of minutes until the water begins to boil. Handle the new container carefully, and if it is hot or lukewarm, then it may not be suitable.
Get the coconut oil to liquefy
Coconut oil is one of those very useful ingredients, even though it can be difficult to use when it’s hard, whether it’s for cooking or adding to your beauty routine.
If you want to make it liquid again, just microwave it on high for a few seconds and it’s ready to go.
cooking homemade pickles
If you are a fan of pickles, try this trick to make them at home. Grab a microwave safe bowl, add celery seeds, sugar, vinegar, turmeric, onion, mustard seeds and a pinch of salt. Mix it and add the cucumber slices.
To then cook it in the microwave for seven or eight minutes, mix it at least twice. And just like that, you will have made pickles.
Tips for making scrambled eggs
Scrambled eggs are easy to make, but it often takes a lot of effort to clean up the mess. If you don’t want to do it, use the microwave. Put a few eggs in a cup, beat them with a fork, add some seasoning and a splash of milk, and microwave for 45 seconds.
Take it out, mix it in and cook it for another 45 seconds and they’re done.
soften crystallized honey
Honey may be the best way to sweeten food while adding some very important nutrients to the diet. But when it crystallizes in the cold or over time, use the microwave to soften it.
You just have to heat it for a couple of seconds, all the crystals will have melted and you will have a pot of liquid honey.
milk foam
Milk frothers are great, but you don’t need them if you have a microwave. You just have to pour a little milk into a jar and cover it. You shake it for about 40 or 50 seconds.
Next, you must remove the lid and heat the container in the microwave for about 30 seconds and the milk will be perfectly foamed.
Make a homemade medical compress
Warm compresses can be helpful in treating ear infections, sore and tired muscles, and congestion. So instead of going to the store to buy one, make your own.
Take a damp towel, fold it and put it in a ziplock bag. Put the opened bag in the microwave for two minutes. Then, you take it out and close it, and then wrap it in another towel. Clever! You already have a compress.
heat the dishes
Here’s a trick that restaurants do that I’m sure no one has noticed.
To recreate the atmosphere of a restaurant, put the empty plates in the microwave and heat them for a minute or two before you start serving the food. This will allow it to stay warm longer.
Precook meals before grilling
Grilling vegetables can take forever, and sometimes you want them to be ready to eat in no time. So to speed things up, prick the potato, bell pepper, or whatever veggie you want to roast with a fork and pop it in the microwave for a couple of minutes.
And when you put them on the grill and the vegetables will take much less time to be ready.
Make crispy fries
After a day or two, the fries become so mushy and the thrill of eating them wears off. But instead of throwing them away, how about we tell you that you can “revive” them?
You just have to spread them evenly on a piece of kitchen paper, spray them with a little vegetable oil and put them in the microwave for about ten minutes. Then let them rest for a bit until they are crispy.
Clean wax from candles
Lighting a candle can be calming, filling the entire house with a wonderful aroma. But when the wax starts to melt, it can be messy to remove from the candle holder.
Don’t despair, just put the candle holder in the microwave for a while and that should make cleanup easier.
Cook special fish dishes
Cooking fish can be a bit strange at first, especially if you don’t do it often. So if you want to start small, wrap it in microwave-safe plastic.
Leave it for a few minutes in the microwave until the fish is cooked to perfection. If you put some herbs and some lemon slices, it will be delicious.
speed up dinner
Instead of cooking those precooked meals, you can make any meal using the microwave. You can steam, poach, heat things up, but always remember to stir and check; especially if it is liquid, such as soups and sauces.
Also, you want to make sure you take the food out a couple of minutes before it’s fully cooked.
Prepare some parmesan wafers
Parmesan wafers are perfect for flavoring things up when you don’t want fries. To make them, you just have to cover the plate with parchment paper and cover everything with the thinnest layer of Parmesan.
Then, turn it on at maximum power for about 30 seconds and you will see how they brown. And that’s it, you have some parmesan wafers.
Dries almost any herb
One of the best ways to impress anyone in the kitchen is to make herbs. And even if you think it will take forever to leave them at their point, it doesn’t have to be that way. Place the herbs on a kitchen towel and microwave them for 30 seconds.
Then, for about five minutes, you turn them every 30 seconds until they’re dry.
