If your microwave is relegated to reheating leftovers and making porridge, then you’re not using it to its full potential! Microwaves are the ultimate in cheat gadgetry, and open up a whole world of culinary possibilities for breakfast and lunch when you’re at work, too...
Please note, our timings and settings are based on a 900W microwave. Models differ in power, so make sure you know what wattage yours is and follow the settings/timings below as a guide. Your machine may cook things faster or slower. And please read the guidelines at the end before attempting to make anything from this article.
Everything tastes better with (microwave) bacon
Forget scrubbing greasy frying pans – use a microwave to cook bacon and minimise the clean-up. Take a large piece of kitchen paper, lay rashers of bacon in the centre and wrap the ends of the paper over the top to enclose the rashers. Turn the parcel over so the seam is on the bottom and put on a plate. Microwave for 3-4min on high, until the bacon is crispy. It really is that simple!
You can soften butter easily
If you’ve ever made a snap decision to whip-up a Viccy sponge, then struggled to cream fridge-cold butter to fluffy perfection, look no further than this trick. Weigh your butter on to a plate, then microwave on the defrost setting in 30sec bursts until soft. Tip into a mixing bowl and continue with your recipe.
Microwave crisps
Make yourself a bowl of fresh, crunchy crisps in less time than it takes to go to the shops. Slice a small potato as thinly as possible (use a mandolin if you have one), then toss the slices in a bowl with a drizzle of oil until coated. Lay slices in a single layer on a large baking parchment-covered plate, sprinkle with salt and microwave in 1min bursts on high until golden and crisp (ours took 4min).
No-sweat sweated onions
Instead of spending 15 minutes trying to soften onions in a pan (only to scorch them!), try this microwave method. Pop chopped or sliced onions in a bowl, add a spoonful of water, cover with a plate and microwave on high for 3-4min. Carefully remove (the bowl will be very hot) and uncover. Continue as per recipe, transferring onions to a pan with oil, if needed. Alternatively, make easy caramelised onions: heat oil in a frying pan over a high heat, add the softened onions plus a sprinkling of sugar, and fry until golden.
Make cakes in your microwave. In a mug.
Keep all the ingredients for this gooey chocolate cake in your store cupboard, and you’ll be able to whip up a luxurious dessert in an instant. Perfect for when a friend pops round unexpectedly, or you’re hankering for a sweet treat and the shops are shut.
No-curdle curds
Citrusy curds made on the hob can be finicky and prone to scrambling. Make our foolproof microwave lemon curd instead.
Microwave French toast
Okay, so this is a little more akin to a bread and butter pudding, but they’re practically the same thing. Crack an egg into a mug, add a splash of milk, a teaspoon of sugar and 1/2tsp vanilla extract, then beat together with a fork. Tear a couple of slices of bread into pieces, add to the mug and stir until the bread is completely coated. Microwave on medium in 1min bursts until firm (ours took 3min) and serve topped with sliced banana or berries. You could even make the egg mixture in a flask at home and take it to the office to make breakfast there. Any excuse to have a bottle of syrup in your desk drawer...
Retro steamed puddings without hours of steaming
While many of us get the warm and fuzzies at the mere thought of treacle sponge, the fact that it has to rattle away on the hob for hours puts most people off making it. Enter the microwave. Just make sure to only use baking parchment to cover it, and you’re a few minutes away from steamed sponge heaven. Our mash-up of two classic puds – Upside Down Pineapple Pudding – has microwave instructions.
Squeeze more out of your citrus
Popping lemons in the microwave for 20 seconds before cutting and squeezing makes them easier to squeeze and yields more juice!
Microwave meringues
Think meringues take ages to make? Think again! To make our speedy Microwavable Meringue, you simply stir egg white and icing sugar together. They’re ideal when you need meringues for Eton mess, or to crumble over ice cream.
Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox.
