Most people solely use their microwave for heating up leftover foods. However, there are so many more possibilities than just that. In fact, microwaves are one of the most useful appliances.
From removing stamps on a letter to disinfecting cutting boards, these are the 60 microwave hacks that you’ve likely never heard of but need to know. Once you learn these fascinating tricks and tips, you’ll never view microwave cooking the same way ever again.
1. Refresh stale bread.
Instead of throwing it away, toss it in the microwave with a damp paper towel. Microwave it for around 10 seconds on high. It’s just long enough to transfer some of that moisture over and give the bread new life.
2. Make delicious pickles.
Most people think that pickles need to soak in the brine for weeks or months. However, you can speed up the process by nuking the mixture. Combine your pickling spices and vinegar according to the recipe here and add the cucumbers in. Then microwave the mixture for 8 minutes.
3. Dry out fresh herbs.
If you aren’t using the herbs from your garden right away, you can preserve them for future use by tossing them on a paper towel in the microwave for 30 seconds. Take them out, flip them over, and repeat the process again three to eight times in total.
4. Make French toast.
You don’t even have to get any dishes dirty. Only a single mug is required. Just cut the bread into bite-size pieces, place them in the egg mixture, and microwave for two minutes. Check the recipe here for more details.
5. Cut onions without crying.
The secret involves a little bit of heat. Cut the ends off of the onion and microwave it for thirty seconds before slicing it. The end result is a tear-free onion cutting experience.
6. Create a “soap cloud”.
It’s a really fun experiment for kids of all ages. Take a bar of soap made by the brand Ivory and microwave it. After 20 seconds, it will begin growing and it won’t stop until you turn off the microwave. The texture looks fluffy but it’s actually quite moldable!
7. Scramble some eggs.
Making scrambled eggs for breakfast has never been easier. The key is to spray the mug you are using with cooking spray before adding the eggs and vegetables in. Nuke it for thirty seconds, stir, and repeat the process until it’s fully cooked.
8. Dye yarn different colors.
The trick is to use Koolaid powder and a microwave, although, other dyes will work too. Mix the Koolaid powder with the yarn and a small amount of water and microwave for a couple of minutes. The wool will absorb all of the color and the heat will help it to set in.
9. Give your microwave a steam cleaning.
Forget all those old-fashioned methods of cleaning involving intense scrubbing. If you microwave a bowl of lemon water for five minutes, the moisture will loosen up all of the grime inside the appliance. Afterward, it will wipe right off with a cloth or paper towel.
10. Turn it into a kiln.
Making pottery no longer requires the use of a giant furnace. They sell microwave kilns on Amazon that allow you harden your small pieces in seconds. It works great for melting and fusing glass.
11. Bake a potato.
Everyone knows that you aren’t supposed to microwave things like potatoes or squash. They will likely explode, creating a giant mess. However, if you poke some air holes in the side of the potato with a fork before microwaving, you don’t have to worry. You can “bake” it in minutes.
12. Peel tomatoes the easy way.
Whenever a recipe calls for peeled tomatoes, many chefs panic. Peeling them is typically such a tedious process. However, if you microwave the tomatoes until the skin starts to wrinkle first, you should be able to easily slide it off with a fork. The same goes for peaches.
13. Disinfect a plastic cutting board.
Cut a lemon in half and rub it all over the cutting board to get the process started. Then toss it in the microwave for a minute on medium setting. It will come out bacteria-free.
14. Make potato chips.
Potato chips are pretty cheap to buy in stores. However, if you are feeling extra ambitious, you can create some in the microwave. Slice the potato as thin as possible and coat the slices in olive oil. Lay them down in a single layer on a plate and cook for five minutes or until crispy.
15. Re-crisp old chips.
At the same time, if you have some old potato chips in your house that have absorbed moisture, you can make them crispier by nuking them as well. It will get them back to their original state and have them tasting like they’re brand new.
16. Foam milk for a latte.
You don’t need a fancy frother or steamer to get the job done. In fact, all you really need is a microwave. First, put the milk in a jar and shake it up until it starts to form bubbles. Then microwave it for thirty seconds and add it to your cappuccino.
17. Toast raw nuts.
It’s much faster than toasting them in the oven. For every cup of nuts that you are toasting, place a half teaspoon of vegetable oil on the plate first. Microwave them in one-minute intervals (stirring in between) until they are fully toasted. It normally takes between three to eight rounds.
18. Shuck ears of corn.
Microwaving ears corn for thirty to sixty seconds will make shucking them super simple. Just make sure to cut off the ends of the ears first. After they are heated up, the green leaves will slide right off without getting stuck in the kernels.
19. Disinfect a dirty sponge.
Soak the sponge in water for a bit and then wring it out to remove any remaining food particles. Then microwave it on medium for two minutes. Any bacteria on the sponge will be quickly vaporized.
20. Make homemade cheese crisps.
Cheese is one of the tastiest types of food, especially when it’s crunchy. Make your own crisps by grating parmesan onto a piece of parchment paper. Microwave it for thirty seconds until it starts to burn slightly. Then enjoy.
21. Remove a stamp.
Once stamps get stuck to an envelope, they are pretty hard to get off. However, if you place a few drops of water on the stamp and microwave the envelope for 20 seconds on medium, it will loosen up the adhesive. Then you can either reuse it or add it to your stamp collection.
22. Crisp up soggy french fries.
There is nothing worse than a soggy batch of fries. Luckily, if you have a crisper pan, you can use it to get the outsides of the fries nice and crunchy again. Many crisper pans are only usable in the oven, however, they do make microwave-safe versions as well.
23. Peel garlic with ease.
Oftentimes, the skin gets stuck to the cloves. However, with the microwave, that’s a thing of the past. The heat makes it so much simpler to prepare your garlic and get it ready for cooking.
24. Heat up a medical compress.
Most tap water doesn’t really get hot enough to work well for this purpose. However, the microwave will heat up the water in the towel extremely efficiently. Just make sure not to get it too hot as you don’t want to accidentally burn yourself.
25. Prepare beans and lentils efficiently.
Many recipes call for soaking beans for several hours before cooking. Some even require that you soak them overnight. A quicker method is to place the beans in a bowl of water with a bit of baking soda. Microwave for ten minutes. Then let them soak for just thirty additional minutes afterward.
26. Soften up hardened coconut oil.
If coconut oil sits in the pantry for too long, it has the tendency to become hard. However, if you microwave the jar in twenty-second intervals, you can rapidly liquefy it again. Your arms muscles will thank you when you try and scoop it out.
27. Sterilize garden soil.
Nuking your soil in the microwave first will kill off any unwanted pests and help your plants to grow. It’s a very effective gardening technique. As a bonus, it will destroy any unwanted weed seeds in the soil as well.
28. Juice fresh lemons.
Throwing a lemon in the microwave for one minute will make the juice easier to squeeze out. It’s great for when you are making a bunch of lemonade. However, it also works for other citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruits too.
29. Revitalize dry mascara.
Give it new life when it starts to get clumpy by microwaving it for thirty seconds. It will help return the mascara to its normal texture. It’s guaranteed to be much easier to apply after.
30. Cook gooey brownies.
Make a brownie in a cup by microwaving it for a minute and a half. You can also cook a full plate of them in about six minutes. They come out tasting just as good as brownies baked in the oven.
31. Break up crystalized honey.
Once a jar of honey has been open, it starts to solidify into crystals. It can take months to happen. However, that doesn’t mean that the honey has gone bad. It’s just harder to access. However, you can liquefy it again with a quick microwaving.
32. Poach eggs perfectly.
A microwave will allow you to cook your eggs exactly how you like them. The secret is to add some boiling water to a bowl with a tiny splash of white vinegar. Microwave your egg in the mixture for thirty seconds. Flip the egg, then cook it for twenty more seconds. Make sure to cover the bowl with plastic wrap in case of an explosion.
33. Create a heating pad for sore muscles.
Socks work great for this purpose. Fill it with rice and then seal the end of the sock. Microwave it every time you need to heat it back up.
34. Make ice cream easier to scoop.
Simply place the entire container in the microwave for a couple of seconds. It will soften it up and make even the hardest ice cream more manageable. Eating ice cream is supposed to be enjoyable, not a workout!
35. Cook a fish fillet.
People never think about cooking fish in the microwave. However, it’s totally possible. Just wrap your fillet in plastic wrap with whatever seasoning you would like and microwave for two minutes on high. We recommend using lemon pepper.
36. Make delicious corn.
Surprisingly, corn on the cob cooked in the microwave often tastes even better than grilled or boiled corn. When you boil it, it loses a lot of flavor. However, in the microwave, the corn retains all of its nutrients.
37. Bake a cake in minutes.
You won’t be able to cook a large cake in the microwave. However, it is possible to make a single-serving batch in a mug with pre-made cake mix. It’s perfect for when you are in a rush but craving a sweet treat.
38. Prepare a pasta dish.
It still takes a while to prepare, but it is possible. You will have to microwave your pasta for around twenty minutes for it to be fully cooked. Use a ratio of one quart of water for each cup of pasta.
39. Steam fresh vegetables.
Everyone knows that frozen vegetables can be cooked in the microwave. However, you can do it with fresh vegetables as well. The trick is to add a small amount of water in with them.
40. Microwave some s’mores.
S’mores are a delicious treat that can be made anytime. No fire is required. The marshmallows will expand really fast in the microwave, though, so you have to watch them. It should only take around seven seconds to cook.
41. Soften brown sugar.
If your brown sugar has become clumpy and hard, soften it with a quick nuke in the microwave. Place a moist paper towel on top of the sugar and microwave it for thirty seconds. Repeat if necessary.
42. Prepare dinner in ten minutes or less.
Most recipes can actually be adapted to the microwave. It’s a little known fact. All you really have to do is reduce the overall cooking time in the recipe by about 75%. It’s important to stop the microwave and stir the dish regularly, making sure to add a little liquid if it dries out too.
43. Get bacon extra crispy.
Place the bacon in a single layer in between paper towels on a plate. Make sure to get a couple of paper towels underneath and a couple on top to absorb the grease. Then cook the bacon until it reaches the desired consistency.
44. Get foods ready for the grill.
Before finishing them on the grill, you can partially cook them in the microwave. That way you get the best of both worlds. You can enjoy the smoky grill flavor without spending countless hours cooking.
45. Make yourself a bread dough proofer.
You can create a temporary proofer in your microwave. Heat a cup of water until it is steaming and then place your dough in with it. The microwave will seal all of the steam and warmth in there, creating the perfect environment for the rising dough.
46. Test containers for microwave safety.
One way to find out whether a container is microwave-safe is simply by microwaving it and observing what happens. Place another microwave-safe container next to it with a cup of water sitting on top of it (not inside the container though). Microwave both containers until the water begins to boil. Then feel the container you are testing. If it is really hot, it is not good for use in the microwave.
47. Soften up beauty products.
Any of your products that have become hard over time can be microwaved to warm them up. It should work for any product that is wax or oil-based. The products should return to their original soft consistency.
48. Speed up the dough rising process.
If you let dough sit on its own, it could take upwards of 45 minutes to rise. If it is a two-rise or three-wise recipe, you can heat the dough up on 10% power in the microwave to speed things up. Then shape it, put it back in, and let it sit. It will rise completely in ten to fifteen minutes.
49. Discover the speed of light.
You can use your microwave to do a really cool science experiment. All you need is a bar of chocolate and a ruler. With a simple calculation, the distance between the melted spots on the heated chocolate will then tell you the speed of light. The instructions can be found here.
50. Dye textiles and fabrics.
You can dye any fabric easily with the use of a microwave. Just mix any dye with your piece of fabric and some water. Microwave it for four minutes. Rinse the excess dye off in the sink and let it dry.
51. Repurpose old crayons.
You can take all of your tiny broken crayon pieces and melt them into one giant round crayon. Remove the plastic or paper pieces first before microwaving them. Afterward, pour the melted wax into a greased cupcake tin and then freeze it. When it solidifies, you can remove your new crayon from the tin.
52. Warm up your plates.
It’s amazing when you go to a restaurant and the plates they bring out are nice and warm. It helps to keep the food hot longer. You can do this at home also by microwaving your serving dishes first before placing your dinner on them.
53. Clean candle wax out of empty jars.
When your votive candles are finished, you can microwave them to melt any wax left in the bottom and remove it. It works for any candles that are in glass jars. Afterward, you can reuse the wax and make new candles.
54. Make microwave jam.
If you want to make some fresh jam but are running short on time, this microwave jam recipe is a good solution. You can cook down a cup of fruit very rapidly. It will likely take you under twenty minutes before your jam is finished and ready to use.
55. Create a tasty peanut brittle.
It’s a homemade dessert that your friends and family will love. The best part is that is can be prepared on the spot in the microwave. No prior planning is necessary. Check out the recipe here.
56. Dried apple chips.
It’s an amazing chewy and healthy snack. All you have to do is remove the core and slice your apple up as thinly as possible. Microwave the slices for a few minutes in a single layer and enjoy.
57. Make your own caramel sauce.
It requires sugar, water, corn syrup, butter, and vanilla extract. Just follow the simple steps in the photo and you’ll be good to go. You can find additional details about the recipe here.
58. Bake a single cookie.
The problem with baking cookies is that you typically end up with dozens of them. If you are trying to be healthy, that’s bad news. However, making a single serving cookie in the microwave is simpler than you think. Here is a microwave snickerdoodle recipe.
59. Make easy microwave granola.
Granola is great for breakfast or when mixed with yogurt and fruit. It requires seven basic ingredients to make and can be thrown together in just a couple of minutes. Get more info about how to do it here.
60. Whip up some polenta.
If could potentially have a few more clumps in it than normal polenta since you won’t be able to stir it as often. However, it will still taste just as good as ever. Cook up a bowl in the microwave now by following the recipe here.
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