Cooking, reheating and cleaning can all be a little easier when you know a few clever microwave tricks. Your microwave can do much more than simply warm up leftovers.
These 15 microwave tricks cover simple ways to heat food more evenly, make everyday food preparation easier and keep your microwave cleaner.
Microwave Tricks for Heating & Reheating Food
- Arrange food around the outside of the plate. When reheating smaller pieces of food, arrange them in a ring around the edge of the plate rather than piling everything in the center. This can help food heat more evenly.
- Leave a space in the middle of your meal. For foods such as rice, pasta and leftovers, spread the food out and create a small hole in the center before reheating. This reduces the thickest part of the portion and can encourage more even heating.
- Stir food partway through reheating. Microwaves can create hot and cold spots. Pause halfway through, stir the food and continue heating.
- Let reheated food stand before eating. Food continues to redistribute heat after the microwave stops. Allowing it to stand briefly can help temperatures become more even.
- Cover food while reheating. Use a microwave-safe cover or suitable plate over bowls and dishes to reduce splatters and help retain moisture.
Clever Microwave Food Prep Hacks
- Soften butter carefully. If you forgot to take butter out of the fridge, use your microwave’s lowest setting or short bursts to soften it gradually without melting it completely.
- Warm citrus fruit before juicing. A very brief microwave warm-up can help a refrigerated lemon or lime release its juice more easily. Make sure it is only slightly warmed before handling and juicing.
- Use the microwave to soften hard ice cream slightly. A few seconds on a low setting can make very firm ice cream easier to scoop. Start with a very short time so you don’t melt the edges.
- Warm tortillas before serving. Stack tortillas on a microwave-safe plate, cover them with a slightly damp paper towel and warm them briefly to make them softer and more flexible.
- Refresh slightly stale bread. Wrap bread in a lightly dampened paper towel and microwave it for a few seconds. Eat it promptly, as the effect is temporary.
Microwave Cleaning & Everyday Tricks
- Steam the microwave before cleaning it. Heat a microwave-safe bowl of water until it produces steam, then leave the door closed briefly. The steam can help soften dried food before you wipe the interior.
- Add lemon to your cleaning water. Add lemon slices to the bowl of water before steaming the microwave for a fresh scent while loosening grime.
- Wipe spills while they’re fresh. A quick wipe after a spill is much easier than scrubbing it once it has dried onto the microwave walls.
- Keep a microwave-safe cover nearby. Store your microwave cover beside or inside the microwave when it’s not being used so you’re more likely to remember it.
- Check whether containers are microwave-safe. Before heating food, check the container or packaging for microwave-safe instructions. Avoid assuming that every plastic container, takeaway tub or piece of packaging belongs in the microwave.
Make Your Microwave Work Smarter
Your microwave can be one of the most useful appliances in the kitchen when you use it well. Small changes to how you arrange, cover and reheat food can make everyday cooking easier while helping reduce mess.
Try a few of these microwave tricks and keep the ones that make a genuine difference in your kitchen.
Looking for more clever ways to make everyday life easier? Explore more Life Hacks from The Thought Hive.
