When you think “microwave meal”, it usually conjures up a range of mixed emotions from will my dish cook through, will it be flavoursome, and will it be raw or overcooked? Believe it or not, cooking in a microwave is actually one of the easiest things to do.
It’s the quickest way to whip up something delicious and different, and depending on what you’re cooking, you can save a lot of time too. So if you’re a beginner in the kitchen, have a craving and need a quick fix, or just don’t want to spend time over a hot stove, then microwave meals are the answer.
Of course not everything can be cooked perfectly in a microwave, like a cake or crunchy crackle for instance, but once you pick up a few basic tricks then you can turn out some pretty decent meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner that require nothing more than a cutting board and bowl. Another bonus is since you’re cutting down the amount of oil or fats used when you cook in these kitchen appliances, the method can be a lot healthier than cooking that same food on the stove.
Whip up easy breakfast bowls of porridge or scrambled eggs; broil fish with some lemon juice and spices, brown vegetables or make scrumptious desserts. There are several easy and delicious recipes that you can whip up fast; you just need to be willing to experiment first.
Things to remember when microwave cooking:
• Most foods should be cooked at room temperature or refrigerated temperature.
• Stir the food during the cooking process; foods that can’t be stirred need to be turned over for even heat distribution.
• Place the food in a circular microwave proof dish or to arrange it in a circle in an oven tray so that it cooks more evenly.
• Pierce, score or chop foods that are covered with a skin or outer membrane like hard roots and egg yolks. This prevents pressure from building up and the food from bursting.
• Foods with a high fat or sugar content heat more quickly.
• A drawback to cooking meat in the microwave is that it doesn’t sear like it does in a conventional oven. You can get that ‘seared’ look by brushing the meat with Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, butter, or spices.
• Since there is less evaporation in a microwave, reduce the amount of liquid ingredients.
• For best results, when trying a microwave recipe for the first time, always follow the shortest amount of time given and add additional time if needed.
Microwave oven recipes in magazines, newspapers, and the internet are usually written for 600 to 800-watt ovens, so get to know the wattage of your microwave oven and make adjustments if necessary.