7 Easy Microwave Hacks You Had No Ideas About.
When you hear microwave, what’s the first thing that comes to your mind? A kitchen appliance for reheating food, right? Well, you will be right because that’s the original use of a microwave. But is that all a microwave can do? Let me paint you a picture; imagine how you feel seeing people, especially the older generation, not understanding the full potential of a Smartphone and using it only for calls and messaging? Remember how you always feel like they are missing out on all that the Smartphone has to offer, that’s the same way you will feel seeing all these easy microwave hacks you have been missing out on. But not to worry, that is written; this article is going to show you 10 easy microwave hacks you had no idea about to make things easier in the kitchen.
Peeling Garlic
Garlic is a very healthy natural seasoning. Not only can you add it to your food, but some people also eat it raw and some use it as one of the ingredients for their detox water recipe. Knowing all these, sometimes, we just want to stay away from garlic because the process of peeling is stressful and time-consuming. Well, with the use of microwaves your problem is solved. All you have to do is put the cloves in the microwave for about 20 seconds; the heat will draw out the moisture in the skin, making it easy to peel.
Juicing Citrus Fruits
Citrus fruits like lemon, lime and oranges are quite difficult to juice. Anytime you find it difficult to squeeze the juice out of citrus fruits, try using a microwave. Put them in the microwave for about 20 seconds until the skin is a little warm. The heat will soften the pulp and make it easier to squeeze the juice out.
Peel Beans
In this part of the world, we love our Akara and Moi-Moi but the process can be really stressful, especially the part of peeling the beans. Instead of soaking the beans overnight or for hours, your microwave can make the process easier. Put the beans in a bowl of water - make sure it is submerged. Heat for about 10 minutes at high heat, bring it out and let it cool for about 30 minutes, most of the skin would have been out by then.
Steam Vegetables
You can steam your vegetables using your microwave, especially if you don’t want it to get too soggy like it probably would if you steam with a stove. This is a good idea for those who like their vegetables crunchy or if you want to add those veggies to your rice without going through the long route of making fried rice.
Dry Herbs and Vegetables
Some people store their vegetables in the refrigerator. While that is not wrong, it is not advisable to store wet vegetables in the refrigerator. So if you washed your veggies or bought them from the market wet, let them dry out a little in the microwave before storing them in the refrigerator. Wrap them in a paper towel and heat (flipping them at intervals) for about 2-4 mins, depending on the type and quantity of the vegetable.
Cut Onions
Are you tired of tearing up when cutting onions? The microwave is here to rescue you. Trim off the ends of the onions and place in a microwave for about 30 seconds. You will be saved from tearing up when cutting the onions after that.
Clean the Microwave
Even cleaning the microwave is made easier with the microwave. One way you can do this is to throw in a handful of paper towels and heat for about 3 mins, the steam will make wiping the interior surface of your microwave easier. Another way to clean a microwave is to heat a glass bowl of water with a little amount of vinegar or lemon halves if you prefer a natural method for about 5 minutes. That will make the inside steamy, so you can easily wipe the microwave of all the gunk.
In conclusion, this list is, by no means, exhaustive, but at least, now, you can say you know the potential uses of a microwave beyond reheating food. Do you know of any other easy microwave hacks? Let us know in the comment section.
