Little-known tips for cooking with a microwave

If you want to peel garlic faster or chop onions without tears, microwave them for a few seconds.

If you use your microwave just to reheat food, you’re missing out on a lot of its usefulness. Try these tips from RD:

Peel garlic faster

Just microwave a garlic bulb for 15 seconds and you will peel it quickly and easily. The water in the garlic will evaporate, making the skin come off easily.

Rescue stale bread

If you forget your bread from the night before and it loses its delicious flavor, wrap it in a damp paper towel and microwave it for about 20 seconds at a time. The moisture from the paper will absorb into the bread, bringing back the delicious flavor without making it soggy.

Helps juice fruit more easily

Before juicing an orange or lemon, microwave the whole fruit for 10 seconds. Microwaves will soften the fibrous inside of the fruit and make it easier to squeeze out the juice.

Fast roasting

Place a handful of peanuts in a microwave-safe dish, stir every minute, and microwave until cooked. Total cooking time depends on the amount of peanuts, but it usually takes about 5 minutes. This tip also works with pumpkin and sunflower seeds.

Helps make bread faster

Want to make your own bread or pizza at home? It can take hours to leaven dough at room temperature, but a microwave oven can help you ferment it in about 15 minutes. Place a cup of water in the corner of the microwave, put the dough in a bowl, and microwave on the lowest heat for about 3 minutes. Leave the dough in the microwave for another 3 minutes. Heat the dough again for 3 minutes and let it rest for 6 minutes. The dough will have risen enough to be ready to shape into loaves.

Liquefy crystallized honey

If your honey has crystallized at the bottom, remove the lid and microwave it for 30-40 seconds at a time until the honey is liquid. Make sure the honey is in a microwave-safe glass or plastic container..

Peel vegetables faster

Hard fruits and vegetables (like pumpkins) are often difficult to peel. To make this easier, microwave the vegetables for 2-3 minutes on low heat, the skin will be easier to peel and cut. Be careful when removing the vegetables from the microwave to avoid burning your hands.

Cut onions without tearing up your eyes

To avoid eye irritation when peeling or chopping onions, wash the onion, remove the roots, and microwave it for 30 seconds before slicing. You get watery eyes when chopping onions because the chopping breaks down enzymes inside, releasing sulfuric gas. This gas reacts with the eye and irritates it. Heating the onion first helps break down the enzymes that release the gas..

Cook bacon crispier

Invert a bowl onto a plate. Squeeze a strip of bacon over the bowl, then microwave for about a minute. The bacon fat will drip onto the plate, making it crispier and more flavorful.

Make French toast

Want delicious toast that only takes 5 minutes to make? Spread butter on the bottom of a mug and add slices of bread. In another mug, whisk together one egg, 3 tablespoons of milk, and a pinch of cinnamon. Pour the mixture into the mug and microwave for 1 minute.

Soften beans quickly

Forgot to soak beans overnight to make soy milk or water? Place beans in a large bowl, using 3 cups of water for every 1 cup of dry beans. Microwave on high until the water boils (about 12-15 minutes). Remove beans from the microwave and let stand for about an hour. Remove the hulls (if making soy milk) and rinse beans with cold water.

According to VNE