So easy: 5 surprising things you can make in the microwave

The microwave is an indispensable appliance in many households; handy, fast, and, as long as you don’t put any epic fails in it, also super easy to clean. The microwave is also suitable for far more than just heating up a jar of baby food or popping bag after bag of microwave popcorn (although we secretly love the latter)…

Because did you know you can prepare things in it that you probably assumed always had to go in the oven or in a pan on the stove? Turns out you don’t! Just look: five dishes you can make in the microwave in no time; so easy!

Meatloaf

You can make small portions of meatloaf by putting the meat mixture into microwave-safe mugs and covering them with some microwave-safe plastic wrap. Microwave on full power for 2.5 minutes, then check whether it’s cooked by making a cut in the center with a knife. If it’s still too pink, give it another minute and check again. So you do need to keep an eye on it, but it’s much faster than using the oven! You can freeze the rest of the meat mixture for next time.

Bread

No, bread won’t get an amazingly crisp, golden-brown crust in the microwave. But you can quickly bake a light and airy loaf in it, and because of that airiness, you might not mind that it looks a little pale. Take a deep, microwave-safe dish and use a standard bread recipe (the kind you’d also use in a bread machine). Replace the oil in the recipe with butter for a richer flavor. According to Seema Shenoy, creator of microwave-safe pans, the bread takes about 4 minutes to cook on full power. Test it by inserting a knife into the center; if moist dough still sticks to it when you pull it out, turn on the 30-second boost and repeat until it’s done.

Poached eggs

If you’ve basically given up hope that you’ll ever manage to poach a beautiful egg in a pan of boiling water, you can always try it in the microwave. It’ll take some experimenting to determine the required time for your microwave’s wattage, but this is a good starting point: put 120 ml of water in a microwave-safe mug or bowl and crack an egg into it. Make sure the egg is completely submerged and microwave on full power for 30–60 seconds (depending on how soft or firm you want the yolk). Easy!

Cake

You can also divide sponge cake batter (or spongecake in English) among microwave-safe mugs or ramekins and ‘bake’ it for just 45 seconds! And for the chocoholics, there’s that wonderfully decadent super-fast chocolate cake that you can make in the microwave in no time…

Loaded potato

Not baked in the oven but in the microwave; load this quick loaded potato up with the most delicious toppings and within a few minutes you’ll have a truly indulgent meal on the table (or in your lap)! Simply prick a few holes in a nice, large, scrubbed potato. Rub it with a tablespoon of oil and sprinkle with some salt. Place it on a plate with 2 or 3 slices of bacon and put it in the microwave. The potato will need about 9 minutes; the bacon needs less, so keep a close eye on it after about 2 minutes. Remove the bacon when it’s nice and crispy, let it cool briefly, then crumble it. Remove the potato after 9 minutes, cut almost all the way through lengthwise and loosen the inside a little with a fork. Sprinkle with 3 tablespoons of grated cheddar and microwave for another 30 seconds. Then generously spoon sour cream or Greek yogurt onto the potato, sprinkle the bacon over it and snip some chives on top. Done! Yummm!

Read also:

• Eddie’s food annoyances: eating from the microwave
• Tip: drying herbs in the microwave
• Best quick lunch: pizza in a mug (ready in 3 minutes!)

Source: Food and Wine