Most kitchens today contain a microwave, but, with multi-use appliances like Wolf Ranges and Convection Steam Ovens, it often remains delegated to rewarming cups of coffee and heating bags of popcorn. It’s time to make the Wolf microwave a “multi-tasker” and get full use of this time-saving and useful appliance.
I’ve culled a list below of unconventional uses for the microwave followed by some links to great recipes that will get you raves in no time at all!
Unconventional Food Tips
- Dried Herbs – The microwave is a great way to use up fresh herbs and have instant flavorful dried ones. Be sure to watch carefully so that they don’t burn or catch a flame.
- More Juice Out of Citrus – About 10 seconds is all you will need to get more juice out of your lemons, limes, and oranges.
- Peeling or Roasting Garlic – Microwave garlic bulbs for about 10-15 seconds to make them very easy to peel. Or, save time roasting a bulb by placing it in a deep dish, cutting it in half, adding a drizzle of oil, a few tablespoons of water, and setting it on high for 9-10 minutes. Let it cool before opening.
- Roasting Nuts (or coconut, bread crumbs, etc.) – Like roasted garlic, you can get tasty roasted nuts in the microwave. Without overcrowding the dish, cook nuts on high from anywhere from 4-8 minutes. When they smell toasted, they are ready.
- Proof Yeast Doughs – Place dough in a large bowl covered with plastic wrap and an 8-ounce glass of water in the back of the microwave. Heat on the lowest power possible for 3-4 minutes and let it rest for 3 minutes. Heat again for 3 more and then let it rest for at least 6. The dough will have doubled in size.
Unconventional Uses
- Sanitation – Sanitize your cleaning sponges, plastic cutting boards, and even potting soil (better for germinating seeds) in your microwave. Add the sponge to a bowl of water with a squeeze of lemon juice or rub lemon juice on your cutting board and place on high for about a minute and they will be ready to go.
- Rejuvinate Makeup and Beauty Products – A quick zap in the microwave can make your caked mascara work like new, and, instead of using a double boiler, use the microwave to quickly and easily heat your hot oil treatments. Just test all your products carefully for the right consistency and especially the temperature before placing on your body!
- Dry Flowers – You won’t have to wait for dried flowers using the microwave. Use short durations on lower power as this technique works best on medium petaled flowers (and short petals have a tendency to burn.
- More Effective Heating Pads – Instead of a bulky hot water bottle, or even the store bought heating pads, try adding dried beans or rice to a large sock and heating in the microwave.
- Aid in Difficult to Clean Items – Ever have difficulty removing dried candle wax or other sticky, oily items? Place in the microwave until it is melted again, and your cleaning will be much easier.
Recipes
Mug Desserts – Microwave mug cakes, brownies, and other desserts are a recent trend that can help satisfy a dessert craving in no time and allows you to make a single serving. There are so many variations and choices and the Internet is full of them. Here are a few links to get you started:
Country Living Delicious Mug Dessert Recipes
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner – Want something other than desserts? Buzzfeed has put together a whole list of other snacks and meals all made in the microwave (yes some desserts too). Click on the link to find a snappy mac-n-cheese recipe, a healthy breakfast sandwich (made on microwave English muffins), Lemon Horseradish Sole, and even peanut brittle.
Wolf NEW E and M Series Drop-Down Microwave Ovens
Wolf’s new Drop-Down Microwave Ovens offer the quality of Wolf Appliances with the convenience and sleek look with a drop-down door. Providing a uniform look with other stacked Wolf ovens, the Drop Down door will seamlessly fit into any kitchen design and comes in three design styles, Transitional, Contemporary, and Pro (M series featured below).
Have your own favorite recipe or use of the microwave? Tell us in the comments below!
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