Not Just for Leftovers
Microwaves get a bad rap, and while most people are happy for the convenience, they’re also slightly wary of their machine. The hum of the working machine can’t help but feel slightly radioactive, even if we know better. People treat them like glorified soup heaters, good for nothing but reheating leftovers or making a sad bag of popcorn. But these little humming boxes can do much more, and sometimes they can even outperform an oven or stovetop. Strange as it sounds, a microwave can become an unlikely sidekick for cooking, cleaning, or even quick fixes you wouldn’t think possible. Here are 20 things your microwave can do that you probably had no clue about:
1. Peel Garlic in Seconds
No need for stinky fingers or fighting with papery skins. Toss a head of garlic in the microwave for about 15 seconds. The steam loosens the skins so they slide right off. Easy peasy.
2. Revive Stale Bread
Bread that’s gone hard isn’t necessarily dead. Wrap your loaf in a damp paper towel and microwave it for 10–20 seconds. Suddenly, it’s soft again, almost like it just came from the bakery. It may still be a bit stale and chewy, but it’s good enough for toast or sandwiches.
3. Squeeze More Juice from Citrus
Take some citrus—lemons, limes, or oranges—and pop it in for 10 seconds before cutting. The heat bursts some of the juice sacs inside, and suddenly the fruit gives up way more liquid. This one is particularly handy when a recipe demands the juice of one lemon, but you’re barely able to squeeze out a tablespoon.
4. Cook Crispy Bacon Without a Pan
It doesn’t get any simpler than this: lay bacon strips between paper towels on a plate, microwave a few minutes, and out comes crisp bacon with less greasy mess and no frying pan to scrub. It doesn’t quite smell the same as pan-fried, but the convenience is worth it.
5. Steam Vegetables Without a Steamer
Who needs that stainless steel contraption when you can just put your veggies in a bowl with a splash of water, cover them loosely with a microwave-safe plate, and press the on button? They come out bright and tender, no bulky steamer basket needed.
6. Make Homemade Potato Chips
Take some thinly sliced potatoes, lay them flat on parchment paper, season lightly, and then microwave them until they’re crisp. No deep fryer, no gallon of oil. Granted, they’re not Lay’s quality, but they’re no less addictive and are definitely better for you.
7. Decrystallize Honey
You know that jar of honey that’s been hiding in the back of your cupboard for the last year, the one that turned into a solid amber block? To revive it, put it in the microwave and watch it go back to silky liquid. Just don’t overdo it—burnt honey tastes awful.
8. Freshen Up a Cutting Board
Rubbing garlic into a cutting board leaves a lingering scent behind, sometimes for days. If you’re tired of infusing everything that touches your cutting board with the essence of garlic, simply sprinkle some baking soda on it along with a splash of vinegar, and microwave the damp board for a minute. The heat and fizz lift odors right out.
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9. Whip Up Mug Cakes
If you’ve never heard about mug cakes, you’re missing out on a surprisingly decadent snack. All you need is some flour, sugar, cocoa, and an egg. Mix it together in the mug, and two minutes later you’re spooning into something soft and chocolatey.
10. Sterilize Kitchen Sponges
Sponges get gross fast, but if you soak one in water and microwave it for 90 seconds, it’ll come out steaming like a sauna towel. Most of the bacteria lurking inside will have died, unable to tolerate the heat.
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11. Toast Nuts Quickly
Those fancy toppers aren’t going to roast themselves. Take your preferred nut—be it almonds, pecans, or walnuts—and spread them across a plate. Microwave them for a minute, stir, and repeat until they smell fragrant. Not quite oven-roasted quality, but close—and much faster.
12. Dry Fresh Herbs
Is your parsley or basil going limp in the fridge? Take your herbs, place them between two paper towels, and microwave them in short bursts until they crisp up into flakes. Now you have some dried herbs you can crumble into sauces or soups. It’s far better than tossing them in the trash.
13. Proof Dough Faster
Bread bakers know waiting for the dough to rise can feel like an eternity. To accelerate the process, put your bowl of dough in the microwave with a mug of hot water and then shut the door. The warm, moist environment speeds up yeast activity. Just resist the urge to turn it on.
Nadya Spetnitskaya on Unsplash
14. Pop Perfect Poached Eggs
If you crack an egg into a mug of water, prick the yolk with a toothpick (important, or it might explode), then microwave for about a minute, out comes a surprisingly tasty poached egg. It may not be photogenic enough for Instagram, but it tastes just fine on toast.
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15. Roast Garlic Without the Oven
Before you microwave it, slice the top off a garlic bulb, drizzle it with oil, and then wrap it in a damp paper towel. The cloves emerge from the microwave soft and sweet. Spread the result on bread or mix it into mashed potatoes for a delicious addition.
16. Melt Chocolate Without Burning It
Let’s face it, stovetop double-boilers can be fussy. If you microwave chocolate in 15–20 second bursts, it melts smoothly without scorching—provided you go slow. Suddenly, dipping strawberries doesn’t feel like such an extravagant undertaking.
17. Peel Tomatoes or Peaches Easily
Take your tomatoes or peaches and run them in the microwave for about 30 seconds. Immediately after, dunk them in cold water and watch the skins wrinkle and slip off. It feels oddly magical and makes sauce-making much easier.
18. Warm Beauty Products
Whether it’s a cold eye mask, stiff lip balm, or hardened coconut oil, a short stint in the microwave revives them. Just be careful, since molten chapstick hurts even more than you might imagine.
19. Cook Fish Surprisingly Well
People think fish has to be cooked in the oven, but fillets actually steam beautifully in the microwave. Simply wrap it in parchment paper, add some lemon slices and a sprinkle of herbs, and in just a few minutes you’ll have moist, flaky fish. It may be less glamorous than a cast-iron sear, but it’s perfect for an evening spent alone in your apartment.
20. Reheat Pizza the Right Way
Here’s the trick: put a mug of water in the microwave alongside the slice. The steam keeps the crust from turning into a rock but allows the cheese to melt. It’s like the delivery man just showed up at your front door with a fresh pie.
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