How to make microwave food tastier: housewives' tricks

The advent of microwaves has radically changed our cooking habits - heating food has become very easy and no longer requires additional utensils. However, this method has several drawbacks. For example, uneven heating or drying of food. So how do you use a microwave to make your food taste delicious?

Food Hacks has compiled 10 life hacks that will significantly improve the taste of dishes heated and cooked in this way.

Steam vegetables under cling film

To steam vegetables, you don't need to set up a whole structure on the stove or have a separate steamer. The microwave will do the job just fine. All you need is a suitable bowl and cling film. Dice the vegetables into uniform cubes with a side of approximately 2.5 cm. Combine fruits with a similar texture for cooking - for example, corn with peas, and broccoli with cauliflower. Spread them out in an even layer in a bowl, wrap it in cling film, and cook according to your oven's instructions. When the program is finished, make a hole in the foil to let the steam out safely.

Place food in a ring to ensure even heating

One of the main problems with microwaves is uneven heating. To avoid this, place the food in a ring around the edges of the plate. Another life hack is to spread the food so that its layer is thin and the surface area is maximized. If your dish consists of slices, put the thicker ones on the edges and the smaller ones in the middle. This way, everything will heat up equally.

Place the plate on the edge of the rotating tray

Any microwave has hot and cold spots inside the chamber, although newer models are trying to solve this problem. Nevertheless, in order for the food to heat up well, it must alternately pass through these points with different parts of its body. That's why food on a plate that stands on the edge of the rotating tray and moves around the chamber, rather than just spinning in place, will be warmed evenly.

Wrap food with a damp paper towel or napkin

Microwaves heat food by bombarding water molecules with energy. This has a side effect - many of the molecules get so hot that they evaporate from the food, leaving it dry. To prevent this from happening, wrap the food in a dampened paper or cloth napkin or cover it with it. This life hack works best with fresh vegetables. But make sure that the material you use to cover the food is free of dyes.

Put a cup of water in the oven chamber

If you don't have a suitable napkin to cover your plate, simply place a cup of water next to it. First, the water will absorb excess radiation and prevent the food from drying out. Secondly, the liquid will release steam, which will moisten the food.

Make fluffy popcorn with water and manual settings

The effect of the water life hack is especially noticeable when you make popcorn. First, put a cup of water in the corn-free cooking pot and heat it for a minute. When the timer goes off, replace the water with popcorn, and ideally pour it out of the bag into a glass bowl. This way, it will cook in a more humid environment and won't be as dry. Also, do not use a special program for this dish - microwaves do not detect a drop in humidity, and therefore corn often burns on this program. Experts also advise you to focus on the sound of exploding grains. If there is a full 2 seconds between them, the dish is ready.

Don't be afraid to heat water in the microwave, but still be careful

Microwaves can heat distilled water to a boil without forming bubbles, and such heating can lead to an "explosion" when hot water spills out of the cup after being removed or in contact with an object and can burn your face and hands. Therefore, do your best to prevent bubbles from forming in the water you are heating. For example, use old dishes - they have nicks and chips that collect air. You can also dip a chopstick into the container, which will also help bubbles form and rise to the surface.

Heat several dishes at once

In fact, there is enough space inside the microwave for two plates if you put them on two "floors". Place a tall and narrow glass made of thick glass in the cooking space. Place one plate next to it and the other on top of it. This method may take a little longer to heat up because the volume of food will be quite large, but it will not overheat or burn.

Use foil for cooking meat

The idea that metal should not be placed in the microwave is a bit of a simplification, but it helps to avoid the risk of sparks and explosion. However, some models do allow the use of aluminum foil during cooking. If this is your device, you can wrap thin pieces of meat in it to keep them from burning while thicker portions are baked. The main thing is to make sure that the foil fits snugly to the food and does not come into contact with the walls or door. To do this, you can fix it to the meat with toothpicks.

Give preference to round dishes

Round microwaveable containers distribute the energy more evenly, whereas square and rectangular containers can accumulate energy and overcook food. And don't forget to check the label on the container to see if it is suitable for this type of use.

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