Is the food too dry or, on the contrary, not heated enough? Learn how to use the microwave so that it is a real helper in your kitchen.
Learn how to use a microwave oven
Are you one of those maniacs who have to study the manual from A to Z, or are you content with knowing where the start and stop are? Of course, this is just a joke. At least an approximate study of the manual of each appliance is a matter of course and necessary for safety. However, we all have a slightly different approach, not only to computers and mobile phones, but also to all other appliances. However, the microwave oven is one that everyone in the family quickly learns to use.
But if you are stuck on the information about where the start and stop is, then even heating different foods can have its difficulties. Although there are more complicated models, in principle, the microwave is extremely simple to operate and two rotary knobs or just a few buttons are enough to choose the ideal heating for your food.
Learn how to use a microwave like a pro. Here’s how the Lan Lam team does it in this post from the America’s Test Kitchen YouTube channel. Although your contribution takes ten minutes, you will learn everything and very quickly.
Source: Youtube
One minute is not enough, maximum power is only sometimes useful
We want everything pretty quickly and without work, so we have the microwave permanently set to maximum power and only heat for a minute or two. However, you could see in the post what pitfalls it brings. And we all know it well. Frozen soup is hot on the sides after three minutes on maximum heat, but still frozen in the center, and so on.
Even for heating in the microwave, it is better to warm up at a lower power and for a longer time. That is, quite like when you heat on the stove. With minimal power and a slightly longer heating time, you will be able to heat up the entire contents without any problem or burning.
This also applies to foods that are dry. Microwaves act on water molecules in foods and heat them up. Thanks to this, of course, the water evaporates and the food can suddenly be drier, but still slightly warmed. What about that? Download performance!
And what next? Let the microwave heat food for longer, not only if you are preparing soup or pasta. Food should also be hot for hygienic reasons and ideally avoid using plastic containers in the microwave. Heating plastics can lead to contamination with nanoplastics and chemicals that are part of the plastic.
How to heat pasta in the microwave?
Reduce the power to about half, mix the pasta with a spoonful of water or at least spray it with a little water with a wet hand and cover with a lid.
The plastic lid that belongs to every microwave and is sold for a pittance in stores is not only used to keep the sizzling food in the microwave from dirtying its interior. The lid also retains heat and steam. Thanks to this, there is better heating and moisture retention.
Therefore, the food does not dry out, and this is very desirable especially for heated pasta, but also for many other dishes. In addition, the plastic does not touch the food, and therefore there is no possible transfer of substances from the plastic to the food.
Sources: rd.com, mccormick.com, lincolnshirelive.co.uk
