Microwave Cooking Tips

Microwave sliced onions(1cup) in a microwave safe bowl with lid, in high power for about 4 minutes or till it gets transparent.

For more even cooking arrange food in dish  so that the thicker part is on the outside and the thinner part inside .

Microwave citrus juice for 40 sec to increase the juice from citrus fruits before squeezing.

To blanch tomatoes, keep tomatoes in a bowl with little water(about 1/2cup)  and microwave in high power for a minute.

Covering food in the microwave traps steam for cooking and keeps food hot during standing time.

To remove cooking odours from the oven, heat a cup of water with a slice of lemon for 2-3 min.

Crystallised honey can be made smooth by placing  the jar without lid and microwave on medium for two minutes.

To peel garlic, place a whole bulb on a paper towel and microwave on  High for 1 minute; turn bulb upside-down, then microwave 1 more minute.

To dry fresh herbs,lemon rind or orange peel, Wash herbs, then blot dry.  Spread them on a paper towel. Microwave on High for 1-2 minutes or until dried, stirring every 30 seconds.

Spread out your nuts on a plate and microwave on high.  A ½ cup of nuts will take about 3-5 minutes to get toasted. Nuts become crisp after it gets cooled completely

To roast coconut,spread this evenly on a plate and microwave  on high power for about 3 minutes or until its brown. Pause and stir in between since coconut close to the plate browns faster.

To roast 1/2 cup of semolina,microwave first for 2 minutes, take it and stir well and again keep for 4 more minutes. Checking first on the 2nd minute and then on the 3rd minute.

To peel the skin of whole almonds, keep this in a microwave safe bowl covered with water ,microwave for 2 minutes or until water boils.Squeeze the skin after its cool down.

To reheat rice,keep it in a microwave safe bowl, cover it with a wet paper towel,microwave for 3 minutes.

Soak 7g of gelatine in 1/4cup of cold water.Microwave, uncovered,  at high power, at intervals, for a total of approximately 45 seconds; for each interval, microwave for 10 seconds and check it in between.

To melt chocolate bars in a microwave, first coarsely chop the chocolate.  Place in a microwave safe bowl and heat on 50% power for 1 minute. Remove from the microwave and stir.  Continue this process until the chocolate is almost melted. Then stir until the chocolate is smooth.

To make paneer,microwave 3cups of milk in a microwave safe bowl on full power for 2 minutes. Now add the 1 tb of vinegar or lemon juice to the hot milk.  Stir the milk to evenly distribute vinegar or lemon juice.Microwave again on full power for 11/2 or 2 minutes till the milk starts curdling.Strain the whey.

To melt butter,keep in microwave safe bowl for 15 seconds and check the progress and stir. Repeat few more seconds till it melts completely(total 30 sec)