7 uses of the microwave besides heating your food

Are you one of those to reach for the microwave door when they need to heat some food from the fridge or simply heat water for tea?

Well, this versatile gadget has many other uses besides heating cold food for you.

Yes, it can be used to make a simple South African meal or even exotic meals (your favourite pasta).

But today, we bring you a few unusual uses of the microwave, which will take the satisfaction level of your food to the next level.

1. Bake a cake

Who would not like to dig into a mugful of personal decadence? You though making a cake will entail too much precision, ingredients, and preheating the oven? Forget about it. How about 10 minutes of total time and as few as three ingredients? Check out these various mug cake recipes and dive straight into instant gratification.

2. Make a delicious breakfast with eggs

Forget the hassle of the pan and or worrying about dotting the stove dirty with butter or oil. Whichever way you like your eggs— scrambled, poached, sunny-side up, or hard-boiled—the microwave can cook them for you in a matter of minutes. We guarantee, your poached eggs from the microwave will taste better than those you poach on the stove! The best part? While the microwave does the whirring, you can use the time to ready your toast and coffee/chai.

3. Steam vegetables

Use them in a rice dish, simply season them and devour them or turn them into a salad with dressing, microwave-steamed vegetables can be used in many ways. Forget about elaborate steamers and hot water over the stove. Steam your veggies in a covered bowl in the microwave with a little water, and you are good to go!

4. Crisp up soggy snacks

The humidity is Mumbai can massacre the taste and crispiness of all your favourite snacks. Simply put your portion in a microwave-safe vessel and heat it for 30 to 60 seconds. After microwaving, leave the bowl out for a few minutes and enjoy your crunch.

5. Toast nuts

Yes, it can be done in minutes, and it can be done in the microwave. Ensure you place your nuts in one layer on a microwave-safe plate and stick it in for one minute. After a minute, rearrange them and put them in for another minute. Continue the process on one-minute intervals, rearranging them and flipping them over, so they toast evenly. Test them along the way and stop once they are toasted.

6. Make your own fresh herb powder

Enjoy a generous sprinkling of fragrant herbs over your pasta, pizza or chicken? Dry your herbs, fresh, in the microwave. Place four to five tender twigs of the herb you want on a kitchen paper towel and microwave it for two to three minutes. Within that time they should be dry and will crumble easily into a powder. These freshly-powdered herbs will have far more flavour than bottled ones.

7. Foam milk for your cappuccinos and lattes

Missing your regular dose of the foamy cappuccinos and lattes from your favourite coffee shop because you don’t know how to get the foamed milk? Then get over the feeling and use your microwave! Yes, you read it right. All you need is a small jar. Pour your milk in a jar and seal it. Shake it well for a minute or two until you see all the froth. Immediately microwave it for 30 seconds. Viola, you have your foamy milk!