Are you in a hurry or feeling hungry but have little to no desire to cook? What about cooking in a dorm room with no stove? There are many occasions in which you just can’t find the time, will or simply do not have the tools to make a gourmet meal. However, you shouldn’t let these drawbacks get in the way. These are the perfect moments to remember that you may have a loyal ally in your kitchen: the microwave. With so many new cool kitchen tools, sometimes this device lies forgotten on the upper shelf. It is now time to wipe off the dust and make good use of it.
The most overlooked home appliance
Microwaves are probably the best and most disregarded appliances in the kitchen. If you only resort to them when heating some cold leftovers, then you are wasting their potential. These gadgets do not only save you a lot of time and provide you with the perfect temperature for your meals, you can also make some great dishes in the blink of an eye. Did you even know that you can disinfect your kitchen items in the microwave?
They also accelerate some tedious cooking tasks such as defrosting and proofing yeast. You may also use both your microwave and stove at the same time to make cooking time even more efficient. For example, while your main oven does the baking part, you can use the microwave to steam. As you can see, microwaves are so much more than what you were told.
Top chef meals (but without the skills)
The list of meals that can be done in microwaves is tremendously long. From risotto to chili and even mug cups, the only thing you will need is some proper recipients and a quick visit to the grocery store. Remember to always check if you are using microwave-compatible containers. When they are manufactured to be microwave-safe, you will notice that they have a symbol, generally at the bottom of the container. Glass and ceramic cookware may be safe too but you can run a safety test to be sure. Heat water for a minute and if they get warm, then it means you cannot use them.
Going back to all the wonders you can perform in microwaves, there is one that undeniably heads the list: the egg fried rice recipe. Picture this, fluffy eggs with a cloud-like texture to die for and, the best part, you don’t need the skills of a TV chef to achieve it. However, this magic trick wouldn’t be complete without some greens and rice. Apart from being affordable, this is a recipe that takes minimal effort. Plus, it is delicious, you can make it in no time and has the perfect balance of carbs and proteins. Do you need any more reasons to try it today?
Ingredients (2 servings)
- ½ cup medium-grain rice, uncooked.
- 1 cup water.
- 3.5 oz (100 g) of frozen peas.
- 3.5 oz (100 g) of frozen green beans.
- 1 medium carrot.
- 2 large eggs.
- 1 tbsp of soy sauce.
- Salt and pepper, to taste.
- Parsley.
Preparation
- Cut the carrot into small cubes. Place the rice, water and carrot into a microwave safe bowl with a lid. Microwave on High for 2 minutes, lid on.
- Once removed from the microwave, beat the eggs in a cup and add them altogether with the rest of the ingredients to the rice. Season to taste and stir well until everything is mixed.
- Cover again and cook on the microwave on high for 1 minute. Serve with some parsley on top.
Extra Tips
Microwaves are designed with different wattages, referring to their power source. As the standard one sits between 900-1000 watts, the timing used in this recipe applies to this kind of power. If your microwave has a lower wattage, let’s say 700 watts, don’t worry! You can still do this recipe but you’ll have to adjust the cooking time: 02:51 for step 1 and 01:26 for step 3.
If you haven’t cleaned your microwave in a while, here’s a tip: heat two cups of water with two tablespoons of white vinegar for 5 minutes. Let it cool down for a few minutes and remove the bowl. This will eliminate any odors.