Real Simple | Life Made Easier, Every Day
Make RealSimple.com My Homepage|Simply Stated|Newsletters|Real Simple Rewards|Time-Saving Tips|SUBSCRIBE
  • Food & Recipes
    • Browse All
    • Enhanced Recipe Search
    • Recipe Collections & Favorites
    • Cooking Tips & Techniques
    • Shopping & Storing
    • Tools & Products
    • New Uses For Old Things
    • Everyday Meal Planning
  • Home & Organizing
    • Browse All
    • Organizing
    • Cleaning
    • Decorating
    • Home Improvement
    • Gardening
    • Green Living
    • New Uses For Old things
    • The Black Thumb Guide to Gardening
  • Beauty & Fashion
    • Browse All
    • Clothing
    • Shoes & Accessories
    • Skincare
    • Makeup
    • Hair
    • Makeovers & Tips
    • Clothing Care
    • The Ultimate Skin Care Guide
  • Holidays & Entertaining
    • Browse All
    • Holidays
    • Weddings
    • Birthdays
    • Entertaining
    • Gifts
    • Is It Your Turn to Host?
  • Health
    • Browse All
    • Nutrition & Diet
    • Fitness & Exercise
    • Mind & Mood
    • First Aid & Health Basics
    • Preventative Health
    • Getting Fit for Life 
  • Work & Life
    • Browse All
    • Money
    • Family
    • Life Strategies
    • Technology
    • Travel
    • Etiquette
    • Entertainment
    • How Busy Moms Can Save Time
  • Magazine & More
    • Browse All
    • Inside the Magazine
    • Inside the Website
    • Newsletters
    • Real Simple Products
    • Real Simple Rewards
    • Books & Back Issues
    • Simply Stated Blogs
    • Subscribe
    • Subscribe to Real Simple Magazine
The Best of RealSimple.com
  • Main

14 Who-Knew? Uses for Your Microwave

 By Melissa Clark

More than a popcorn popper, this versatile appliance was underutilized―until now.

  • PRINT
  • E-MAIL
  • COMMENT
  • SAVE
  • SHARE:
  •    more
Page 3 of 7

Michele Gastl

6. Decrystallizing Honey

Honey that has solidified can be brought back to liquid life by uncovering the jar and heating on medium power for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

7. Proofing Yeast Doughs

Yeast doughs that normally take an hour or more to rise at room temperature can be proofed in the microwave in about 15 minutes. Place the dough in a very large bowl and cover with plastic. Place an 8-ounce cup of water in the back of the microwave with the bowl of dough in the center, and set the power as low as possible (10 percent power). Heat for 3 minutes, then let the dough rest in the microwave for 3 minutes. Heat for 3 minutes longer, then let rest for 6 minutes. The dough will double in bulk.

8. Heating up Health Aids

You use a microwave to reheat your coffee, so why not use it to heat and reheat gel packs for headaches? (Don't do this with a metal-wrapped pack.)

More smart solutions:
  • 10 Tricks to a Trouble-Free Thanksgiving
  • Storing Holiday Decorations

Next: 9. Warming Beauty Product...
Skip to Daily Finds slides.

Related Content

Chopping Cheat Sheet

Don’t know a mince from a dice? Consult this handy guide.

  • Thanksgiving Recipes and Leftovers
  • Quick Dinner Cleanup Checklist 
  • How To: Make Your Own Pie Crust
  • Cooking Myths Debunked
  • Gourmet Dinners in 15 Minutes

What do you think about this article? Share your own solutions and ideas

View Earlier Comments
  • Mouse Icon Tools
  • Camera Icon Videos
  • Checkbox Icon Checklists

Time-Saving Tricks

Browse Tips
Tips
  • The Best RS Time-Savers
  • 14 Shortcuts for Everyday Tasks
  • Time-Saving New Uses
  • Time-Saving Foods

How-To Videos

Browse All Videos
Videos
  • Peel and Chop Garlic
  • Treat Puffy Eyes
  • Stretch Your Lower Back
  • Clean an Iron

Checklists

Browse All Checklists
Checklists
  • Basic Spice Checklist
  • Start a Book Club Checklist
  • Start-a-Garden Checklist
  • Makeup-Organizing Checklist
Advertisement

Top Galleries

See All Galleries
  •   6 Time-Savers

  •   Figure-Flattering Floral Dresses

  •   50 All-Time Favorite New Uses for Old Things

  •   Real Simple’s Top Time-Saving Tricks

  •   3 Easy Steps to a Perfect Home Blow-Dry

Real Simple | Life Made Easier, Every Day
In The Magazine
  • This Month's Issue
  • Subscribe
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • Books and Back Issues
RSS
  • Sign up to get ideas instantly!
Inside Real Simple
  • Food & Recipes
  • Home & Organizing
  • Beauty & Fashion
  • Health
  • Holidays & Entertaining
  • Work & Life
  • Magazine & More
  • Weddings
  • Travel
  • Technology
 
  • Decorating
  • Gardening
  • Cleaning
  • Money
  • Family
  • How To Guides
  • Ask Real Simple
  • Simply Stated Blogs
  • Daily Finds
  • Real Simple Products
More Information
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Customer Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Print Media Kit
  • Digital Media Kit
  • Real Simple Rewards
  • Site Map
Real Simple Newsletters To receive any of these free e-mails, select the ones you're interested in and enter the required information.
  • Weekly Tips Newsletter (see sample)
  • Daily Finds (see sample)
  • Daily Thought (see sample)
  • Wedding Newsletter (see sample)
  • Daily Recipe Newsletter (see sample)
  • Ask Real Simple (see sample)
  • Keep-It-Together Checklist (see sample)
Copyright © 2010 Time Inc. Lifestyle Group. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.