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 4 of 7

MIchele Gastl

9. Warming Beauty Products

Warming up a hot-oil conditioning pack for your hair takes about 10 to 20 seconds and feels marvelous, as does briefly heating up a moisturizing facial mask. (Stir the mask and test the temperature with your finger before applying to your face.) And if hot wax hardens when you're only halfway up your calf, reheat it in the microwave. It's much less messy than using a double boiler.

10. Roasting Garlic

It takes 45 minutes to roast garlic in the oven but less than 8 in the microwave. Slice off the top of the head to reveal all the cloves. Place the head in a small, deep dish, season with salt and pepper, and drizzle with 2 tablespoons of good olive oil. Spoon 2 tablespoons of water into the bottom of the dish, cover it with plastic wrap, and cook at medium power for 7 to 7½ minutes. Let stand for a few minutes before unwrapping.

11. Partially Cooking Foods for the Grill

To cut the grilling time of vegetables, cook them partway in the microwave before putting them on the barbecue. Heat new potatoes for 2 minutes (prick them first), and bell peppers for 1 minute. And why wait until your next campfire to make s'mores? Put the marshmallows in the microwave for 30 seconds.

Quick and easy recipes:
  • 25 Easy Comfort Food Recipes
  • 26 Delicious Lunch Ideas

Next: 12. Getting More Juice Fr...
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
  • Nettie Floral Dress by BB Dakota

      Figure-Flattering Floral Dresses

  • Illustration of a red hair dryer with nozzle

      3 Easy Steps to a Perfect Home Blow-Dry

  • Enzo Star Boxes by Roost

      8 Smart Office Organizers

  • Cascade hairstyle

      20 Gorgeously Simple Hairstyles

  • Ketchup bottle as batter dispenser

      50 All-Time Favorite New Uses for Old Things

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.