Food Cooking Tips & Techniques 23 Cooking Uses for Your Microwave By Lindsay Funston Lindsay Funston Lindsay Funston is a content director and freelance writer with over a decade of experience in print and digital publications. Highlights: *Food assistant at Real Simple *Associate food editor at Martha Stewart Living *Senior associate editor at O: The Oprah Magazine *Food and nutrition editor at Fitness *Deputy editor of Delish *Director, content and digital, Salt & Straw *Executive editor of Delish Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on May 31, 2018 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: annick vanderschelden photography/Getty Images If you use this gizmo only to zap popcorn or heat up leftovers, prepare to be impressed by these other ways to cook food in the microwave. 01 of 23 Soften Butter annick vanderschelden photography/Getty Images Place cut-up butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on low (power level 3) in 20-second intervals, checking in between. 02 of 23 Melt Butter Mark Edward Atkinson/Tracey Lee/Getty Images Place cut-up butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on medium (power level 5) in 30-second intervals, checking in between. 03 of 23 Melt Chocolate Jeremy Hudson/Getty Images Place chopped chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high (power level 10) in 30-second intervals, stirring in between. 04 of 23 Soften Cream Cheese Westend61/Getty Images Place cut-up cream cheese in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high (power level 10) for 15 to 20 seconds. 05 of 23 Soften Ice Cream Maren Caruso/Getty Images Remove the top and liner (if any) of the carton. Microwave on high (power level 10) in 10-second intervals, checking in between until ice cream reaches desired consistency. 06 of 23 Soften Brown Sugar Quanthem/Getty Images Place sugar in a microwave-safe bowl and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of water (regardless of the quantity of sugar). Cover and microwave on low (power level 3) in 1-minute intervals, tossing in between, until soft, 4 to 5 minutes. 6 Clever Items to Simplify Your Life 07 of 23 Warm Tortillas JGI/Jamie Grill/Getty Images Wrap tortillas in a damp paper towel. Microwave on high (power level 10) for 40 seconds to 1 minute. 08 of 23 Warm Maple Syrup Michael Mller / EyeEm/Getty Images Place syrup in a microwave-safe measuring cup. Microwave on high (power level 10) in 15-second intervals, checking in between. 09 of 23 Toast Fresh Bread Crumbs YelenaYemchuk/Getty Images Spread ½ cup fresh bread crumbs on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave on high (power level 10) in 1-minute intervals, tossing in between, until beginning to turn golden, 2 to 3 minutes. 10 of 23 Toast Coconut Heather Winters/Getty Images Spread ½ cup shredded coconut on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave on high (power level 10) in 1-minute intervals, tossing in between, until beginning to turn golden, 2 to 3 minutes. 11 of 23 Toast Pine Nuts and Sliced Almonds Tetra Images/Getty Images Spread nuts on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave on high (power level 10) in 1-minute intervals, tossing in between, until beginning to turn golden, 4 to 5 minutes. 12 of 23 Cook Bacon Jenna Greenwell / EyeEm/Getty Images Sandwich 6 slices of bacon between 2 double layers of paper towels. Place on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave on high (power level 10) until cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes. I Tried Cooking Bacon 3 Weird Ways—This One Was the Best 13 of 23 Steam Asparagus And Green Beans Allison Achauer/Getty Images Place 1 pound of trimmed asparagus or green beans in a microwave-safe baking dish with 1 tablespoon of water. Cover and microwave on high (power level 10) until tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Uncover immediately. 14 of 23 Steam Carrots tovfla/Getty Images Place 1 pound thinly sliced carrots in a microwave-safe baking dish with 1 tablespoon water. Cover and microwave on high (power level 10) until tender, 4 to 6 minutes. Uncover immediately. 15 of 23 Steam Artichokes piranka/Getty Images Place 2 trimmed artichokes in a deep microwave-safe baking dish with 1 tablespoon of water. Cover and microwave on high (power level 10) until tender, 10 to 12 minutes. 16 of 23 Cook Winter Squash Enrique Díaz / 7cero/Getty Images Cut squash in half lengthwise and scrape out the seeds. Place cut-side down in a microwave-safe baking dish. Microwave on high (power level 10) until tender and easily pierced with a paring knife, 10 to 13 minutes for a medium (3-pound) butternut or spaghetti squash; and 6 to 8 minutes for a medium (1 ½-pound) acorn squash. Let stand for 5 minutes. 17 of 23 Make Applesauce HandmadePictures/Getty Images In a microwave-safe bowl, combine 1 pound peeled and diced apples (Macintosh, Fuji, or Gala are best) with ¼ cup water, 2 teaspoons sugar, and ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon. Cover and microwave on high (power level 10) until the apples are tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Mash with a fork or potato masher. 18 of 23 Bake a Potato Creativ Studio Heinemann/Getty Images Rub a potato with olive oil and place on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave, uncovered, on high (power level 10) until tender and easily pierced with a paring knife, 12 to 14 minutes. 19 of 23 Cook Corn on the Cob Banar Fil Ardhi / EyeEm/Getty Images Place unshucked corn on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave on high (power level 10) for 6 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes. Carefully remove the husks and silk. 20 of 23 Poach Salmon Alexander Spatari/Getty Images Season pieces of skinless salmon fillet with salt and pepper and place in a shallow microwave-safe baking dish with 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar or rice vinegar (to add flavor) and enough water to reach halfway up the fish. Cover and microwave on high (power level 10) until the fish is opaque throughout, 3 to 4 minutes. If the fish is not fully cooked, microwave, covered, on high in 45-second intervals. Remove from liquid and serve. 21 of 23 Make Polenta Claudia Totir/Getty Images In a microwave-safe baking dish or large bowl, whisk together ¾ cup cornmeal, 3 cups water, and ½ teaspoon salt. Cover and microwave on high (power level 10) for 3 minutes. Stir, cover, and microwave on high until thickened, 2 to 3 minutes more. Stir in 1 tablespoon unsalted butter. 22 of 23 Cook Rice Yagi Studio/Getty Images In a microwave-safe baking dish or medium bowl, combine 1 cup long-grain white rice, 2 cups water, and ½ teaspoon salt. Microwave, uncovered, on high (power level 10) until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed, 15 to 18 minutes. How to Cook Perfectly Fluffy Rice Every Time 23 of 23 Make Popcorn Daniel Grill/Getty Images Place ½ cup popcorn kernels in a large microwave-safe bowl with 1 tablespoon olive or canola oil. Cover with a microwave-safe plate and microwave on high (power level 10) until the majority of the kernels have popped, 3 to 5 minutes. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit