Real Simple
Food
Cooking Tips & Techniques
23 Cooking Uses for Your Microwave

23 Cooking Uses for Your Microwave

By Lindsay Funston

Updated May 31, 2018

Credit: annick vanderschelden photography/Getty Images

If you use this gizmo only to zap popcorn or heat up leftovers, prepare to be impressed. Here are more than 20 ways your microwave can save you time in the kitchen.

Start Slideshow

1 of 23

Soften Butter

Credit: 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.

2 of 23

Melt Butter

Credit: 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.

3 of 23

Melt Chocolate

Credit: 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.

4 of 23

Soften Cream Cheese

Credit: Westend61/Getty Images

Place cut-up cream cheese in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high (power level 10) for 15 to 20 seconds.

5 of 23

Soften Ice Cream

Credit: Maren Caruso/Getty Images

Remove top and liner (if any) of carton. Microwave on high (power level 10) in 10-second intervals, checking in between, until ice cream reaches desired consistency.

6 of 23

Soften Brown Sugar

Credit: Quanthem/Getty Images

Place sugar in a microwave-safe bowl and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon 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.

7 of 23

Warm Tortillas

Credit: JGI/Jamie Grill/Getty Images

Wrap tortillas in a damp paper towel. Microwave on high (power level 10) for 40 seconds to 1 minute.

8 of 23

Warm Maple Syrup

Credit: 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.

9 of 23

Toast Fresh Bread Crumbs

Credit: 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

Credit: 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

Credit: 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

Credit: 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.

13 of 23

Steam Asparagus And Green Beans

Credit: Allison Achauer/Getty Images

Place 1 pound of trimmed asparagus or green beans in a microwave-safe baking dish with 1 tablespoon water. Cover and microwave on high (power level 10) until tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Uncover immediately.

14 of 23

Steam Carrots

Credit: 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

Credit: piranka/Getty Images

Place 2 trimmed artichokes in a deep microwave-safe baking dish with 1 tablespoon water. Cover and microwave on high (power level 10) until tender, 10 to 12 minutes.

16 of 23

Cook Winter Squash

Credit: 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; 6 to 8 minutes for a medium (1½-pound) acorn squash. Let stand for 5 minutes.

17 of 23

Make Applesauce

Credit: 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

Credit: 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

Credit: 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

Credit: 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

Credit: 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

Credit: 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.

23 of 23

Make Popcorn

Credit: 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.

Replay gallery

Up Next

By Lindsay Funston

Account

More

23 Cooking Uses for Your Microwave

1 of 23

Soften Butter

1 of 23

2 of 23

Melt Butter

2 of 23

3 of 23

Melt Chocolate

3 of 23

4 of 23

Soften Cream Cheese

4 of 23

5 of 23

Soften Ice Cream

5 of 23

6 of 23

Soften Brown Sugar

6 of 23

7 of 23

Warm Tortillas

7 of 23

8 of 23

Warm Maple Syrup

8 of 23

9 of 23

Toast Fresh Bread Crumbs

9 of 23

10 of 23

Toast Coconut

10 of 23

11 of 23

Toast Pine Nuts and Sliced Almonds

11 of 23

12 of 23

Cook Bacon

12 of 23

13 of 23

Steam Asparagus And Green Beans

13 of 23

14 of 23

Steam Carrots

14 of 23

15 of 23

Steam Artichokes

15 of 23

16 of 23

Cook Winter Squash

16 of 23

17 of 23

Make Applesauce

17 of 23

18 of 23

Bake a Potato

18 of 23

19 of 23

Cook Corn on the Cob

19 of 23

20 of 23

Poach Salmon

20 of 23

21 of 23

Make Polenta

21 of 23

22 of 23

Cook Rice

22 of 23

23 of 23

Make Popcorn

23 of 23

Share the Gallery

Up Next

Share the Gallery

Everything in This Slideshow