When the microwave first got here out within the Fifties, it was revolutionary and attractive. However virtually 70 years later, it’s typically frowned upon, conjuring the picture of bland TV dinners and “nuking.” Now, the Instant Pot and air fryer take the highlight as coveted kitchen home equipment.

However the microwave nonetheless wins by way of simplicity and vary. With a push of a button, it may possibly rapidly make oatmeal, veggies, rice and even quesadillas. And that’s on prime of reheating leftovers, one among its hottest capabilities.

Opposite to well-liked opinion, microwaved meals (if performed correctly) can style simply nearly as good as if it had been cooked on the range or within the oven. As with cooking normally, the hot button is having a couple of tips. Fortuitously, cooks (sure, even cooks microwave meals) aren’t stingy about sharing their secrets and techniques.

Able to elevate your microwave meals with minimal effort? Maintain studying for his or her ideas.

For many individuals, the primary use for his or her microwave is reheating leftovers. In the event you’re making a meal and you recognize you’re not going to eat it multi function sitting, chef Carla Contreras, who has been on ”Chopped!” and hosts the ”Show Up Fully” podcast, stated step one to creating it style superb if you reheat it later is to retailer it correctly.

“Retailer issues individually,” Contreras stated. “For instance, in the event you’re making pasta, retailer the noodles in a unique container than the sauce.” That means, if you reheat the meals, they’ll extra intently style like if you simply made them. In spite of everything, freshly made meals aren’t hanging out collectively for days earlier than you plate them.

While you’re performed microwaving the completely different components of your leftover meal, chef Ali Slagle recommends including one thing recent to it, similar to thinly sliced scallions, herbs or a squeeze of lemon juice. You may additionally want to drag out the spices that you simply initially used when making your meal.

“Flavors shift within the fridge and in addition as soon as the meals is reheated within the microwave, so you should definitely style no matter you’ve microwaved and modify seasonings till it tastes nice — and never like leftovers,” Slagle stated.

Immediate oatmeal is a traditional breakfast go-to, particularly throughout the coldest months of the 12 months. But when all that’s accompanying your oats are the tiny bits of freeze-dried fruit that come within the package deal, you’re doing it improper.

“Oh gosh, these dried little berries or peaches — take ’em out,” Contreras stated. Exchange them with frozen berries, she stated. Add them to your bowl of oatmeal and water (or milk, in the event you’re fancy), and zap it for a couple of minute. “Frozen fruit provides texture, taste and moisture,” Contreras stated.

Slagle stated spices make a giant distinction, too. Personally, she sticks to the classics — brown sugar and cinnamon. However then she throws salt and black pepper in as a wildcard. “It retains the oatmeal from tasting too candy,” she stated.

Contreras recommends warming spices like cardamom or pumpkin pie spice, which additionally add taste.

Rice may be made within the microwave, which is vital information in the event you’re in a dorm room and don’t have entry to a full kitchen. To microwave rice, the liquid-to-dry rice ratio must be 2:1. In response to Steamy Kitchen blogger Jaden Rae, put it in a microwave-safe container and microwave on excessive for 5 minutes, then on 50% energy for 5 extra minutes.

Slagle recommends utilizing coconut milk as a substitute of water. “It makes it wealthy, creamy, and a little bit candy,” she stated.

One tremendous straightforward dinner is microwaved rice with canned beans, Slagle stated. “The starchy liquid they’re canned with makes the rice further creamy, like risotto with out stirring,” she stated.

You should purchase rice that’s actually made to be microwaved. Sometimes, it is available in a pouch. Contreras stated a typical mistake is microwaving it proper within the pouch. As an alternative, pour the rice right into a bowl, cowl it with a humid paper towel after which microwave it.

“In the event you maintain it within the pouch, the warmth gained’t get to all of the rice evenly,” Contreras stated. The damp paper towel creates moisture, which retains the rice from drying out whereas it’s being blasted with excessive warmth within the microwave.

Microwaving quesadillas can difficult as a result of it’s straightforward to unintentionally burn the cheese. “Due to this, it’s finest to microwave these meals in 10- to 15-second increments so you’ll be able to maintain checking on it,” Contreras stated. The babysitting will repay as a result of your quesadillas will finally style like they had been cooked within the oven.

When making a quesadilla, place the tortilla inside a clear kitchen towel folded in half, contained in the microwave, Contreras stated. Do that earlier than including cheese, microwaving for 20 seconds. As soon as the tortilla is heat, add the cheese. Then, fold the tortilla and place it again within the kitchen towel earlier than microwaving it for 10 extra seconds. With out the towel, the microwave’s excessive warmth can change the feel of the tortilla; utilizing the towel will make them style freshly made.

You may need come throughout luggage of veggies which can be particularly made to be steamed within the microwave. Sensible, proper? Even when they arrive preseasoned, each cooks supply the identical tip on making them further scrumptious after you’re performed steaming them within the microwave: add a fats earlier than you dig in. This may be coconut oil, olive oil or butter.

After microwaving, ”embellish with toppings that carry massive taste, whether or not a chili oil or paste, briny substances like olives and capers, or one thing acidic like mustard or vinegar,” Slagle stated.

These straightforward tweaks to the meals you’re already microwaving will give your meal a serious improve. And it takes just about zero effort and time. All of a sudden, that microwave is wanting an entire lot sexier, huh?