I love my microwave. I know, it’s not a necessity in the kitchen–most everything you can make in the microwave can also be made on the stove or in the oven, often with better results. And I promise, I’m not living on Lean Cuisine and microwave popcorn. But the microwave can be a great tool when you’re cooking from scratch. You don’t need those packets of instant oatmeal–you can cook a bowl of old fashioned oats in under two minutes in the microwave. Steamed veggies? Add couple tablespoons of water to the vegetables in a covered microwave- safe dish (your mom’s old Corningware is perfect!), cook, drain and serve with a drizzle of something (vinaigrette, soy sauce, a pat of butter) and a dash of salt and pepper. Our microwave even has settings for “fresh vegetables” and “frozen vegetables,” and they work perfectly 90% of the time. (The other 10% usually just need a couple more minutes of cooking.)
And have you seen those microwave cakes in a cup making the rounds on Pinterest? We tried the microwave brownies (after the kids were tucked in, naturally, or I would have baked an entire pan of brownies), and I keep eyeing this little microwave coffee cake. I’m curious about microwave potato chips, but I don’t crave potato chips often enough to justify the effort.
My favorite microwave tip? Use it to dry fresh herbs! I have not tried it myself, not having grown many fresh herbs lately, but when I saw these instructions, I passed them on to my best gardening friend. She tested it and shared the results with me in the form of a beautiful jar of bright green dried parsley. So if I successfully grow any herbs from all the starts she has given me this year, I’ll be preserving my harvest in the microwave!
Here are my top five reasons to love the microwave:
- Reheating leftovers (quickly and right on the plate–saves time and dishes!).
- Softening butter.
- Melting chocolate or butter (the secret to one-bowl brownies).
- Cooking fresh or frozen vegetables (right in the serving bowl).
- Defrosting.
How do you use your microwave?
Home Baked 
I did try one of those cakes in a cup…dangerously too easy!!
Maybe it’s a good thing I’m rarely alone in the house, or I’d be making these all the time!
What? Get rid of all the paper plates laying around the kitchen? Love this and I can’t wait to try our herbs!
The brownies/cakes in a mug are big on campus this year according to my daughters.
I have some basil that is just getting a good start from seed. I haven’t had any luck with herbs in the past. If this “crop” makes it, I will be trying your drying tip.