Seven brilliant microwave hacks you have to try

Majority of us probably use this common kitchen staple daily, but are we using it to its full potential?

Turns out your microwave can do much more than warm up your favourite leftovers. From softening brown sugar to preserving fresh herbs, save time and money with these seven nifty microwave hacks! 

Soften brown sugar

Clumpy brown sugar is the worst! If you need brown sugar, and it’s gone rock-hard, don’t fret. Put the clumpy sugar in a microwave-safe bowl, lay a damp paper towel on top, and microwave it for 30 seconds, before taking it out and breaking up big pieces with a fork – it’s that easy!

Squeeze out lemon juice easily

If you don’t own a juicer, it can be pretty difficult to squeeze all of the juice of a lemon or lime. Simply heat the lemon or lime for about 10-20 seconds in the microwave. The pulp inside will become soft, which will make is super easy to squeeze.

Preserve fresh herbs

If you’ve stocked up on one too many herbs or had a bumper crop from your herb garden, this is best way to preserve them. Simply wrap them in a paper towel and heat them in the microwave for about two minutes, allowing them to dry out, then store as you normally would any other dried herbs.

Peel garlic cloves

Struggling to peel off garlic skin? To peel quickly, place the garlic clove in the microwave for about 15 seconds. Why? The heat draws out moisture, which in turn will loosen the garlic skin. 

Add a glass of water

If you’re planning to re-heat a slice of pizza, this nifty trick is definitely worth a go. Did you know that if you zap leftover pizza with a glass full of water in the microwave at the same time, you actually stop the crust from becoming hard and tough? The water apparently helps by adding moisture to the air, which prevents the food from drying out. 

Banish onion tears

Banish tears from the kitchen with this brilliant hack.  To avoid sore and watery eyes, trim off the ends of the onion, then heat the onion in the microwave for about 30 seconds.

Cook a poached egg in under a minute

To cook a poached egg super-quickly, pour boiling water into a microwave-safe bowl. Add a drop of white vinegar, then crack the egg into the bowl. Cover the bowl with cling wrap and microwave for about 30 seconds. Carefully turn the egg and cook for a further 15 seconds – perfect for when you’re in a rush! 

What are your thoughts? Have you used any of these tried-and-tested methods before?