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Questions tagged [microwave]

Covering cooking with a microwave, selection of appropriate cooking times and powers, cooking from fresh and re-heating, differences and techniques for microwave cooking.

278 questions
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6 answers

Why did my banana catch fire in the microwave?

Wow, that sounds like a silly question, but really! My wife froze bananas in the freezer with the peel still on. You can't peel them frozen. I put it in the microwave for one minute at 50% power. After 30 seconds the thin end of the peel (where a…
yossarian
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7 answers

Why didn't microwaving a stainless steel spoon set my kitchen on fire?

I am a new, and newly sleep-deprived, dad. As such, I didn't think twice about taking a big, shiny, stainless steel spoon and sticking it right in a baby bottle sterilizer. ("I want this supplement to be scooped with a sterile instrument!") Now, a…
David Bruce Borenstein
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6 answers

Are there any dishes that can only be cooked with a microwave?

I read this question for microwaving chicken, and it left me wondering: Are there any dishes that can only be prepared with a microwave? If such dishes exist, what are their characteristics and why will in this case only a microwave work? What is…
Soulis
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Why is some metal safe to use in a microwave, but others not?

This might be a more scientific question, but it relates to cooking and I thought it was interesting. I just made my lunch which was a microwavable bowl of chunky soup. The directions said: Remove metal lid, remaining metal rim is microwavable.…
JD Isaacks
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33
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5 answers

Is it safe to boil water in a microwave?

Our electric kettle broke. So this morning I used the microwave to boil water for the first cup of coffee. Only thing is - the water in south Africa is not really the best of quality when you get it from the tap. I presume using a kettle kills of…
Pork Chop
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31
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Why do my mini pizzas have microwave trays?

I have these frozen mini pizzas which come with a silver piece of cardboard (see image at the end). I disregarded it at first, but then read the cooking instructions and it says that it is a microwave tray, which you put between the pizza and the…
Makonede
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29
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13 answers

Why use a kettle to heat water?

Whenever I need to heat up water for a French press or hot chocolate, I do it in the microwave. Is there a good reason to use a kettle instead of the microwave to heat water?
David
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29
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3 answers

Why does a microwave rotate the food being cooked? And is there ever a time when it shouldn't rotate?

Most microwaves I've used have a plate at the bottom that rotates when the microwave is running. I presume that rotating helps more evenly heat the food. Interestingly, my microwave rotates by default but has a button you can press to disable the…
Scott Mitchell
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27
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3 answers

What are the pros and cons of Convection Microwave Ovens?

Are convection microwave ovens a useful item to have? Or are they not good as a microwave and not good as a convection oven either? I understand that a regular convection oven helps to cook things faster. But a microwave cooks things pretty darn…
milesmeow
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27
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4 answers

Is my microwave damaged if I can smell the food inside it?

I think I can smell the food inside my microwave. Is that bad? I figured it's not necessarily unsafe, since you only need a cage to block the microwaves from escaping, but I'm not familiar with the precise architecture of a microwave oven.
user81291
24
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5 answers

Does microwaving destroy nutrients in food?

After answering this article, I did some research on microwaving killing vitamins and nutrients in food. I very quickly learned that this is a touchy subject, even among nutritionists, and nobody (at least, nobody I saw) seems to have a "this is the…
stephennmcdonald
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23
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1 answer

Can you pop microwave popcorn on a stove?

I move quite a bit and suddenly I found myself with microwave popcorn but without any microwave. I'd like to pop them anyway. I've seen in movies how people pop corn on stoves in various ways but I have never seen it IRL. A quick search on the…
Mikael Dúi Bolinder
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6 answers

Why is putting an egg in the microwave not recommended?

I would like to know why it is not recommended to put an egg in the microwave. Where does this "legend" comes from ?
Tofuw
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22
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8 answers

Why does coffee taste awful after reheating it in a microwave oven?

I brew my coffee with a percolator using finely ground beans and it comes out great when it is still hot. However, I have to brew at least two cups in the machine. So if I make coffee in the morning, the afternoon cup is cold and I have to reheat…
Henry
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How can I reheat a roux-based (alfredo) sauce in the microwave without separation?

I made an alfredo sauce last night using a roux made with ghee instead of regular butter, since that's what I had on hand. The ingredients were: ghee, flour, heavy cream, garlic, pecorino romano, and salt and pepper to taste. The sauce turned out…
stephennmcdonald
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