Cooking Stack Exchange
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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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Microwave oven first time use — "10 minutes with water"?

My Samsung ME731K microwave oven just arrived. There is this instruction (in less than perfect English) and I'm not sure how to interpret it. Before using the your oven first time, oven should be operated with the water during 10 minute and then…
user26951
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Why doesn't a microwave heat the air around food, in addition to the food itself?

I'm reading Harold McGee's "On Food And Cooking", and in the "Microwave Cooking" section he writes: Since the air in the oven is not heated, microwave ovens can’t brown meat surfaces unless they’re assisted by special packaging or a broiling…
Richie Thomas
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Why does microwave popcorn burn?

I've been experimenting some with do it yourself microwave popcorn, and some trouble getting the 'burn time' right has led me to a question that I can't find a good, definitive answer to. What is the scientific explanation for the mechanism for how…
Joe M
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Is it ok to microwave veggies without water instead of blanching them in a pot of water?

Whenever I see a recipe which requires me to blanch vegetables for a few minutes, I microwave them instead. It's sometimes faster, I don't have to get a pot dirty, and I don't usually have to dry the vegetables afterwards. The microwave seems to…
FuzzyChef
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What is the difference between Microwave, Microwave Oven, and Oven?

Some sites say that a "microwave" is only for heating or re-heating cooked food. Whereas, in "microwave ovens", you can microwave and bake. Is that true? If it is, then why I can cook main course dishes (chicken, rice), soups, etc. in my microwave…
4-K
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Should I cover food while reheating it in a microwave?

For reasons of time, I like to cook more than one portion of a meal and then reheat a portion in the microwave whenever it's needed. Aiming for maximum energy efficiency, I wonder if it's a good idea to cover the food with a big ceramic or glass…
MaxD
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Potato in the microwave

My brother in law was telling me the other day that he just sticks whole potatos into the microwave wrapped in wax paper for a quick snack. Is this ok/safe? If you do this, do you have other suggestions to make it tastier? I haven't tried it yet,…
Wil
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Boil an egg in the microwave

Is it possible to boil an egg in the microwave? Ideally without having to pierce the shell first
user208
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Is my microwave still safe to use after accidentally heating metal in it?

My small kid used a metal bowl in a microwave oven and there was a spark. I immediately switched off the oven. There was a burnt mark on the left side of the oven. Though the microwave oven switches on (Light is one), I am not sure if it actually…
RHLK
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Water in the microwave to reheat pizza better

I've seen this claim various times on the Internet; for example at https://i.stack.imgur.com/X5jha.jpg Put a small amount of water in a glass when you microwave your pizza to keep the crust from getting chewy Does this really work? If so, could…
user20081
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Why microwaves do not kill harmful bacteria as well as boiling?

Medical Biochemistry point of view My biochemistry teacher said today that the problem with micros is that they do not kill all harmful bacteria. He proposed boiling food instead. I think there are two reasons. Water can emit heat to bacteria from…
Léo Léopold Hertz 준영
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Can I prepare instant noodles in the microwave?

I want to prepare instant noodles in microwave. The instructions on the pack clearly mention a gas stove to be used, but I don't have access to one. The instant noodles I am talking about are Nestle's maggy 2 minutes (that's how they brand it in…
Prafulla
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How can I address watery eggs in a microwaved breakfast sandwich?

My blessed wife fixes me batches of breakfast sandwiches consisting of a sandwich thin, some ham and egg whites and freezes them. It's a great breakfast, except for the fact that as it defrosts in the microwave, the egg whites release a huge amount…
Chris B. Behrens
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The glass door on my convection oven broke. Can I still use it?

I have a KitchenAid microwave + convection oven combination. I was cooking a pie (350F), and this happened: The inner glass shattered; the outer glass and all other parts seem fine. I'm getting a warranty replacement, but in the…
Undo
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How can I cook 1/2 a cup of rice?

Almost every time I make rice, I make it for just me and my partner. We've found that the right amount for us is 1/2 a cup (125mL, a regular cup not a rice cooker cup) of uncooked basmati rice. I make it in the microwave, with 1 cup of cold water,…
Cathy
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