Tips & Tricks

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Food Tips

• De-crystallise honey

  If you have a jar of honey that has crystallised, remove the lid, place the jar in your microwave and heat on medium for two minutes.

• Dissolve jelly without adding water

  Did you know that you can dissolve jelly without adding water. Just microwave it for forty-five seconds before adding cold water and stirring continuously.

• Increase the juice from citrus fruits

  Increase the juice from citrus fruits by heating for forty seconds before squeezing.

• Fast and easy sauces, soups, and custards

  Did you know that sauces, soups, custards, and the like are fast and easy in a microwave? You don’t have to keep stirring to get a smooth texture.

• Peel tomatoes

  To peel tomatoes, place two cups of boiling water in a container, add the tomatoes and heat on high for 1 min. Plunge into cold water and the skin will peel of easily.

• Freshen stale crackers, rolls or biscuits

  Freshen stale crackers, rolls or biscuits by placing on a rack or double thickness of kitchen towel and heating for one minute, then allowing them to stand for 2-3 minutes.

• Pre-cook barbecue food in the microwave

  For barbecues, most chefs agree that it is safer to pre-cook food (particularly meats) in the microwave and finish on the barbecue.

• Cover food in the microwave

  Covering food in the microwave traps steam for cooking and keeps food hot during standing time. Food that you wouldn’t normally steam (e.g. cakes, breaded fish, sauces) shouldn’t be covered. For everything else, make sure the lid is on properly to keep the steam in the container. In the case of snap-on lids, just rest them on top so any excess steam can escape.

• Soften cream cheese

  If you want to soften cream cheese, take it out of the foil wrapper and heat it in your microwave on medium power between 60 and 90 seconds. You’ll have soft cream cheese that’s ready to use.

• Soften hardened brown sugar

  You can soften hardened brown sugar by putting the open box with 1 cup of hot water and microwaving on high for about one minute per 1/2 pound.

• Thaw frozen juices

  Thaw frozen juices by removing the top lid and microwaving for 30 seconds for a six ounce can.

• Drain fat from hamburgers

  Drain fat from hamburgers by cooking in a plastic colander placed inside a casserole dish.

• Cook meat and vegetables more evenly

  Meat and vegetables cook more evenly if they are cut about the same size.

• Refresh stale potato chips

  Refresh stale potato chips by heating them on a plate for 30 seconds, then leaving to stand for about one minute.

• Make breadcrumbs

  Make breadcrumbs by cutting six slices of bread into cubes, placing into a casserole dish and microwaving for six minutes, stirring once, and then crushing in a blender.

• Melt marshmallow

  Melt marshmallow cream by placing the whole jar in the microwave and heating on high for 35 seconds, then stirring.

• Toast coconut

  Toast coconut by spreading ½ a cup on a plate and cooking for three minutes, stirring every 30 seconds after two minutes. Watch carefully, as it may burn.

• Scald milk

  Scald milk by cooking one cup for two minutes, stirring after one.

Cleaning and Maintenance Tips

• Clean your oven and remove cooking odours

  To clean your oven and remove cooking odours, simply heat a cup of water with a slice of lemon for 2-3 minutes.

• Do not heat empty plates in the microwave oven

  Do not heat empty plates in the microwave oven, as this can cause damage.