Image Source: Getty / July Ko
No alarm clock or ringtone has ever put me on as much high alert as the shrill "beep, beep" of the microwave. But the inevitable wave of disappointment I experience every time I slice open leftovers and find that they're still cold in the middle feels like the ultimate betrayal, especially when the plate they're on nearly burnt off my fingertips. If this has happened to you, chances are you've been using your microwave wrong this whole time, and TikTok user Isabella Avida, aka @onlyjayus, is here to change the culinary experience of any popcorn-lovers and avid instant noodle eaters out there.
In a video shared to TikTok on Aug. 12, they explained that the instinct many people have to pop their food directly in the center of the microwave is one we should all be ignoring. Instead, you should place your bowl, cup, etc. on the edge of the microwave plate so that it rotates as the microwave plate spins. This ensures that the food will be cooked evenly through and greatly reduce the likelihood of the "dreaded" frozen center. It may seem simple but the amount of times I've forgotten to do this and had to reheat everything all over again is not zero.
Isabella added that you can also include a mug in the microwave for height distribution to heat large plates up at the same time, and that including a small glass of water alongside leftover pizza or pasta helps keep the food moist but not too chewy. Maybe I've been giving too much credit to the stovetop and oven, but it sounds like the microwave has its fair share of perks. I might even be brave enough to try that microwaved corn on the cob recipe now.
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Watch Isabella's full video here to see what these microwave hacks look like in action, and check out this helpful tip for cleaning your microwave here.
@onlyjayusMicrowave Hacks
