Tips for microwave cooking
•Soften butter which has been in the refrigerator
Soften for 35 to 40 s at 100W (for 250g). Remove the foil wrapper first.
•Rehydrating dried fruit
Add 6 tbsp of water to 200g of prunes or raisins, (or use rum for certain cake recipes). Mix and heat on MAX for 2 to 3 min. Leave to stand for 2 min.
•Bring cheese up to room temperature Cheese which has been kept in the fridge should be placed in the oven and “warmed” for 30 s to 1 min (depending on the size) at 250W.
•Hulling almonds or hazelnuts
Cover with hot water and cook for 3 to 6 min at MAX (until the water boils). Rinse in cold water and drain. The outer skin can then be removed more easily.
•Drying herbs
Put kitchen paper on the glass tray. Spread out the finely chopped fresh herbs on the kitchen paper. Do several batches if necessary. Heat on MAX for a few minutes checking every 30 s until the herbs begin to dry out. You have to be very careful, if the herbs stay in the oven too long they may disintegrate and even catch fire. Leave the dried herbs on the kitchen paper for 2 hours at room temperature then store them in sealed jars.
•Making caramel
Cook 100g of sugar with 2 tbsp of water in a bowl for 2 to 3 min on MAX checking carefully after 1 min 30 s. Remove the caramel before it becomes dark, it will finish cooking outside the oven. You can stop it cooking by adding 2 tbsp of very hot water (take care it does not splash).
•Softening set honey
Remove the lid, place the jar in the oven and heat at 250W for 20 to 40 s depending on the quantity. Stir and repeat the operation if necessary.
•Make crispy croutons quickly: Slice 2 slices of bread into small cubes. Spread cubes out on a plate. Heat at MAX for 2 min then leave to stand for 5 min. You can rub a clove of garlic on the slices of bread before cutting them up, or moisten them with a few drops of olive oil.
•Get more juice from an orange or a lemon Before squeezing, heat 1 orange or 1 lemon for
30 to 40 s at MAX, then squeeze it straight away: it will give more juice.
•Melt chocolate
Break the chocolate into small pieces in a bowl and heat at 600W for 2 min to 2 min 30 s for 100g (the heating time may vary depending on the amount of cocoa solids and sugar). Stir at least once during cooking.
•Melt butter
100g of butter in a ramekin covered with a saucer will melt in 1 min - 1 min 10 s at 600W.
•Re-crisp nibbles or crisps softened by moisture
Spread out a handful of crisps on kitchen paper on a plate and heat at MAX for 40 to 60 s depending on the quantity. Wait a few seconds before eating them.
•Soften ice-cream from the freezer
If possible remove the
2 min at 250W for half a litre and 2 to 3 min for 1 litre.
•Make dough rise
Place the covered dough in the oven and heat for approx 5 min at 100W (for 500g of dough). Leave the dough to stand inside the oven (sheltered from the air) until it has doubled in size.
•Make mulled wine
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•Deodorise your oven
To remove lingering fish smells from your oven, place a bowl of white vinegar or water with lemon juice inside the oven. Heat at MAX for 5 min. Dry the condensation on the oven walls with a cleaning cloth.
•Make a hot compress
Heat up a clean folded dampened cloth on a plate for 1 to 2 min at MAX. Check the temperature before using.
