Magic in minutes in the microwave

Kitchen appliances like air fryers, instant pots and variations on the Thermomix have popped up in recent years, but the humble microwave continues to be a staple in kitchens around the world.

The microwave plays a key role in this recipe for mushroom cacciatore with polenta. Credit: Jiwon Kim

While often used for reheating leftovers, ready-to-eat-meals or making popcorn, the microwave has long been underestimated for its vast potential as a kitchen tool. 

Microwave cooking can be traced back to the 1940s, when American engineer Percy Spencer stumbled upon the concept while working with WW2 radar equipment and noticing a sweet snack in his back pocket had melted.

Spencer's discovery paved the way for the widespread adoption of the microwave, yet it's commonly used to heat up pre-cooked food, rather than cooking it from scratch. 

However, some people, including Adam Liaw, the host of The Cook Up, champion the appliance for its convenience, speed and superior cooking results.

Here are some of Liaw's favourite microwave cookery methods. 

Mushrooms

One problem with pan-frying mushrooms is that they often require a large quantity of oil to cook effectively. Liaw realised that microwaving mushrooms before pan-cooking them can provide several benefits.

Mushrooms naturally soak up a lot of oil due to their high water content and pre-microwaving them reduces it so they absorb less oil, cook faster and have more umami flavour.

Learn how to master cooking mushrooms in the microwave with these recipes from The Cook Up:

Eggplant

Like mushrooms, eggplants also soak up large quantities of oil during pan-frying, so pre-microwaving lessens this.

Try Adam Liaw's yuxiang eggplant recipe utilising the microwave.

Potatoes

Potatoes can also benefit from the microwave since it prevents them absorbing too much water, unlike boiling, which can spoil homemade gnocchi, stuffed potatoes or potato rolls. (Steaming, rather than boiling, is sometimes recommended for the same reason, such as in the gnocchi recipe, pictured below, that Marc Fennell shared on The Cook Up).

Gnocchi with cherry tomato and Italian sausage Credit: Adam Liaw

Microwaving potatoes not only achieves the dry, fluffy texture required for a multitude of potato recipes, but it can also be up to 8-10 times faster than oven baking.

Practise microwave potato perfection with these great recipes from Adam Liaw:

Amid an array of evolving kitchen tools and gadgets, the microwave remains an enduring kitchen staple.

Embracing its full potential can speed things up, and enhance flavours and textures, so don’t let your microwave sit unused with these easy-to-follow recipes and techniques.