The microwave is an appliance present in many homes that is often not used to its full potential. We usually use it for little more than to reheat food, heat milk and, occasionally, melt an ingredient (chocolate or butter) for a homemade cake. Few people dare to explore all the possibilities of cooking with it, although it has multiple possibilities and is perfect for all those who have neither the time nor the desire to clean. It is curious, in this sense, that air fryers are taking the market by storm, especially among the youngest, who end up using them for cooking that can be done easily and with practically identical results with both the microwave and the oven. home oven
One of the reasons why many people have traditionally been reluctant to use the microwave beyond what is strictly necessary is that it has been the subject of numerous urban legends that demonize its use. The Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU) collects some of them, and points out that neither radiation modifies the composition of food, nor can microwaves in any case go outside the appliance, nor is it necessary to periodically clean the filters. According to the OCU, “a microwave can make things easier in the kitchen, and not only when it comes to heating and defrosting. The most sophisticated models incorporate functions that make it increasingly easier to use them to cook in a healthy and, of course, safe way.”
What is true, according to this organization, is that there are some plastics that cannot be placed in the microwave. “Some plastic containers can migrate materials into food when heated. Only plastics suitable for use in microwaves, or containers made of other materials, such as glass, should be introduced,” says the OCU, which also warns of the danger of boiling water in this appliance. “When heating water in a microwave oven, the typical bubbles that arise when boiling liquids do not usually occur. When introducing an object, such as a spoon, or moving the container, the bubbles could appear violently and project boiling water outwards, which could cause burns.
Therefore, it is never too late to look at your home microwave with new eyes and start giving it new uses. “The microwave is a very interesting tool that goes beyond reheating. If you know how to use it and manage the temperatures and times well, it allows us to play a lot, even combine cooking and end up having delicious dishes that can be cooked entirely with this device,” explains the director of the La Patente cooking school in Barcelona. , Àngels Puntas.
For his part, chef Alfonso López, popularizer and creator of the blog Recetas de Rechupete, points out that it is important to invest in good containers and materials, since they will be decisive in guaranteeing the good flavor of the food. The best thing is, according to López, “to purchase steam cases, although glass lunch boxes are also a good idea. Absorbent paper, transparent film, baking bags and brown paper serve as auxiliary materials, but not aluminum foil.
Once well equipped and with an open mind to give the microwave the opportunities that we have denied it for so long, it is time to start cooking all these dishes.
