HomeTagsPosts tagged with "microwave"

microwave

Microwaves are our best friend and our worst enemy. Handy to reheat some leftovers, it is also said to strip food from its nutrients so should be used sparingly. 

Yet, this noisy, often ugly and space consuming appliance can help busy girls save some precious time in the kitchen. 

*Warning: these hacks are not for purists, just an easy to cut down some cooking time when you are in a rush.

1. Scrambled eggs

To make scrambled eggs for one, break two eggs in a small heatproof bowl, whisk, add a dash of milk, then microwave for 1 minute. Scramble, then if there are raw bits left, microwave for 30 more seconds. Scramble one last time, add a small knob of butter and enjoy!

2. Caramel sauce

Place a tablespoon of butter in a small bowl and microwave on high power for 30 seconds or until melted. Add 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of cream, and a pinch of salt. Stir to combine, and microwave for about 30 seconds. Stir again and finally microwave for 20 seconds. Stir and serve or store in a jar in the fridge.

3. Mug cakes

This one is already quite famous but let's not forget that one of the best uses of a microwave (or so we believe) is to deliver some super tasty cakes in about a minute, with only a few simple ingredients.

4. Bacon

Now this one might be a bit controversial, but the microwave can be a hassle-free option to cook your bacon.

Lay two paper towels on the plate, then spread the bacon out in a single layer and lay another paper towel over the top. Cook on high power for about 5 minutes to get a nicely crispy rasher. 

5. Bring honey back to life

When your honey is cristallised, you can bring it back to a liquid state if you carefully microwave it.

Using burst of 30 seconds, place in the microwave on medium power and microwave until the honey is nice and melted. Be careful when removing it from the microwave though as the container might be very hot.

6. Baked potatoes

Save LOADS of time by "baking" your potatoes in the microwave.

Scrub the potato and prick several time with a fork. Place on a plate and cook on high power for 5 minutes. Turn over and cook for a further 5 minutes.

When the potato is soft, remove from the microwave, cut in half and add desired toppings (cream, cheese, bacon, herbs…).

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Another day, another ridiculous Trump claim – and this time, it involves microwaves.

The President's senior adviser, Kellyanne Conway, has dealt with her fair share of controversy, but this is probably one of the most ludicrous claims.

During an interview with North Jersey yesterday, Kellyanne suggested that the alleged wire tapping by Obama in Trump's campaign headquarters involved far more than just tapping phones.

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“What I can say is there are many ways to surveil each other," said Ms Conway during the interview.

“You can surveil someone through their phones, certainly through their television sets — any number of ways.”

She then continued saying that monitoring can be done with “microwaves that turn into cameras."

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She added that "this is a fact of modern life.”

Kellyanne gave absolutely no evidence towards her claims, so for now we're going to sit tight that there was no spying through microwaves.

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We all love pizza. There's payday pizza, date night pizza, girls night pizza… Well, let's just say pizza is cool for nearly every occasion.

But, when you're stuck for time and have a craving, sometimes the Domino's delivery man takes way longer than you'd like.

Not to worry! Irish woman Gemma Stafford, who has travelled all over the world baking, let us in on a secret: Pizza in a mug.

It's so genius and easy, you won't want to get a take-away ever again.

Here's how to make it:

1. In a microwaveable mug, mix 4 tablespoons of flour, 1/8 teaspoon of salt, 1/8 teaspoon baking powder and a pinch of baking soda.

2. Whisk in 3 tablespoons of milk and 1 tablespoon oil and mix thoroughly.

3. Carefully place your fave marinara sauce on top. Then add some cheese, pepperoni or whatever toppings you fancy.

4. Microwave for 70-80 seconds and you're good to go!

But pizza isn't the only thing she can cook up in a mug, here's a video to try a whole combo of meals: 

 

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It's the ultimate household convenience item: in fact, cling film is found in just about every kitchen.

That's because whether you're wrapping up sambos for your lunch, or keeping leftovers in the fridge for the following day – it's pretty much requisite.

And while for years, health-gurus have warned that the plastic wrap can't be good for us – it seems now there's some significant weight to their argument: two major reports have in the last year have linked it to health problems relating to cancers, fertility and foetal development.

Even the globally influential Cancer Research UK, which has so far been sceptical, is warning that cling film should not be allowed to touch the food it is covering during microwaving. 

And it's not the only everyday product under scrutiny either.

That's because Bisphenol A (BPA), which is the thing causing so much worry, is widely used in plastics manufacturing. And in the human body, it mimics the effects of female sex hormone, oestrogen. 

Such is the concern that as of January 1 of this year, France banned the use of BPA in all food packaging. 

Prof Andrea Gore of the University Of Austin in the US, who has studied the effects of chemicals on reproductive function, has warned: "I heat food only in glass or ceramic, and although I use cling film in my fridge to cover cooked food, I remove it before reheating that food in the microwave."

So, what should we be cautious of?

 

1) Transporting your lunch in Tupperware

Many reusable plastic food containers – including Tupperware – are also made with BPA. So popping your pasta snack into a lunchbox just got somewhat sinister.

Old containers that are showing signs of wear and tear are particularly suspect, as they are the most likely to be unstable and prone to releasing BPA into food.

Your best bet? Replace the lunch-boxes regularly and use cardboard containers or paper bags whenever possible.

2) Reusing plastic bottles

No one likes buying a new bottles every time – and some folk have been known to keep an old bottle of Ballygowen going for weeks, but it's probably best avoided. 

Brand new bottles are fine, but as the plastic decays, particles of the BPA can be released into drink or food that touches it.

Switching to glass or lightweight metal sports bottles is a good alternative for those who don't want the waste of buying multiple bottles of water.

3) Heating up cling film 

Even Cancer Research UK now says that you shouldn't allow cling wrap to come into direct contact with food when heating it.

That's because heating food covered with plastic can melt the plastic on to the food.

And of particular concern is cling film made from PVC, which contains hormone-disrupting phthalates, a chemical that keeps plastic soft. PVC cling film has been banned in America, but it is still in use in Europe.

A top tip? If you’re heating a plate in the microwave, just cover it with another plate or a chemical-free kitchen roll.

4) Using the dishwasher

Microwaves aren't the only potential source of heat, of course: sticking plastic cutlery, storage containers or bottles into the dishwasher can have the same effect. Heat, from any source, will cause the plastic to become less stable and make particles more likely to leech into food. 

Incredibly, one study, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, showed that 95 per cent of plastic products put through a dishwasher proved positive for leaching chemicals that had an oestrogen-like effect on the body.

5) Eating or drinking from polystyrene

Styrene, a component of the likes of polystyrene cups, has been classified as a possible carcinogen by the US’s International Agency For Research On Cancer, and benzene, also used in production, is another suspected carcinogen.

So it's best to avoid it altogether. Opt for wooden disposable cutlery and paper rather than plastic straws too.

6) Having fizzy drinks 

Make sure you stick to cans rather than bottles when it comes to soft and fizzy drinks: the latter might be packaged in bottles that contain formaldehyde, a known toxicant.

Indeed, it is potentially a carcinogen. 

However, some scientists point out that formaldehyde is also found in low doses in some foods, including apples.

 

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