Foods You Can Make in a Microwave
By Pigglies
@Pigglies (9329)
United States
February 19, 2008 8:48pm CST
At work all we have is a microwave. I typically bring frozen foods because that's all I know how to make with a microwave. I don't ever have leftovers to reheat since we eat everything in my house.
I was wondering if there is anything that you can actually cook in a microwave. I have time to prepare things there before I use the microwave, but it can't take a super long time once it is in the microwave since others need to use it as well.
So what are your favorite microwave recipes? I'm vegetarian, but feel free to share other recipes or tricks as well so that others can use this thread as a resource too.
1 person likes this
6 responses
@CheshireKat (564)
• United States
20 Feb 08
From what I've found, anything can be fixed in the microwave.
It may not be suggested for the microwave, but with a little experimentation anything is possible.
My favorite 'quick lunch break' meals for work include bringing things like rice or other pastas. You can bring your own sauce or get the kinds that come with the pasta in little dried packets. Water and a microwave safe bowl are really all you need to make any kind of pasta you could want, and generally it's more interesting than an endless supply of frozen veggie pizzas or broccoli & cheese hot pockets.
1 person likes this
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
20 Feb 08
I've never found a veggie pizza I could do in a microwave actually. I usually make cheeseless bean and rice burritos (frozen food) or Asian food bowls.
Pasta sounds good though. I hate pasta reheated, it's one of the few things I've tried that way (too mushy), so that would be good if it would cook up "fresh" in the microwave. How long does it take usually? If the pasta takes 10 minutes on the stove, how long should I try to microwave it for?
@CheshireKat (564)
• United States
21 Feb 08
Generally with the microwave at home and at work, I just add the water and the pasta and it's usually somewhere around 3-4 minutes, depending on the heat/speed/whatever of the microwave.
I don't think it should take much longer than that. Just keep an eye on it to make sure the water doesn't overflow once it starts to bubble up/boil
@brimia (6581)
• United States
20 Feb 08
You could bake sweet potatoes (lots of Vitamin A) in the microwave too and add a little cinnamon. Cut it in half first to speed up cooking.
Ratatouille
4-6 Zucchini, depending on size of zucchini and appetite
1 can of chopped Italian style tomaotes
Cut up zucchini into about 1/2 to 1 inch pieces. Put into
plastic lunch container. Add tomatoes. Mix.
At work, nuke for 3-5 minutes, depending on amount and on
how soft you like the zucchini.
You could also do the above recipe with canned beans and corn instead of zucchini. You could also add some cubed tofu.
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
20 Feb 08
Thanks! This sounds good. I'll try this with canned beans and corn since I'm allergic to squash, but will pass along the zucchini idea to my mom since she eats it all the time and would probably love to try a new zucchini idea.
The sweet potatoes sound good too. Sometimes I buy those canned and never even thought about that being microwaveable. I will have to try that as well.
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
20 Feb 08
I have heard that you can bake a potato in the microwave.
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
20 Feb 08
Ok, I'm going to be the oddball here.
You say you never have leftovers because you eat everything in the house.
Why not cook larger portions so that you WILL have leftovers?
There are so many things that are even better the next day. You're missing out!
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
20 Feb 08
I think the problem is, I come from a "clean your plate" family. If I make too much food, I'll still eat it all. I don't like to waste anything and I know a lot of times if I just leave it, it will be thrown out later.
What foods taste better the next day? I can't say I've ever had anything that didn't get worse with age.
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
21 Feb 08
You can still clean your plate, just don't put everything from the pot/pan onto your plate right away. Serve yourself what you know you'll eat, and put the rest away promptly.
Freezing it is a good option too, like she said, and yes, chili and soups are always better the second time around. I don't usually freeze mine, will just eat it for lunch until its gone.
Other things that are great leftover is lasagna and meatloaf. You could also take things like chicken and turn it into other things (soup, chicken salad, mix with rice or noodles and veggies for quick casserole type thing or fried rice).
Be creative!
@spectrum42 (393)
• United States
21 Feb 08
Whenever I'm making soups or chili, I will make a double batch. As soon as it's done, I take half of it and package it up into single serving size containers for the freezer. These are ready to grab and take to work whenever you need them. Oh, don't forget to label them if you don't like surprise lunches. :)
@mido_thelover (82)
• Egypt
20 Feb 08
hmm
meet
eggs
wat else hmmm
i`m not so good in this
i guess this is enough for today :D
@mido_thelover (82)
• Egypt
21 Feb 08
lol
yeah
u are right
am jus confused sorry man
i`m not @ kitchen work:D
@spectrum42 (393)
• United States
20 Feb 08
The most common things I do are potatoes and burritos. For the burrito, I use one of the large flour shells, spread some refried beans on it, top with whatever else I want in it and roll it up. I heat it for about 1 minute in the microwave.
The most common things I put in are beans, tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, rice and salsa. If you eat cheese, add that too.
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
20 Feb 08
I need to get better at making burritos. I made one last night cooking the beans on the stove, but all I put in it was some spice and some salsa. I'll have to try adding some onions, rice, and jalapenos.
I make a lot of frozen burritos and I hate to say it, but they taste better than what I know how to make so far. I will have to try your suggestions of things to add.
