Here's some handy-dandy ideas from our Tupperware
Manager, Heidi Rosen.
Thirty Microwave Cooking Hints
Place an open box of hardened brown sugar in the microwave oven,
and separately, 1 cup hot water. Microwave at high for 1 ˝ to 2 minutes for ˝ pound or 2 to 3 minutes for 1 pound.
Use mayonnaise or applesauce or sour cream instead of oil in box cake.
One stick of butter or margarine will soften in 1 minute when microwaved at 20% power.
Soften one 8-ounce package of cream cheese by microwaving at 30% power for 2 to 2 ˝ minutes.
One 3-ounce package of cream cheese will soften in 1 ˝ to 2 minutes.
Thaw frozen orange juice right in the container. Remove the top metal lid.
Place the opened container in the microwave and heat on high power 30 seconds for 6 ounce and 45 seconds for 12 ounces.
Thaw whipped topping… a 4 ˝ ounce carton will thaw in 1 minute on the defrost setting.
Whipped topping should be slightly firm in the center but it will blend well when stirred. Do not over-thaw!
Soften gelatin that has set up too hard -- perhaps you were to chill it until slightly thickened and forgot it.
Heat on a low power setting for a very short time.
Dissolve gelatin in the microwave. Measure liquid in a measuring cup, add jell and heat.
There will be less stirring to dissolve the gelatin.
Heat hot packs in a microwave oven. A wet fingertip towel will take about 25 seconds.
Correct time depends on the temperature of the water used to wet the towel.
To scald milk, cook 1 cup milk for 2 - 2 ˝ minutes, stirring once each minute.
Be sure it doesn't boil over.
To make dry bread crumbs, cut 6 slices bread into ˝ - inch cubes.
Microwave in 3-quart casserole 6 - 7 minutes, or until dry, stirring after 3 minutes.
Crush in blender or food processor.
Refresh stale potato chips, crackers, or other snacks of such type by putting a plateful in the microwave oven for about 30-40 seconds.
Let stand for 1 minute to crisp. Cereals can also be crisped this way.
Melt almond bark for candy or dipping pretzels. One pound will take about 2 minutes, stirring twice.
If it hardens while dipping candy; microwave for a few seconds longer.
Nuts will be easier to shell if you place 2 cups of nuts in a 1-quart casserole with 1 cup of water. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes and the nut meat will slip out whole after cracking the shell.
(Note: this is for nuts to be used immediately in cooking; don't leave them
around for snacking or they will mold and spoil!)
When thawing hamburger meat, many times the outside will
begin cooking before the meat is completely thawed. Defrost for 3 minutes, then remove the outside portions that have
defrosted and continue.
To drain the fat from hamburger while it is cooking in the microwave oven (one pound cooks in 5 minutes on high), cook it in a Tupperware
microwave colander placed inside the 3 qt. casserole dish.
Cubed meat and chopped vegetables will cook more evenly if cut uniformly.
When baking large cakes, brownies, or moist bars, place cone in the center of the casserole to prevent a soggy middle and ensure uniform baking throughout.
Since cakes and quick breads rise higher in a microwave oven, fill pans just half full of better.
For stamp collectors: Place a few drops of water around
stamp to be removed from envelope. Heat in the microwave for 20 seconds and the stamp will come right off.
Using a round dish instead of a square one eliminates overcooked corners in baking cakes.
When preparing chicken in a microwave dish, place meaty pieces around the edges and the bony pieces in the center of the dish.
Shaping meatloaf into a ring eliminates undercooked center.
Always arrange meat around the outside edges of the casserole leaving the center open.
Treat fresh meat cuts for 15 to 20 seconds on high in the microwave oven.
This cuts down on meat-spoiling types of bacteria.
A crusty coating of chopped walnuts surrounding many microwave-cooked cakes and quick brands enhance the looks and eating quality.
Sprinkle a layer of medium finely chopped walnuts evenly onto the bottom and sides of a 3 quart casserole with cone. Pour in batter and microwave as recipe directs.
Do not salt foods on the surface as it causes dehydration (meats and vegetable) and toughens the food.
Salt the meat after you remove it from the oven unless the recipe calls for using salt in the mixture.
Heat leftover custard and use it as frosting for a cake.
Melt marshmallow creme in the microwave oven. Half of a 7-ounce jar will melt in 35 - 40 seconds on high.
Stir to blend.
Toast coconut in the microwave. Watch closely because it browns quickly once it begins to brown.
Spread ˝ cup coconut in a pie plate and cook 3 - 4 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds after 2 minutes.
Bake a cake in Tupperware. Use the inverted cover as a base to elevate your cake so the entire cake bakes evenly.
Place the cover over the cake for another 5 minutes to complete the baking process.
This also works for potatoes and other foods that don't quite get cooked enough on the bottom.
If microwave oven has a carousel place cake on carousel and bake.
Cover when done.
