Clean Sponges
We all know that bacteria can build up on kitchen sponges very quickly and as soon as they start to smell or feel a little greasy it is tempting to throw these sponges in the bin. However, the microwave can come to the rescue and save a lot of time by effectively disinfecting these sponges so that they are clean and fresh once again. All you need to do is lightly wet the offending sponge and put it in your microwave for two minutes.
The heat from the microwave will kill off all of the bacteria in a jiffy. The great thing about this is that you can microwave the sponges every time you use them if you wish and they will not disintegrate in the microwave. However, it is important to make sure that your sponge does not contain any traces of metal before throwing it into the microwave. Another good way to clean your sponges with the microwave and leave them smelling good again is to spike the water that you soak them in with a little lemon juice or white vinegar.
Revitalise Bread
Home cooked bread is so much nicer than bread that is bought from the shops. The only downside with bread that you make yourself is that because it does not contain any additives it can quickly become stale in the summer time or damp in the winter when there is a lot of excess moisture in the air. Before you resort to throwing this bread away, turn to your trusty microwave for help.
The first step is to wrap the bread in a damp cloth or a paper towel. Next, place the break on a microwave safe dish. Microwave the bread on the high setting for ten seconds. You can repeat this process as often as you want and it will leave your bread feeling light and fresh almost as if it just came from the bakery. The other great thing about microwaving stale bread is that it will release the delicious aroma of the bread. However, it is important to make sure that you wrap your bread and ensure that there are no gaps in the wrapper, otherwise the bread will dry out and be very unappealing.
Peel Garlic
Anyone who has ever tried to peel fresh garlic will know how tricky and time consuming this process can be. To make matters worse, fresh garlic has a particularly strong smell and this pungent odour can be very difficult to remove from your hands. Your faithful microwave can make this task much easier as well as more pleasant and the job can be accomplished in almost no time at all.
All you need to do is place a bulb of garlic inside the microwave and cook it on high for twenty seconds. The garlic cloves will now slip from their skins in a flash and be ready for chopping. The microwave can also be used to gently roast garlic, which saves having to use a lot of oil and is a real saver for people who live in an apartment and do not have access to an oven.
Proof Dough
Baking bread from scratch can be very relaxing, not to mention the fact that the bread created at home is much more delicious and nutritious than bread that comes from a supermarket. However, learning how to proof dough can be a very tricky process and getting it just right can be a challenge, especially at first. Like many things, this is almost effortless when you turn to the microwave for help. The main benefit here is that using the microwave to proof dough dramatically reduces the rise time so that you will be able to enjoy it much more quickly.
Yeast dough usually takes at least an hour to rise at room temperature, and this can be considerably longer in the cold winter months. To start the process, place the dough inside a very large bowl and be sure to completely cover it with plastic. Now place a cup of water in the back of the microwave with the bowl containing the dough in the centre of the microwave. Set the power very low and heat for three minutes, and then let the dough rest for three minutes. Heat the dough for a further three minutes and then after letting it rest for six minutes it should be ready to bake.
Dry Herb
Fresh herbs that have been picked from the garden can take a long time to dry. However, fully drying herbs can help them to last a lot longer so that they can be used in creating delicious dishes throughout the year. Speed up the drying process significantly by microwaving the herbs.
The process is very easy and all you need to do is clean and thoroughly dry a few branches of herbs and then press them between two paper towels. Place the towels containing the herbs in the microwave and heat them on high for two or three minutes. Once they have cooled, place the herbs in an airtight container and store them until you are ready to use them.
Warm Beauty Products
Certain types of beauty products such as hot wax and a moisturising facial mask is usually done in a double boiler. However, this process tends to be very messy and there is also the problem that the wax may harden before you have finished using it.
However, you can heat the oil or wax in the microwave for just ten or twenty seconds and the mixture can easily be reheated if it starts to cool so that your beauty products will always be at the perfect temperature for use.Decrystallise Honey Because of the high sugar content in honey, if it becomes damp for any reason it can easily solidify. This can make the honey very difficult to use in baking or in other ways. all you need to do to make the honey soft and spreadable again is to unscrew the lid of the jar and place the jar in the centre of the microwave.
Heat on the medium setting for fifty seconds or a minute until the honey reaches the desired consistency. The great thing about this is that you can heat the jar of honey as many times as you need to without fear of it spoiling.
Dye Fabric
Dying fabric can be a very messy job and often leaves surfaces in your bathroom or kitchen covered in spots of dye that can be very hard to remove. Cut the mess and the fuss by using the microwave to tackle the task. Simply mix your desired dye with water and immerse the fabric that you want to dye in the solution.
Heat the bowl containing the fabric and the dye solution in the microwave on high for just four minutes. When the time is up, carefully remove the bowl from the microwave, remove the fabric from the bowl and rinse the excess dye. You may also want to run the dyed fabric through the washing machine on a gentle cycle to remove any excess dye.
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