One Microwave Oven, Many Energy-Efficient Dishes

Every office worker knows the magic of microwave ovens. As a home office worker, you can still enjoy a fast-and-friendly microwave meals of your choice. Alternatively, you can reheat the leftovers from last night’s dinner as lunch, saving time and money for better things. Apart from reheating, microwave ovens are capable of cooking a variety of dishes, e.g. cooking a normal-sized fish in a few minutes, and cooking rice or noodles instantly. Many innovative microwave recipes for office workers have been trending in recent years, discover the ones that suit your taste buds.  

A Little More about Microwave Ovens

Microwaves are generated by electricity, similar to electromagnetic energy like radio waves and sunlight. They can pass through materials such as glass, paper and plastic. When food is exposed to microwaves, the energy absorbed causes polar molecules (e.g. water molecules) and ionic compounds (e.g. dissolved salts) to rotate or vibrate, thereby generating heat energy for cooking.

Microwaves can penetrate food about 2.5 to 3.8 cm deep. As for thicker food, the outer layer is mainly heated and cooked by microwaves, whereas the inner layer is largely cooked by conducting heat energy through the hot outer layer. This means preheating is not necessary and you can reduce cooking time and energy consumption.

Cooking and Reheating Remarks
1. Sprinkle an appropriate amount of water on the food surface beforehand to improve the efficiency of the microwave oven and save electricity.

2. Cover the food with a lid or microwave oven wrap to shorten the heating time and help save energy. After placing a lid or wrap, leave some space at the dish edge for steam to escape, preventing steam from building up and expanding.

3. Microwaves are reflected by metals (e.g. tin foil or stainless-steel utensils) to generate sparks. Not only does that prevent food from absorbing microwave energy, it even damages the magnetic tube. Thus, it is best to use utensils made of glass, ceramics, and natural fibers to contain the food.

4. To cook an egg, peel or crack its shell first, as an egg with a sealed shell will explode due to the accumulation of steam. In addition, prod the yolk and white a few times. For the reason mentioned above, never put food or drink in a sealed box or bottle in the microwave oven to prevent steam from accumulating and expanding inside the package after heating. Otherwise, the box or bottle is likely to burst open due to the trapped steam.

5. Cut the food into small pieces and distribute them evenly on the dish. Place the larger or thicker pieces near the dish edge for more even heating.