Whether it’s for warming up yesterday’s leftovers or cooking our favourite ready meal, we often depend on our microwaves. However, the exasperating battle of either overheating or underheating food is something we’ve all encountered, with it sometimes seeming impossible to find the perfect temperature, reports the Mirror.
This is especially true when it comes to foods cooked from scratch. Chef Shilpa Uskokovic recently revealed that the little-known power button might be the key to achieving the best results. In a recent video posted on the Epicurious YouTube channel, Chef Shilpa explained why we should all be using the power button. As she prepared to bake her freshly made chocolate cake in the microwave, she explained the importance of the power button and exactly how it should be used.
She said: “The power button is similar to adjusting the heat on your stovetop.By adjusting the power level, it doesn’t reduce the output of the power; it simply controls how many times the microwave comes on and off.”
She further explained the benefits, adding: “If I set the microwave at 50% power for one minute, then the microwave will be on for 30 seconds and off for 30 seconds at various intervals.”
After removing her cake from the microwave once it had finished cooking, she was immediately pleased with the results, claiming that cooking at a lower power was the secret.
She stated: “Cooking it at 50% power really helped me get a nice even cook. You could see when I dug in, as it’s evenly cooked from edge to centre. So for ultra-precise cooking, use the power button. It is the most underrated button on your microwave.”
However, the Daily Express previously highlighted five common factors that can affect the performance of our microwaves and potentially shorten their lifespan.
Andrew Wright, founder of kitchen appliance brand Cookology, said: “Microwaves are brilliant tools when used properly, but we see the same mistakes again and again. People often treat them like a one-button solution, but a little know-how goes a long way in improving results and extending the life of the machine.”
The most frequent blunders include using unsafe containers, failing to stir or rotate food, sealing containers too tightly, neglecting hygiene, and using your microwave’s surface for storage.