The microwave is now used in different ways, more than just being a food heater. In fact, chefs and food enthusiasts have created various recipes for it. Pastries, baked goodies, entrees, and even snacks are now made in the microwave. You will never believe that cooking processes like baking, frying, and grilling can be done in such a small heating box. So how do they do it? Here are 25 genius microwave-cooking tips that can help you in using the microwave to your advantage.

25 Slicing Tear-free Onions nuwildroots.wordpress.com You can make the onions tear-free by cutting the upper and lower ends before putting them in the microwave. Heat them on full power for 30 seconds and the juices will dry. The taste is still there but the teary enzymes are taken away, making the onion easy to slice. 24 Melting Margarine www.enjoymargarineeveryday.com Margarine can be melted in the microwave at high heat for just one minute. This is better than letting it stay in the air for hours or risking it burning on the stove. 23 Making Spices Smelly Again www.anazahra.com Spices, nuts, and seeds can have their aroma back by using the microwave. Place the spices in a microwave safe bowl for 15 seconds at full power. 22 Revitalizing Potato Chips spiceandmore.wordpress.com Those who want to restore the crunchiness of potato chips can do so in the microwave. Put in the chips together with paper towels and the moisture will be sucked by the towels. Even brief heating can restore the crispiness with ease. 21 Freshening Stale Crackers www.wikihow.com It’s not just chips that can restore its crispiness in the microwave. Even stale crackers and cereals can benefit from this trick. There’s no need for paper towels. Just have them placed in the microwave, heat it for about 30 seconds, and everything goes back just like they were freshly bought. 20 Rehydrating Stale Bread lifehacker.com Stale bread can be rehydrated inside the microwave by wrapping the bread slices with a damp kitchen towel. Place both inside the microwave for 10 seconds of high power heat and you should get results. If not, do the same procedures for another 10 seconds until you get the desired softness… 19 Cooking Greaseless Bacon www.food.com Cooking bacon in the microwave is much healthier and faster. Place paper towels on the plate and put the bacons over the towels. Also cover it with paper towels to avoid popping grease. Set the heat high for about 3 to 5 minutes and you’ll see greaseless, tasty bacon slices. 18 Defrosting Non-soggy Sandwiches jessfuel.com It is usual with frozen sandwiches and baked goods to get soggy when reheated in the microwave. To avoid sogginess, wrap the sandwich with paper towels. You’ll see the moisture stick on the towels instead of having the water stay on the bread’s surface. 17 Toasting Nuts foodess.com You can toast nuts and almonds faster in the microwave, rather than doing the tiring conventional way. Spread the nuts on a microwaveable plate, set the heat on high, and let it sit for 1 minute. Stir every minute for 4-5 minutes. 16 Testing a Microwave Container www.webstaurantstore.com If you want to test a container for being microwave safe, have a mug with cold water placed inside the open container. Heat high for 1 minute. If the water is hot and the container is cold, then it’s safe. But if the container is hot, then it’s not safe to use in the microwave. 15 Making a Fast Scrambled Egg diply.com You can cook tasty scrambled eggs in the microwave for 3 minutes. In a mug, beat eggs with salt, cheese, and herbs if you like. Place the mug in the box at high heat. When you hear the “ding”, prepare for an instant taste of amazing. 14 Decrystallizing Honey www.lynnskitchenadventures.com Is honey too hard for you? When it’s crystallized, just remove the lid, place the jar in the microwave, and heat it low for two minutes. Everything will be gooey and tasty again. 13 Soaking Lentils and Beans cooking4allseasons.blogspot.com Speed up the overnight soaking process of lentils and beans. This can be done by placing the beans on a microwave-safe bowl, adding a pinch of sodium bicarbonate, and pouring water until completely submerged. Heat the bowl high for 10 minutes. Set things cool for 30-40 minutes and the beans are good to go. 12 Drying Herbs www.wikihow.com Herbs can be dried in the microwave when you follow this tip. Have the herbs placed on a cup with towels in place. Set the heat into high for about 2-4 minutes. Crumple the herbs in the paper towel and everything ends up dry. 11 Melting Chocolate the Right Way www.chocablog.com Here’s the right way to melt chocolate in the microwave without the lumpy mess. Cut the chocolate into very small pieces. Place them in a microwave-safe bowl and heat it on medium for 15 seconds burst. After heating, rest for 15 seconds and do another set until desired creaminess is achieved. Stir lightly when you notice melting. 10 Restoring Hardened Brown Sugar www.thesisterscafe.com There is always a tendency to overcook brown sugar. The mess is so terrible that it becomes hard to take care of. In case this happens, what you can do is to throw a wet paper towel in the box. Then close the microwave and set the heat high for 20 to 30 seconds. The sugar will soften, which makes the sugar usable again. 9 Cooking Fish Fillets www.cookingmanager.com To cook fish fillet in a microwave, you need to dry the fish well before putting it in. When plating, have the tails overlap. Remove the fish from the micro while it is still opaque. They may appear opaque, but the cooking process is still ongoing. Leaving it a moment too soon will overcook the fish. 8 Baking Mug Brownies crossfitburwood.com Those who crave brownies can make them in the microwave for 1 minute and 40 seconds. Have sugar, cocoa, salt, cinnamon, and flour mixed in a mug. After mixing the dry ingredients, pour in the wet ones like water, vanilla, and oil. Mix everything until lumps no longer appear. Have the mug sit in the micro on high heat until the preferred time. That should do the trick. 7 Zapping Lemons and Limes for More Juice www.sallypasleyvargas.com You can make lemons and limes juicier and easier to squeeze by having a whole lemon in the box. The heat should be set on high for 10-20 seconds. Slice the lemons and limes after. You’ll be surprised with how much juice you can take out. 6 Speeding the Ice Cream www.foodnetwork.co.uk Put the ice cream tub on the microwave and heat it up on high for 10 seconds burst. It should take about 30 seconds per liter. 5 Making Perfect Poached Eggs www.thekitchn.com You can make perfect poached eggs in the microwave by cracking the eggs and placing them in a microwave-safe bowl, together with boiling water and a dash of white vinegar. Have toothpicks stuck on the egg yolk before putting them inside the box. Wrap the bowl with cling film and have it cook over max heat for 30 seconds. Have it slightly turned and cooked for 20 seconds and you’re done. 4 Cooking Corn on the Cob www.dinner-mom.com Cooking corn on the cob can be done in the microwave with ease. Cut the lower portion of the cob and place it in the Microwave box. Heat it high for about 30 seconds. Once done, grab the upper end of the cob. Shake the corn a bit and you will notice that the corn slides out with nothing but corn and no husk. 3 Peeling Garlic www.eatwell101.com Peeling garlic skin can be tiresome especially when you do not have the time. Just have a clove of garlic stay in the box. Set the heat on full for 15 seconds. The moisture will stay on the skin, thus making the skin easy to peel. 2 Foaming Milk smoothiegirleatstoo.blogspot.com Want foamy milk for your hot beverages? Simply pour fresh milk about halfway in the jar. Close the lid and shake the milk until it becomes frothy. Remove the lid, place the jar in the microwave, and heat it high for 30 seconds. Once done, you can scoop the milk and place it on top of a hot drink. 1 Peeling Fruits www.ifood.tv Having a hard time with peeling fruits like tomatoes and peaches? Just have these fruits stay in the microwave on high heat for 30 seconds. Have it cool down for 2 minutes after heating. Once it cools, you will see the skin gradually peeling by itself. The rest will be simple. SEE ALSO: 15 Science Projects Better Than Making Slime (Your Kids Will Agree!) » NOW WATCH: 25 Best Netflix Original Movies Subscribe to List25