12 times we gladly used the microwave

Food in a flash over flashy food deserves its spotlight.

Source: Adam Liaw

The microwave triumphed in the 1980s as the future of home cooking. Everyone wanted one to proudly display on their bench.

Then everyone realised that the term 'oven' was a bit of a misnomer. The microwave just didn't do what an oven does. Cakes didn't rise, roasts didn't brown, and absolutely nothing was crisp.

These days, the microwave is more a punchline than a revolution. Nigella (jokingly) calls it the mee-crow-wah-vay, Nat slams it on the Nat's What I Reckon YouTube channel (where it's known as the tucka f*cka), and chances are you only use yours for reheating leftovers.

But let's pull back a bit. Microwave cooking is time efficient and if you do it right, it's also just as tasty as oven-baking. Master the microwave and you'll literally be able to produce a meal or dessert at the touch of a button. 

Try one of these recipes to nail the technique and you'll be thanking us when you've got your dish done and dusted with very little effort at all.

Pop to it

Ditch the store-bought variety and make your own microwave popcorn with a paper bag and a handful of popcorn kernels. Source: Donna Hay

Easy-breezy packaged microwave popcorn bags are one of the microwave's biggest success stories. Even better, you don't have to buy them, you can easily make your own bags at home. You can also add fancy flavours if you like.

Flashy flan

The method for this flan is essentially mix, zap, mix, zap, chill. Source: SBS

This leche flan recipe is exactly why you need to learn to love your mee-crow-wah-vay. Four ingredients, five minutes, a few pushes of a button.

Micro-eggs

Crack an egg into a small ramekin, prick the yolks with a toothpick, add a splash of water, then cook for about 30 seconds. Ding! Source: Adam Liaw

Adam Liaw does the egg topper for his wagyu don in, you guessed it, the microwave. They're ready in approximately 30 seconds.

Milly micro

This is a great option for those of you who want to create the flavours of a mille-feuille or vanilla slice without all the fuss. Source: China Squirrel

Poh Ling Yeow is also a fan of the microwave, making parts of her milly mess dessert to the familiar tune of beep, beep, beep. If Poh's doing it then it must be back in style, right?

A minute of bliss

This molten masterpiece will withstand any excuse for not making cake. Source: Loving Gluten Free

This gluten-free chocolate cake in a cup brings together everything we love about microwave cooking. It's fast, it's clever, it's easy, it's perfectly made for one.

Nothing fishy

Dinner parties don't get any easier than this. Source: Pat Yip

A whole fish cooked in the micro seems... ambitious. Yet here she is, glossy, fragrant and perfectly cooked through.

Chip off

A good strategy is to microwave the potatoes the day before to allow them to chill in the fridge before frying. Source: Adam Liaw

Twice-cooked chips are twice as nice when you cook them the first time in the microwave. No saucepan and steamer are required, so think of the washing-up savings, too!

Dim fun

When you're itching for a chewy rice roll fix, the microwave has you covered. Source: SBS

When you're craving dim sum but it's out of reach, hit the door-open button and get cooking. Cheung fun (or at least something quite like it) is only moments away.

Melt away

To temper couverture chocolate, place it into a microwave-safe plastic bowl, heat in 30 second increments, stirring in between. Source: The Chocolate Queen

It's no secret to anyone that melting chocolate in the microwave is the easiest method. Just remember to zap and stir, zap and stir. Then pour it over a butterfly template to create something truly worthy.

Mush-zooms

A splash of brandy, thyme, sour cream and a few other trimmings give these mushies on toast a real kick. Source: Adam Liaw

Microwave your mushrooms for a speedy topping on parmesan toast. The perfect quick-fix dinner.

Steamy sponge

Fair enough, this chocolate microwave sponge is just as much pudding as sponge. Either way, it's really good! Source: The Chocolate Queen

Yes, it's a sponge cake in the microwave. While your local CWA lady would probably blanche at the thought, it's got a really nice, airy texture, so there.

Too good tofu

The microwave makes it super simple to cook for one... or many. Source: Adam Liaw

A comforting, gingery silken tofu dinner is ready to eat in less than 10 minutes thanks to our new best friend in the kitchen.