Considering how useful a microwave is for defrosting and reheating food, it's hard to imagine a modern kitchen without one.

Of course, a microwave isn't limited to only warming up yesterday's dinner; you can whip up some amazing meals in it too! From mug cakes to omelettes, many simple dishes can be prepared in a flash using this time-saving appliance.

As well as saving time, microwaves are also a cost-effective way to cook because they use less energy than regular ovens, grills, and stoves.

They are the ultimate symbol of comfort and convenience in a kitchen!

Many people now cook their meals in microwaves as the cost-of-living problems continue. Credit: Getty Images.​

But sadly, cooking meals in a microwave is generally frowned upon, especially in the culinary world.

In his role as a judge on the popular cooking competition MasterChef, renowned restaurateur and TV personality Gordon Ramsay is known for his strict ban on the use of microwaves whenever possible.

'Microwaves are for lazy cooks,' said Ramsay in an interview with Insider. He hates using it so much that he doesn't even have one in his kitchen at home.

Ramsay did admit, though, that microwaves have their place for things like warming food or getting water to a boil rapidly. 'But to actually say it imparts flavours? No,' he said. 'It sends your f***ing brain haywire. So no. Absolute bull***t with a capital B.'

Gordon Ramsay said microwaves are for 'lazy cooks'. Credit: FOX.​

Some people worry that eating food cooked in a microwave will affect their health or deplete the food of its nutritional value, and this has contributed to the microwave's negative reputation.

But, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), a microwave won't make your food radioactive. They say that the microwave is like a light bulb in the sense that there are no waves left in the oven after it is turned off.

They did advise, though, that limited waves could leak out, and this is totally normal, but dirty or broken seals can make the risk of radiation higher.

Since microwave cooking has been given the OK from health experts, maybe we could give it a go? Even foodies on social media say that microwave cooking is definitely on the rise again.

With minute recipes popping up almost everywhere, more and more Aussies are getting ready to go beyond frozen ready meals and put their microwaves to good use by making a variety of tasty, healthy meals and desserts.

Here are some of them!

You won't get that golden crust like you would if you cooked the scallops in a pan, but they are still tasty. Credit: Recipes.net. (Stock photo)​

Garlic butter scallops

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp. butter
• 1 tbsp. dry white wine, vermouth or chablis
• 1 tbsp. lemon juice
• 2 tbsp. snipped parsley
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 lb. fresh scallops

Method:

1. Place butter in a microwave-safe casserole dish. Microwave on high for 30-45 seconds or until melted. Stir in remaining ingredients mixing to coat evenly. Cover with a casserole lid or plastic wrap.
2. Microwave on medium for 3 minutes. Stir and turn the dish. Continue microwaving for about 2 more minutes until scallops are opaque.
3. Let stand for 1 minute with the lid in place. Check for doneness. This method will retain the delicate texture and flavour.
4. If you feel they are not quite done, use only 30-second intervals of added time.
5. Serve these over hot linguine noodles or rice.

Prosciutto Risotto (from David Chang's No-Stir Risotto Recipe)

Ingredients:

• 300g risotto rice
• 470ml chicken stock
• 235ml water
• 1/2 chopped onion
• A splash of soy sauce
• A handful of fresh garden peas
• 200g asparagus, chopped
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• A handful of grated Parmesan
• A splash of white wine
• 6 slices of prosciutto

Method:

1. Mix rice, stock, water, onion and soy sauce together and microwave on high for 25 to 35 minutes until the liquid is mostly gone, removing every 8 minutes to stir.
2. Add another 235ml water, peas and chopped asparagus and microwave on high for 5 to 8 minutes until creamy. Stir in butter, Parmesan, wine and seasoning.
3. Next, line a plate with 3 layers of kitchen paper. Arrange prosciutto on top without overlapping and cover with 2 layers of kitchen paper. Microwave on high for 4 to 6 minutes until crisp.
4. Serve with Parmesan.

This chocolate cake made in the microwave is gooey and fudgy, but also very sweet, so you may need to adjust it to your taste. Credit: Food Network. (Stock photo)​

Gooey chocolate cake (from Sarah Rainey's Six-Minute Showstoppers)

Ingredients:

• 100g unsalted butter
• 2 eggs
• 200g caster sugar
• 50g self-raising flour
• 40g cocoa powder
• 4 small (40g) Mars bars

Method:

1. Microwave butter on high for 45 seconds until melted.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar until pale and fluffy, then add melted butter. Sieve in the flour and cocoa powder, and then add two-thirds of the chopped Mars bars.
3. Pour into a greased microwave-safe dish or mug with remaining chocolate on top and heat on high for 3 minutes. Score a knife over the top to marble the topping and heat for another minute.
4. Serve and enjoy!

Try some more of the following recipes from the video below, all of which can be prepared in a microwave in minutes. Members, we hope you have fun in the kitchen! Which recipe are you most looking forward to trying?

Credit: Tasty Recipes.​

 

[Ricci]

I have a small convection microwave that I use most days, such that I have never used my large wall oven. It's quicker, cheaper to run and plenty big enough when only cooking for one.

 

[rehandra]

Considering how useful a microwave is for defrosting and reheating food, it's hard to imagine a modern kitchen without one.

Of course, a microwave isn't limited to only warming up yesterday's dinner; you can whip up some amazing meals in it too! From mug cakes to omelettes, many simple dishes can be prepared in a flash using this time-saving appliance.

As well as saving time, microwaves are also a cost-effective way to cook because they use less energy than regular ovens, grills, and stoves.

They are the ultimate symbol of comfort and convenience in a kitchen!

Many people now cook their meals in microwaves as the cost-of-living problems continue. Credit: Getty Images.​

But sadly, cooking meals in a microwave is generally frowned upon, especially in the culinary world.

In his role as a judge on the popular cooking competition MasterChef, renowned restaurateur and TV personality Gordon Ramsay is known for his strict ban on the use of microwaves whenever possible.

'Microwaves are for lazy cooks,' said Ramsay in an interview with Insider. He hates using it so much that he doesn't even have one in his kitchen at home.

Ramsay did admit, though, that microwaves have their place for things like warming food or getting water to a boil rapidly. 'But to actually say it imparts flavours? No,' he said. 'It sends your f***ing brain haywire. So no. Absolute bull***t with a capital B.'

Gordon Ramsay said microwaves are for 'lazy cooks'. Credit: FOX.​

Some people worry that eating food cooked in a microwave will affect their health or deplete the food of its nutritional value, and this has contributed to the microwave's negative reputation.

But, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), a microwave won't make your food radioactive. They say that the microwave is like a light bulb in the sense that there are no waves left in the oven after it is turned off.

They did advise, though, that limited waves could leak out, and this is totally normal, but dirty or broken seals can make the risk of radiation higher.

Since microwave cooking has been given the OK from health experts, maybe we could give it a go? Even foodies on social media say that microwave cooking is definitely on the rise again.

With minute recipes popping up almost everywhere, more and more Aussies are getting ready to go beyond frozen ready meals and put their microwaves to good use by making a variety of tasty, healthy meals and desserts.

Here are some of them!

You won't get that golden crust like you would if you cooked the scallops in a pan, but they are still tasty. Credit: Recipes.net. (Stock photo)​

Garlic butter scallops

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp. butter
• 1 tbsp. dry white wine, vermouth or chablis
• 1 tbsp. lemon juice
• 2 tbsp. snipped parsley
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 lb. fresh scallops

Method:

1. Place butter in a microwave-safe casserole dish. Microwave on high for 30-45 seconds or until melted. Stir in remaining ingredients mixing to coat evenly. Cover with a casserole lid or plastic wrap.
2. Microwave on medium for 3 minutes. Stir and turn the dish. Continue microwaving for about 2 more minutes until scallops are opaque.
3. Let stand for 1 minute with the lid in place. Check for doneness. This method will retain the delicate texture and flavour.
4. If you feel they are not quite done, use only 30-second intervals of added time.
5. Serve these over hot linguine noodles or rice.

Prosciutto Risotto (from David Chang's No-Stir Risotto Recipe)

Ingredients:

• 300g risotto rice
• 470ml chicken stock
• 235ml water
• 1/2 chopped onion
• A splash of soy sauce
• A handful of fresh garden peas
• 200g asparagus, chopped
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• A handful of grated Parmesan
• A splash of white wine
• 6 slices of prosciutto

Method:

1. Mix rice, stock, water, onion and soy sauce together and microwave on high for 25 to 35 minutes until the liquid is mostly gone, removing every 8 minutes to stir.
2. Add another 235ml water, peas and chopped asparagus and microwave on high for 5 to 8 minutes until creamy. Stir in butter, Parmesan, wine and seasoning.
3. Next, line a plate with 3 layers of kitchen paper. Arrange prosciutto on top without overlapping and cover with 2 layers of kitchen paper. Microwave on high for 4 to 6 minutes until crisp.
4. Serve with Parmesan.

This chocolate cake made in the microwave is gooey and fudgy, but also very sweet, so you may need to adjust it to your taste. Credit: Food Network. (Stock photo)​

Gooey chocolate cake (from Sarah Rainey's Six-Minute Showstoppers)

Ingredients:

• 100g unsalted butter
• 2 eggs
• 200g caster sugar
• 50g self-raising flour
• 40g cocoa powder
• 4 small (40g) Mars bars

Method:

1. Microwave butter on high for 45 seconds until melted.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar until pale and fluffy, then add melted butter. Sieve in the flour and cocoa powder, and then add two-thirds of the chopped Mars bars.
3. Pour into a greased microwave-safe dish or mug with remaining chocolate on top and heat on high for 3 minutes. Score a knife over the top to marble the topping and heat for another minute.
4. Serve and enjoy!

Try some more of the following recipes from the video below, all of which can be prepared in a microwave in minutes. Members, we hope you have fun in the kitchen! Which recipe are you most looking forward to trying?

Credit: Tasty Recipes.​

Just a note of warning.....it would be helpful if the recipes showed the wattage of the microwave used as some are 800 watt, some 1000 watt and some 1100 watt. You need to adjust the timing for each one.

 

[Suzanne rose]

I defrost , reheat and cook things like frozen food but you just don't get the same results as cooking on a stove or oven .

We use our airfryer more and I'm the only one who uses the microwave

 

[Thecheesequeen]

I always cook rice in my microwave - every single time. It always turns out perfectly.