Kitchen Essentials

I often don’t have a lot of time to meal plan and prepare. That’s why I love using my microwave to defrost chicken. It’s a quick and easy way to ensure that I have a healthy and delicious meal on the table in no time. Thanks to modern technology, defrosting chicken has never been easier.

Yes, you can microwave almond milk, and I’ve found it’s a convenient way to warm it up for a cozy cup of almond milk latte or to incorporate it into hot cereals. Just be sure to use a microwave-safe container and heat it in short intervals while stirring to avoid any unwanted surprises. In my

Yes, you can microwave cooked salmon. Use 30% to 50% power, heat in 30-second intervals, add moisture, and cover it to avoid dryness and smell. I do it regularly when I need lunch on the table in under five minutes. The key is low power and short bursts, not blasting it on high until it

Yes, you can microwave brie. Cut off the top rind, microwave on high in 15-30 second bursts, and it’ll come out soft, creamy, and ready to serve in under a minute. It’s a quick alternative to baking it in the oven, and if you’re careful not to overcook it, the taste holds up just as

Yes, and you should. Uncured hot dogs are fully cooked and ready to eat straight from the package, but the USDA still recommends reheating them until steaming hot to guard against Listeria, especially if you’re pregnant, older, or immunocompromised. I used to think “uncured” meant raw, like the hot dog still needed to be cooked

No, you shouldn’t microwave a Dunkin’ cup. Dunkin’s hot cups are paper with a thin plastic lining, and that lining starts to soften around 176°F, well within microwave range, which can weaken the cup and cause leaks or burns. Pour the coffee into a mug instead. If you’ve ever grabbed a Dunkin’ coffee, let it

No, Red Solo cups shouldn’t go in the microwave. They’re made of polystyrene, which wasn’t designed to handle microwave heat and will warp or melt well before your drink gets warm. Red Solo cups are great for parties, but that’s exactly where they should stay. This is what actually happens if you try to microwave

The white Chinet plates most people use for parties and potlucks aren’t actually plastic. They’re molded fiber made mostly from recycled paper, and Chinet markets that line as microwave-safe for short reheating. Chinet’s actual plastic plates, the Cut Crystal line, are a different product entirely, and those are not safe to microwave. I go through

I’ve found that a Wolf microwave that runs but doesn’t heat almost always comes down to a failed magnetron, a bad diode or capacitor, a tripped thermal cut-out switch, or a control panel problem. Most of these are diagnosable at home, even if the actual repair is best left to a technician. I’ve replaced a

I’ve found that a Wolf microwave that won’t work is usually a power supply problem, a tripped circuit breaker, a faulty door interlock switch, a blown fuse, or a failed magnetron. The good news is most of these are easy to check yourself before you call in a technician. I’ve walked my own Wolf microwave

Smucker’s official guidance is not to microwave Uncrustables at all, since the filling can get scalding hot while the bread stays cold or tough. If you want one warm, thaw it at room temperature for 30 to 60 minutes instead. I’ll be honest, I used to microwave mine all the time without thinking twice about

It depends on which Tervis you own. Classic double-wall plastic tumblers are microwave-safe for short bursts as long as there’s no warning stamped on the bottom, but stainless steel Tervis tumblers should never go in the microwave. I used to assume every Tervis tumbler was fair game for the microwave since they all look so

To reheat fufu in the microwave, cover it with a microwave-safe lid or plastic wrap to lock in moisture, then heat at 50% power in 1-minute intervals, stirring between each one, until it hits 165°F. Fufu, the popular West African dish made from pounded yam, plantains, or cassava, almost always leaves me with leftovers. Luckily,

Yes, you can microwave protein powder mixed into a liquid or batter. Heat denatures protein, meaning it unfolds the protein’s structure, but that’s normal cooking chemistry, not damage. It doesn’t destroy the nutrition or make it unsafe. I used to avoid microwaving my protein oatmeal because I’d read that heat “destroys” protein powder. That’s not