Microwave ovens are one of my favorite “modern” inventions. Before we had them, how did anyone rewarm their coffee? LOL

When microwave ovens first came on the market, people predicted that we’d be cooking roasts and turkeys in them. I have never done that, have you?

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I do use mine to make sauces, heat (or reheat) foods, melt butter and cook prepackaged meals. Microwaves are perfect for rewarming a cold slice of pizza left from the night before. Pop it in the microwave and you have a quick, delicious snack. I love popcorn and, in a microwave, it pops in 3 minutes or less. Perfection. No, don’t take my microwave away from me or I’ll be one unhappy mom.

Keeping Your Microwave Clean…Prevent A Mess Before It Happens

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Benjamin Franklin

Let’s face it, everything needs to be cleaned once in a while, including microwave ovens. You can prolong actually cleaning yours by preparing in advance.

Microwaves get dirty quicker when:

• Liquids are overheated and they spill. Keep an eye on it and stop the device before it overflows. Melting butter in the microwave is especially tricky. Keep an eye on it and turn it off before it spills over.
• You heat items in your microwave that “explode”. These foods include hot dogs, sausages, baked beans and eggs. Anything that has some kind of casing (yes, egg yolks have a thin one) will blow up all over the inside of your microwave, given enough time. When heating those items, either cook them in a different device [stove top, regular oven, slow cooker or outdoor grill] or cover them loosely with a paper towel before heating. Again, watch them closely.

TIP: When there is a spill, the simple solution is to clean it immediately so that the problem does not compound.

But when the day comes that your microwave does need a thorough cleaning, there is an easy way to do it.

How To Clean A Microwave Oven

You will need …

• White vinegar
• Water
• Microwavable bowl – 3 cup size or a little larger
• A clean dish towel

1. Combine 1 cup white vinegar and 1 cup hot water in a 3 cup microwavable container.
2. Place it in the microwave on high and heat for 10 minutes.
3. Allow it to sit another 5 minutes, without opening the door. The steam will loosen the cooked-on food.
4. Wipe it out with a clean kitchen towel. Done!

TIP: For deep-set spills on the turntable, pre-treat the area by pouring ¼ cup of hot water on the spill and let it sit for a little while. Carefully remove the glass turntable and clean it off in the kitchen sink using soap and water. Towel dry and put the turntable back into the microwave. Now, follow the steps listed above.

TIP: To add extra shine, put some rubbing alcohol in a plastic spray bottle. Spritz and polish with a clean paper towel or a clean paper coffee filter. Voila. Perfect.

How to clean a microwave till it shines! #cleaning #tips Share on X

Do YOU cook meals from scratch in your microwave?
Want to try? Here are some quick recipes you may like: Easy Microwave Recipes

Enjoy!

Photo credit:

Dirty microwave from That’s So Pinteresting