The Underused Appliance

The microwave was accidentally discovered in 1945 when an engineer, who was working with a magnetron tube and electromagnetic waves, noticed that the candy bar in his pocket had melted. The first food he intentionally nuked was popcorn, followed by an egg. His experiments eventually led to the world’s first commercial microwave oven, called the Radarange. It was 6 feet tall, weighed 750 pounds, and sold for about $3,000. We don’t know how some of these nontraditional uses for the microwave were discovered—we just know that they work. So get your money’s worth and use it for more than defrosting the chicken or reheating those leftovers.

Disinfect a sponge. University of Florida researchers say that you can kill harmful bacteria on cellulose kitchen sponges by microwaving them on high for about a minute (or until you see steam rising off it). Dampen the sponge in vinegar or lemon water first, and be careful when lifting it out after.

Soften up citrus. You’ll be able to squeeze more juice out of lemons and limes if you microwave them on high for 15 to 20 seconds.

Soothe sore muscles. Place a pound or two of rice in a tube sock, and tie off the end. Microwave it for about 2 minutes on high to warm, then use as a muscle soother. If the rice begins to take on an odor after several uses, empty the sock and refill with fresh rice.

Sterilize garden soil. Spread the dirt on a microwavable dish and heat it on high for 90 seconds or until it starts steaming. This kills fungi, bacteria, and weed seeds. Great for indoor planting.

Dry your own herbs. Wash them well, place between two paper towels, and microwave for about 40 seconds. Crumble into containers.

Create your own spa. Nuking a creamy, moisturizing facial mask for a few seconds will make it feel even more relaxing and indulgent. Or warm up oil for an at-home massage.

Bring back honey. If the honeypot in your cabinet has turned into a honeycomb, just take off the lid and heat it on medium for 30 to 60 seconds.

Sterilize jars. If you pickle or jam, then try sterilizing your jars in the microwave. Remove the lids, put an inch of water in each jar, then heat for a minute or two (or until the water starts to bubble). Let cool before removing.

Dry your own flowers. Put 4 cups of cat litter in a microwavable bowl. Create a small depression big enough for one flower, place it in, then cover the flower with more litter. Microwave on high for 2 to 3 minutes. Let cool, remove flower, and brush off. (Remember to remove the litter from the microwave so as not to confuse the cat.)