How to use your microwave

Found yourself left with a big mess to clean up after using the microwave? Food not cooked properly all the way through? Then you need to remind yourself of the basics when it comes to microwave use.

Your microwave may seem like the easiest and most convenient appliance in your kitchen – and it is – but little mistakes can cause big problems, so follow these tips carefully…

Don’t put metal in your microwave - it’s the most common mistake that people make. Ensure that you only use microwave safe cookware and don’t leave any pieces of metal cutlery inside. Microwaves can’t pass through metal, so cooking will be very uneven, and some parts may not even cook at all.

Arrange foods so that they cook evenly - Microwaves cook from the outside inwards, so arrange foods carefully with the thickest parts (such as broccoli stalks) outwards. Keep foods of the same shape and size together in a circle and try to avoid putting food in the centre. This will ensure that everything cooks evenly

Mix a cup of water with ¼ cup of vinegar together in a bowl. Pop it in your microwave and heat for 3-5 minutes, depending on how dirty your microwave is

Once done, leave the bowl in there with the door closed for a couple of minutes to give it some time to work.

Remove the bowl and wipe the clean your microwave – it should come off without any scrubbing required!