Can you make a crispy toastie in a microwave?
...or even a gourmet cake? We test the gizmos that claim to zap up a feast
CRISP, crunchy bread and oozing melted cheese — who doesn’t love a good toasted sandwich?
Making the ultimate comfort food has now become a lot easier, thanks to a clever gadget that claims to make perfect toasties in your microwave. But does it work, or do you end up with rubbery bread and soggy fillings? TESSA CUNNINGHAM put it to the test, along with several other new gizmos which claim to cook up a feast in your microwave .
SANDWICH SCIENCE
Lekue Microwave Grill, €34, lakeland.co.uk I REMEMBER the thrill of buying my first toasted sandwich maker as a student — and the disappointment that followed. It cost a packet, hogged the worktop and was impossible to clean. So I was a sceptical about this dinky grill. It consists of two nonstick plates with silicone handles. Put it in the microwave for three minutes — beware, the plates will be super hot — then pop your sandwich between the plates and microwave for a further three minutes. Hey presto. A gloriously runny cheese, ham and tomato toastie complete with crisp bread and pretty griddle lines. And, joy of joys, the grill goes in the dishwasher. COOKING TIME: Three minutes. VERDICT: A revelation.
CHICKEN CHALLENGE
Lekue Deep Steam Case, €19.90, lekue.com THOUGHT it was impossible to roast a chicken in the microwave? Me too. It turns out we were right.
I smeared my 1.3 kg chicken with oil and seasoning, then put it in the steam case with some stock and microwaved for 10 minutes, before turning it over for another 15. The result: one steamed bird. The flesh was succulent, but it looked insipid, with no hint of roasted flavour.
COOKING TIME: 25 minutes. VERDICT: Succulent, but it’s no crispy roast.
CORN CREATION
Lekue Sweetcorn cooker, €22.90, lekue.com I LOVE saving time. But when you can boil corn on the cob in six minutes, what’s the point of this cooker, which does the same job?
COOKING TIME:Six minutes. VERDICT: Don’t bother!
CAKE HEAVEN
Levivo Round Silicone Baking Pan Cake Mould, €21, amazon. co.uk MY DESPAIRING family know I’ll never be on Bake Off but I’m intrigued to find out if I can cheat my way to a great cake in minutes.
This large baking pan — which can also be used in the oven — is made of non-stick silicone, meaning it’s easy to clean. Hoorah. And, while silicone would usually be too floppy to use for baking, this has a microwave-safe internal metal layer to support the cake as it rises.
I use a cake mix, pour it into the pan and put in the microwave for six minutes. I’m stunned: I get a perfectly risen, moist cake that turns out of the pan beautifully.
COOKING TIME: Six minutes. VERDICT: Bake Off, eat your heart out.
IS RICE AS NICE?
Sistema Microwave Rice Cooker, €12.99, woodies.ie IF, LIKE me, you’re still looking for the secret to perfect fluffy rice, you might pounce on this gadget. I put 250g rice and 600ml water in the container, covered and cooked for eight minutes. The grains were so hard, I blasted it for another three minutes. The result? A sticky mess. The instructions warn you may need to adjust timings and water, but I’ll stick to using a pan. COOKING TIME: 12 minutes. VERDICT: Use the hob.
GET CRACKING
Sistema Microwave Egg Poacher, €11.30, amazon.co.uk IF YOU love poached eggs, this neat gadget may be just the thing. But I wasted more than a dozen eggs before I mastered it. The pan consists of four egg-shaped colanders. I fill them with warm water, crack an egg and microwave for 1 minute 50 seconds. The eggs look raw. I increase the time in 10 second bursts until I hit three minutes. The eggs are quite rubbery. By my fourth attempt — 16 eggs later — I’ve got it right. COOKING TIME: Two minutes 40 seconds. VERDICT: Worth it in the end.