Last night while preparing my dinner, I was feeling lazy and so instead of sauteing onions on the stove, I decided to do that in the microwave. In no time, I cut onions and kept them in the microwave so that they get soft.
To my surprise, I saw a little fire in the microwave. I soon understood that I should not have kept this in the microwave and immediately switched off the microwave and took the onion plate outside.
I was scared and with research got to know that onions spark in the microwave due to the arching effect.
Foods containing high amounts of minerals, iron, selenium, and magnesium when kept in the microwave can cause sparking.
These foods act as small pieces of metal and just like microwaves bounce a fork, in the same way, they do with these food items leading to the sparkling effect.
Even after sparking, onions are still edible, however, the taste would not be that good as cooking has not been done properly. An electric field is created by microwave radiations which do different things with different materials.
When you keep a mug of tea or a bowl of pasta in the microwave, water molecules in them absorb microwaves due to which there is the movement of the molecules and heat is produced.
But this is not the same when vegetables with metal are kept inside the microwaves. Metal is a good conductor of electricity, acts as a lightning rod, and forms a stronger electric field as compared to the air around it.
For the material with low electrical potential, a beeline is made by the electrical charge so that it can cool off. This leads to arching and sparks that occur mainly when there is a connection between an electric charge with two surfaces through the air.
Vegetables like onions absorb minerals like iron, magnesium, and copper from the soil through their roots and these minerals are then transferred to different parts like stems, leaves, and fruits in various amounts.
When the onion is kept in the microwave (without any extra water which helps in lowering the arching effect), the tiny metal particles boost the local electrical field leading to sparks.
When this happens, you should not waste any time watching the fireworks show, instead press the ‘stop’ button on the microwave and take the food out and find another way to cook it.
How to dry onions in microwave?
To dry onions in the microwave, the following method can be adopted:
- Take fresh onions and cut them into thinly sliced pieces.
- Use a microwave-safe plate and put the sliced pieces of onion on them. Place this plate inside the microwave.
- Change the setting of the microwave to ‘defrost’ so that onions do not get burned.
- Microwave for 30 minutes on defrosting setting.
- Check if the onions are dried completely. Flip them and check thoroughly.
- If required, you can microwave for some more time.
Using a microwave to dry onions is an easy and fast method and has gained popularity as well. As compared to the conventional process, it is better as there is less damage to the quality of the onions as these are exposed to the dehydration process for a short period.
How to soften onions in the microwave?
Below is the method to soften onions in the microwave:
- Take onions and peel them nicely. Now, cut them in thin uniform slices so that they are cooked evenly.
- In a microwavable bowl, put all the slices of onion. Drizzle some olive oil over them so that slices get coated lightly.
- Add salt to taste as this will help in softening the onions. Also, add cracked pepper to them and toss the slices well.
- Use a lid to cover the dish and microwave onions for 5-7 minutes on high. Stir the onions after every 2 minutes.
- After 5-7 minutes, toss them again and remove the lid. Cook them again in the microwave for 2-3 minutes uncovered so that they become tender and limp.
The coating of olive oil on onions is important to keep them moist. You should stir them in between to prevent uneven cooking.
Onions cooked in the microwave by the above method can be added to egg-fried rice, omelet, or, cheese & potato pie.
How to peel pearl onions in the microwave?
Peeling pearl onions is a tedious task but when heated in a microwave for 20-30 seconds, it can be done easily.
To peel pearl onions in the microwave, follow this:
- Take a microwave-safe dish and put pearl onions on it.
- Microwave on high for 20-30 seconds.
- Check if the skin can be peeled easily.
- If yes, let the onions stand for 10-20 seconds till they become cool.
- Peel the onions by sliding down the skin.
Pearl onions are used widely and after warming them in a microwave, it becomes easy to peel them.
How to freeze onions without the smell?
Before freezing onions, you do not have to blanch or pre-cook them. You just need to peel, chop, and freeze them. It’s super easy and super-fast.
While freezing onions, you must take care that the smell of the onions does not spoil other vegetables kept in the freezer.
To freeze onions without the smell, follow the below-mentioned steps:
- Peel the onions and chop or slice them.
- Put them in a freezer bag which should be thick or use several small bags one inside the other to prevent the spreading of the smell.
- You can also wrap the onions in a plastic food wrap first and then into the freezer bag to keep the smell away from everything else.
Try to keep the bag of the onion away from things like baked goods or desserts. Chopped onion when frozen may form clumps. To avoid this, before using, bang the bag against the counter a few times.
Frozen chopped onions should be used within 3-6 months so that there is better retention of flavor.
Conclusion
Sauteing onions in the microwave is a very common practice especially when you do not have much time for the preparation.
However, you must be careful as vegetables like onion may cause sparking in the microwave due to the iron content in it. I hope the above information is useful for you.