Microwave Cooking Tools

Dishes and Bowls

• While some types of plastic storage containers can be used in microwaves, the most useful types are hard plastic types specially formulated to let microwaves pass easily through them and eliminate hot and cold spots. These containers are usually round or oval, as square or rectangular containers can leave microwaved food cold or uncooked in the corners. Specialty microwave dishes include butter warmers, pasta cooking containers, vegetable steamers and corn on the cob cookers.

Baking Tools

• Cakes, cupcakes, muffins, pies, cookies, pizza and bread can be prepared in microwaves with the right bakeware. These hard molded-plastic pans resemble conventional metal pans. They are designed to brown the foods on all sides during cooking, giving them the look, crispness and mouth-feel of conventionally prepared baked goods. Ring molds create an angle-free cooking environment to evenly microwave a variety of foods, including cooking several whole potatoes at once.

Food Covers

• Foods cooked uncovered in the microwave create messy interiors and soil the microwave carousel plate. Using a microwave splatter screen prevents grease and food particles from sullying the oven interior and food domes keep the oven clean while keeping moisture in dishes. These options are less messy, more cost-effective and safer than covering foods with plastic wrap or paper towels, which sometimes contain chemicals that leach into foods during cooking. Microwave reflector pans or flexible cooking sheets placed on top of regular microwave containers create crusts on tops of casseroles and gratins.

Gadgets and Ancillary Devices

• Besides basic microwave cooking tools, there are many specialized cooking devices that enhance microwave cooking. Trivets placed in the bottom of microwave dishes suspend foods above water or other liquids to steam them or maintain the overall crispness of reheated foods by letting air flow around them. Microwave bacon cookers have lower drip trays to catch the grease and turn out crisp, flat bacon. Plastic microwave poaching pods simplify this popular egg-cooking technique. Create attractive omelets by pouring equal portions of beaten egg into each side of a hinged microwave omelet maker, adding toppings and closing the sides together at the end of cooking. Perforated parchment paper and microwave-safe plastic wrap warm up leftover sandwiches or baked goods without making them soggy.