When you live in a dorm, the only appliances you truly have full access to are a mini fridge and a microwave. Your microwave can be used for so much more than just reheating last night's pizza. Use this guide to make sure you're getting the most out of your microwave.
1. Getting more juice from lemons
Does your hand cramp up from trying to squeeze out every last drop of a lemon? The microwave will save the day. Putting any citrus fruit in the microwave for 30-60 seconds will make it much easier to squeeze out.
2. Dying fabrics
Tie dying can be a mess. It gets all over you and then it's even more of a pain to clean up. Believe it or not, the perfect fix is your microwave. All you have to do is mix the dye with water in a bowl and put your article of clothing in it. Set the microwave for 1-2 minutes depending on your fabric and then remove and rinse and das it!
3. Decrystallizing honey
If you have honey sitting somewhere on the back of shelf there's a good chance it turned hard. Doesn't mean ya gotta throw it away though. Uncover the jar and heat it up for 30-60 seconds and your honey should be as good as new.
4. Liquify dried-up mascara
How annoying is it to throw away mascara that is all dried up? Put your mascara stick next to a cup of water inside the microwave and heat it for 30-40 seconds to bring it back to life.
5. Roast garlic
No one wants to wait for an almost an hour for garlic to roast in the oven. Why not speed up the process by using your one and only microwave?
6. Revive stale bread
Believe it or not, just because your bread is as hard as a rock doesn't mean you gotta toss it! Cover the bread with a soaking wet kitchen towel and put it in the microwave for 10 seconds. Then repeat this until the bread is fully re-hydrated.
7. Cooking bacon
Whether you live in a dorm or just don't feel like using an oven, no one should be deprived of bacon. All you have to do is wrap slices of bacon in kitchen towels and microwave for 2-3 minutes. In no time, you'll have crispy slices because the towel soaks up the moisture from the bacon.
8. Steam milk
You don't have to spend all your money on Starbucks' lattes when you can make your own foam. Just fill a jar halfway with milk, shake and then microwave for 30 seconds (with the lid off).
9. Poach eggs
You can still treat yo'self even if you only have 10 minutes to grab breakfast before class. Getting prime #yolkporn has never been so simple. All you need is a cup of water and a microwave.
10. Reuse stamps
For the very few times a year you actually use stamps to send a birthday card or two, save your money and reuse an old stamp. Put a drop of water on a stamp that is already on an old envelope and microwave for around 15 seconds and done!
11. Disinfect sponges
I know what you're thinking, your roommates are probably lucky enough if you even use a sponge weekly, let alone clean the sponges themselves. However, if you're an avid cleaner and dirty sponges gross you out, turn to your microwave. Soak the sponge in water and microwave for a minute and all those germs should be gone for good.
Now you can make sure to get your money's worth of your microwave. Bet you can survive with nothing other than this handy appliance.