10 Surprising Things You Can Cook in the Microwave

We all know what a microwave is for, right? It’s for reheating leftovers and steaming broccoli. Yawn. If you’re going to give so much precious kitchen real estate to a microwave oven, you better make it work harder than that!

Here are 10 more things you can do with your microwave, from making healthier potato chips to frothing milk foam for your latte.

The microwave is looked down upon by many home cooks, given its associations with TV dinners and frozen burritos, but it is actually a healthier way of cooking vegetables, says Harold McGee, food science guru. It leaves more nutrients intact, and you can use it to steam food without using as much fat.

→ Read more: How Microwaves Heat Your Food

Beyond these benefits, though, you can use the microwave for some unexpected and rather awesome purposes.

Let’s start with the essentials: cake. You can make mug cakes in the microwave in just a couple minutes, with a few basic ingredients. Your Oatmeal Nutella Cake and Pumpkin Pie in a Mug are not far away — or try one of these 13 easy mug cakes.

Great for the office. Take some leftover greens or pasta and poach a fresh, gooey egg to throw on top.

Easy, crispy potato chips — from the microwave? With no fat? Believe it.

Polenta doesn’t have to be a time-consuming stovetop affair. This makes a quick bowl for breakfast or supper.

Yes, cook the pasta and the sauce in the microwave; it’s ready in less than 10 minutes. This method wins over the box every time.

No, you don’t need a special machine — just your microwave and a jar, and you can have a delicious cappuccino or Pumpkin Spice Latte any time of year.

Yep, you can toast nuts in the microwave. It’s quick, with less chance of scorching them.

A good way to preserve fresh herbs for the fall and winter.

No, we don’t recommend making bread in your microwave, but it can help you bake a homemade loaf! Hurry up your last bread rise a little bit with a couple zaps from the microwave.

Wait, you say — I know the microwave makes popcorn. You just buy those little packets … well, yes, but did you know you can skip those and just put regular popcorn kernels in a greased bowl or in a plain paper bag and pop them in the microwave that way? Watch the video above!

We could go on and on, actually — how about making lemon curd or

softening cheese for the cheese plate

But it’s your turn now — do you have any smart, unexpected uses for your microwave?