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Reheating and defrosting in the microwave: Tips for quick cooking

Fancy a delicious meal but don't want to wait? Time to use the microwave! This speedy kitchen appliance is the ideal tool for quick recipes. What is important when reheating and defrosting in the microwave? Here are the ultimate kitchen hacks.

Defrosting or reheating in the microwave: The most important functions

You can use any microwave to defrost or reheat, but some make it particularly easy for you. Thanks to various functions, they can sometimes even replace the oven, grill or pizza oven!

Defrost function
The defrost function reduces the appliance's power and releases it in intervals. This allows you, for example, to safely defrost minced meat in the microwave.
Baking function, fan oven, grill
Combination appliances have additional heating elements that equip your microwave with a baking function, convection heat or even a grill.
Standard function
Bei einer Standardfunktion kannst du selbst einstellen, mit welcher Wattzahl das Gerät arbeiten soll. Beim Auftauen und Aufwärmen gilt „low and slow“ .

Cream microwave with wooden knobs on a kitchen counter.

Essen in der Mikrowelle aufwärmen

Bereits zubereitete Speisen solltest du nur bei niedriger Leistung in der Mikrowelle aufwärmen. 400 bis 600 Watt sind genug. Decke sie ab, damit das Essen nicht austrocknet – es sei denn, du erwärmst Paniertes. Halte dich generell an folgende

Richtwerte für Zeit und Leistung:

Suppe (1 Teller): 2 bis 3 Minuten bei 600 Watt
Nudeln/Reis mit Soße (1 Teller): 1 bis 2 Minuten bei 600 Watt, dann 5 Minuten bei 360 Watt
Fleisch/Fisch (200 g): 3 bis 4 Minuten bei 360 Watt
Gemüse (500 g): 1 Minute bei 600 Watt, dann 5 Minuten bei 360 Watt
Komplettes Gericht (Fleisch, Gemüse, Kartoffeln): 1 Minute bei 600 Watt, dann 5 Minuten bei 360 Watt

5 golden rules for reheating food in the microwave

Leave the centre of the plate empty. Microwaves heat from the outside in, so a ring shape ensures more even and faster heating.
Add a splash of water to rice or pasta. This stops them from drying out when heating.
Metal is a no-go. Only use microwave-safe dishes – such as glass.
Stir halfway through. Give sauces or soups a quick stir to help distribute the heat more evenly.
Let it stand after heating. Allowing your food to rest in the microwave for a short while after heating helps the heat to distribute fully and evenly.

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Defrosting in the microwave

Defrosting in the microwave is a quick and easy alternative to long waiting times. However, to ensure the taste and texture are just right, there are a few things you should keep in mind.

Opt for a very low power setting of 180 to 240 watts. The food must not cook. If your microwave does not have a defrost programme, turn the power down manually. After defrosting in the microwave, let the food rest for around 10 minutes. This allows it to defrost completely. Again, only use microwave-safe dishes.

Defrosting times

Defrosting times depend primarily on the nature of the food. As a general rule: the higher the water content and the thicker the food, the longer the defrosting time. At a power level of 200 watts, the following guidelines apply:

Food	Weight/quantity	Defrosting time
Bread and rolls	300 to 1,000 g	2 to 15 minutes
Fruit and vegetables	250 to 500 g	4 to 12 minutes
Poultry	500 to 1,500 g	10 to 30 minutes
Fish	300 to 500 g	5 to 10 minutes
Meat and cold meats	500 to 1,000 g	10 to 25 minutes

5 golden rules for defrosting in the microwave

Wrap bread rolls or bread in a damp cloth. This keeps them soft and fluffy on the inside.
Turn thick foods like schnitzels halfway through, and stir soups regularly.
Place meat or poultry on an upturned plate, placed inside another plate. This "pedestal" allows excess water to drain away.
Cook meat or fish immediately after defrosting. Otherwise, bacteria will multiply quickly.
Portion the food before defrosting. This allows it to heat up faster and more evenly.

Clear round food containers with blue-rimmed lids, one filled with pasta salad, another with soup.

What should not go in the microwave?

Whether heating, defrosting or cooking – some foods have no place in the microwave. These include:

Raw fish or raw meat (for cooking)
Moist foods with skin or shells, such as eggs, tomatoes, grapes, etc.
Fats or oils
High-proof alcohol
Pure water

When it comes to materials for your cookware, metal, paper, many plastics and melamine are off-limits. Opt for heat-resistant glass, glazed stoneware or tableware that is explicitly suitable for microwaves!