An apple is a high water-loaded fruit. When placed in the microwave, the moisture is heated causing buildup of steam pressure inside the apple.
Due to an available opening of the steam to escape, the apple will eventually explode.
How then do you microwave a whole apple?
Wash the apple, core, peel, and chop it into small equal pieces. Transfer the pieces to a microwavable bowl, add a tablespoon of water or oil, and cover the bowl.
Place it in the microwave, and on high power, nuke the microwave for 1 minute. Check the doneness of the apple by poking a piece with a wooden fork and if it is not tender enough, consider microwaving for 15 more seconds.
This article focuses on how to microwave a whole apple in the microwave. The step-to-step procedure of microwaving an apple, helpful tips, the duration it takes, whether it is safe, and what happens to an apple when microwaved are among the subheadings discussed in the article.
We also have your back for those who would like to make apple pie in the microwave.
Step to Step Procedure of Microwaving a Whole Apple
Requirements
- An apple
- A microwavable bowl
- Water
- baking powder ( optional)
- kitchen knife
- vegetable peeler
- Apple Corer
- spoon or melon baller( optional)
Procedure
Step one: Clean the Apple
Washing an apple before use is a very important step since it gets rid of all the pesticide chemicals used on them and bacteria that can be very harmful to your health.
There are two ways you could clean an apple, and they include: soaking the apple in a solution of baking powder and two cups of water for about 15 minutes, then rinsing it under tap water.
The second method is thoroughly washing the apple with clean running tap water.
Step two: Core the Apple
You can use an apple corer or a kitchen knife to core an apple.
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Apple corer
If you are using an apple corer, place the apple on the kitchen counter with the stem facing up. Ensure the surface is clean and steady. Place the corer in the middle of the apple and begin to push it slowly until it starts cutting through the apple.
Do not use all your strength; the corer might just go right through the apple heading for your counter surface to cause some damage.
To avoid such, you twist the corer as you push through the apple. Once you reach the other end, pull the cover out to separate the center stem and the seeds from the rest of the apples
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Kitchen Knife
There are several ways you could use a kitchen knife to remove the core of an apple. Place your apple on a clean kitchen counter surface or a chopping board. Poke the sharpest pointing edge of the knife into the apple a few inches from the stem.
Push the knife through the apple to the other end and begin to cut all around. Remove the knife and pull the apple’s stem to separate it from the apple.
Suppose not simply cut the apple into two halves to expose the stem. Use a spoon or melon baller to scoop the center or use the same kitchen knife to sparing cut off the stem and the seeds. Or simply peel the apple and begin to chop it into smaller pieces separating it from the core.
Step three: Peel the Apple
Use a vegetable peeler to remove the skin of the apple. However, this step is usually unnecessary; you can still go to the next step without peeling off its skin.
Step four: Chop the Apple
Use a kitchen knife to chop the apple into several equal pieces that can quickly be heated and softened in the microwave. If you opted to skip the peeling step, consider poking some holes through the skin of the apple pieces to allow the escape of the steam while microwaving.
Step five: Microwave the Apple
Transfer the chopped pieces of the apple to a microwavable bowl. Add a spoon of water to the bowl to prevent the apples from sticking to the bowl’s walls in the microwave. A spoon of cooking oil can also work in place of the water. Use a lid and cover the bowl to trap moisture.
Place the bowl in the microwave and heat the apple at high power for one minute. Remove the bowl from the microwave to check whether the apple is soft enough for you. If it needs more time to soften, consider microwaving for an extra 15 seconds. Consider adding some seasoning like cinnamon and sugar to enhance their taste.
Helpful Tips for Microwaving Apples
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Wash the Apples before Use
Different chemicals are used to sustain its adorable look before an apple reaches your kitchen in preparation for human consumption. Pesticides and preservatives. Even bacteria from the fruit store could still be attached to the apple. Do not assume the apples are clean because of their fresh look.
Always remember to clean them by washing them under a tap running water. If not, soak in water and baking powder or water and vinegar for about 15 minutes, rinse in clean water and use. Apples look fresh and yummy, but eating them without washing will lead to serious health issues.
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Core, Peel, and Chop the Apple before Microwaving
The mentioned activities are essential in achieving great final results. The core stem and the seeds of the apple have to be removed. Their presence will interfere with equal heat distribution through the apple and even cause it to taste bitter.
Pealing allows the steam to escape from the apple while microwaving. Microwaving an apple whose skin is still on might cause it to explode in the microwave just to pave the way for the steam to escape.
For even distribution of heat and faster softening of the apple, it must be chopped into smaller equal pieces.
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Use a Microwavable Bowl and a Lid
A microwave-safe bowl is a perfect container to use in a microwave. If you are unsure if the bowl is microwavable, look for a microwavable symbol or transfer the apples to a bowl that is safe to be microwaved. The lid is essential in trapping moisture into the bowl, preventing the microwave from interfering with the apple’s texture by evaporating the moisture in the apple.
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Sprinkle Some Water into the Bowl before Microwaving
The water will prevent the apples from sticking to the walls of the microwave when heating. You can also use a tablespoon of cooking oil to prevent the apple pieces from sticking to the walls of the bowl, only if you do not mind eating fried apples.
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Poke Some Holes into the Apple Skin
Suppose you did not peel the apple’s skin, remember to use a sharped edged knife to poke some holes through the skin of the apples. The holes are meant to give steam space to escape, or the apple will begin to burst and explode in the microwave.
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Microwaving time may vary
Softening the apple may take longer than the time mentioned in the article. That should not worry you. The time varies depending on the thickness of the apple pieces you had chopped or the microwave’s wattage.
Is it Safe to put Apples in the Microwave?
It is very much safe to put apples in the microwave. However, just like any other meal, it must be prepared following the correct requirements and steps. To microwave apples, you must core and peel their skin off.
Naturally, apples contain a lot of moisture. The moisture forms steam when you microwave an apple without peeling the skin off. The steam begins to form extreme pressure within the apple that eventually causes the apple to explode.
Also, remove the core of the apple before microwaving. Removing the core always contributes to the easier and faster heat distribution through the apple. It also gives you an easier time when eating. You don’t have to be careful not to eat the bitter-tasting seeds of the microwaved apple.
How Long do you Microwave Apples to Soften?
An apple can be microwaved for 1 to 3 minutes. The reasons why one apple may take longer than a minute to microwave include the weight and size of the apple.
Bigger apple pieces may require longer than just a minute to be microwaved, which is why chopping the apples into smaller sizeable pieces is advised.
The microwave wattage: different microwaves have a wattage ranging from 600 to 1,200 watts. The higher the wattage of your microwave, the faster it is to microwave an apple in your microwave.
The quantity of the apples will also determine how long it takes to microwave an apple. The more the apples you have to microwave, the longer it may take to soften all of them at once.
How do you make an Apple Pie in the Microwave?
Below is a simple step to step procedure for making apple pie in the microwave. The quantity will depend on the number of people you intend to make the apple pie for.
Requirements
Inner Filling Ingredients
- Thinly sliced apples
- Lemon juice
- Vanilla extract
- Cinnamon
- White sugar
- Prepackaged crust ( sold at the food store)
- Brown sugar
- Flour
Top Crumble Ingredients
- Brown sugar
- Flour
- cold butter
- quick oats
Other Requirements
- Microwavable pie bowl.
- A microwave-safe bowl
- fork
Step one: Microwave the Crust
Prepackaged pie crust can be bought from the food store. Remove the crust from its package and align it on a microwavable pie bowl.
Use folks to prick the sides and the bottom of the crust. Place the bowl in the microwave, and at high power, heat the crust for 5 minutes or until it turns brownish, then let it cool.
Step two: Prepare the pie’s inner fillings
Mix the thinly sliced apples, lemon juice, vanilla extract, cinnamon, white sugar, brown sugar, and flour in small reasonable quantities in a microwave-safe bowl to make a fine paste.
Place the bowl in the microwave and heat on high power for 2 1/2 minutes. Remove the bowl from the microwave and stir, then heat again for 2 1/2 minutes.
Add this mixture to the microwavable pie bowl and gently spread it over the crust.
Step three: Make the Pies ‘Top Crumble
Mix reasonable amounts of brown sugar, all-purpose flour, and quick oats, then cut a piece of cold butter into the mixture and gently stir to make a top pie crumble.
Sprinkle the mixture on top of the pie’s inner filling in the microwavable pie bowl. Use your figures to pad the mixture gently to reach all corners of the bowl.
Step four: Make the Pie in the Microwave
Return the entire pie to the microwave and heat at high power for 5 minutes. When ready, use gloves to remove the bowl from the microwave. It is extremely hot at this point. Allow it to cool down before serving.
What Happens when you Microwave a Whole Apple?
When a whole apple is placed in the microwave, the moisture inside the apple begins to heat, forming steam that needs to get out. The force brought by the steam begins to cause the apple to expand.
When the external skin of the apple can no longer hold the pressure of the steam, the apple bursts open, exploding in the microwave. Therefore, it is advisable to core, peel, and chop the Apple before Microwaving.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a whole apple can be microwaved; however, it needs to be cored, peeled and chopped into sizeable pieces that can quickly microwave.
Peeling the skin of the apple prevents it from exploding in the microwave. Microwaving time may also vary depending on the size, thickness, quantity of apples, and microwave wattage.
