Did you know you can make a delicious soup by microwaving tomatoes? Tomatoes are the basis of most meals in my home. Often we are used to making tomato-based stew dishes on a stove in a saucepan.
Below is how to microwave tomatoes.
Slit the skin of the tomatoes by making an X cut at the bottom, place them on a microwavable bowl, and microwave for 2 to 5 minutes or until the skin peels off completely.
This article explains how to microwave tomatoes. Other topics discussed include How to cook tomatoes in the microwave, How long it takes to microwave a tomato, How do you blanch a tomato in the microwave, Can I microwave frozen tomatoes, and Is It Safe to Microwave Tomatoes, among others.
Can You Microwave Tomatoes?
Yes, you can microwave tomatoes. The first step is to ensure that the skin is slit, place them on a microwavable bowl, and microwave at high power for 2 to 5 minutes. Suppose the tomatoes will not be heated to your liking; you could repeat the process at an interval of 30 seconds.
Below is the procedure to take you through microwaving tomatoes.
Requirements
- Ripe tomatoes
- Microwavable bowl
- Kitchen knife
Procedure on How to Microwave Tomatoes
1. wash the tomatoes
Ensure the tomatoes are washed under running water before microwaving. This ensures that any chemicals used on the vegetables have been washed off. Tomatoes may contain some fertilizer chemicals from the farm or preservatives from the food store. Such chemicals could harm you when consumed.
2. Slit the skin of the tomatoes
Use a kitchen knife and slit the skin of the tomatoes. The slit allows the steam from the tomatoes to escape as it microwaves. Without the space, the tomatoes may create a mess in the microwave by bursting open and splattering all over.
3. Microwave the tomatoes
Place the tomatoes in a microwavable bowl. If you have several of them, ensure to arrange them with adequate space between them. Place them in the microwave and heat the tomatoes at high power for 2 to 5 minutes. Ensure to check the tomatoes after every minute. If the tomatoes need more time to be microwaved, ensure they are microwaved at an interval of 30 seconds as you keep checking.
As you peel off the skin of the tomatoes that have just finished microwaving, be careful, the inner flesh could still be extremely hot, and you could burn your skin in the process. It is better to allow the tomatoes to stay at room temperature for a minute before you touch them.
How to Cook Tomatoes in Microwave Tips
Take two clean tomatoes and make two light crisscross (X) slits on them from the bottom. Place them on a microwave-safe bowl and microwave at high power for two to 5 minutes.
The most important first step is to ensure that the tomatoes are ripe. Ripe tomatoes will make a perfect soup and take a shorter time to cook.
Second, ensure that the tomatoes are clean. You wouldn’t want to cook tomatoes that have some traces of fertilizer or preservative chemicals from the farm and food store.
Thirdly, it is essential to use a microwavable bowl. It is always advisable to use a microwave-safe bowl or container when cooking any meal in the microwave. You wouldn’t want to encourage some form of contamination in your meal that will l harm you in the future.
Finally, cook the tomatoes in the microwave at high power for two to five minutes. Keep checking on the tomatoes to ensure they are cooking right. Suppose the time elapses without the tomatoes cooking to the point of your choice; keep microwaving at an interval of 30 seconds.
When the tomatoes are fully cooked to your liking, do not rush into peeling off the skin. The inner flesh is often scorching and steamy; allow them to rest at room temperature for a minute or two so that you do not have burnt figure tips after peeling their skin off.
How Long Does it Take to Microwave a Tomato
It takes an average microwave to microwave two tomatoes for at least 2 to 5 minutes.
The microwaving time may vary depending on how ripe the tomatoes were, the number of tomatoes being microwaved, and the power of your microwave.
Below is how the mentioned factors will affect the microwaving duration of tomatoes.
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The ripeness of the tomatoes
Ripe tomatoes are easy to microwave and take the least time to get ready. They are also perfect tomatoes for making thick delicious stews and soup. Ripe tomatoes will take 2 minutes to microwave. However, a tomato that is still green is why you need the extra minutes to 5 or even longer.
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The number of tomatoes being microwaved
The more tomatoes you microwave, the longer it takes. The time used to microwave two tomatoes is not the same time used to microwave four tomatoes. You may be required to add up to 2 more minutes to the timer. The timer becomes even longer when you are microwaving more tomatoes that are not ripe.
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The power of the microwave
If you have a microwave with higher microwaving power, the duration for microwaving your tomatoes may be shorter than the mentioned time. The higher the wattage level of a microwave, the shorter the microwaving time for all kinds of foods.
How Do You Blanch a Tomato in the Microwave
To blanch tomatoes in the microwave, score the bottom with an X cut. Place the tomatoes in a microwavable bowl and microwave for 2 minutes. Remove the bowl from the microwave and transfer the tomatoes into ice water for about 2 minutes. Remove the tomatoes and peel off the skin.
As explained earlier, the X cut ensures that heat gets into the tomatoes and that excess steam escapes without letting the tomatoes explode.
Since we are blanching and not making a stew, it is better to microwave the tomatoes for only about two minutes. The ice water cools the tomatoes and makes it easier for you to peel off their skin. Since the tomato is not fully cooked, the skin may prove stubborn to peel, but the ice water will make it easier.
Can I Microwave Frozen Tomatoes
Yes, you can microwave frozen tomatoes; however, it will depend on what you want to use them for.
Suppose you would like to use them for your salad; it is best if you do not microwave them, as they will not be so fresh for the salad. They will come out too mushy.
Also, once tomatoes have been frozen, they don’t usually freeze wholly; after thawing, you may later realize they are not edible when added to your salad. However, they could make a perfect sauce. If you want to use the frozen tomatoes to make a stew dish, you can microwave them straight from the freeze.
Is It Safe To Microwave Tomatoes?
Yes, it is safe to microwave tomatoes. There is no harm brought by it as long as they are washed and microwaved on a microwave-safe plate.
Washing fresh tomatoes is important because they may still have some trace of fertilizer chemicals from the farm. Such chemicals could bring serious health issues if consumed. Therefore, ensure you wash the tomatoes thoroughly under running water to wash off the chemicals.
Another safety measure when microwaving tomatoes is to use a microwavable bowl. It is best to be sure that the container being used is microwave safe than putting a container made of substances that could harm your health or damage your microwave by exploding.
The third most important safety precaution when microwaving tomatoes do not rush to peel their skin off. The tomatoes are extremely hot and the chances are you might burn the tips of your fingers. Allow the tomatoes to sit at room temperature for at least two minutes before peeling their skin off.
Do Tomatoes Explode In The Microwave?
Yes, tomatoes can explode in the microwave, especially if you forgot to make the X cut at the bottom.
Tomatoes have excess water within. The microwave cooks food from within; it uses the moisture in the food to cook it. Since tomatoes already have excess water, cooking them becomes easier and faster for the microwave. The water is heated up too faster; it begins to boil; within a few minutes, pressure begins to build in the tomato.
When the pressure becomes too much, it needs to escape, suppose there is no space to escape the tomato ends up exploding.
Can You Grill Tomatoes in the Microwave
Yes, you can grill tomatoes in the microwave. Slice the tomatoes into equal round-shaped and arrange them on a microwavable tray with space between them. Drizzle some cooking oil over the tomatoes and microwave at high power for 10 minutes.
Keep checking on the tomatoes every minute to ensure they do not burn; however, they will not taste the same as those grilled on a grill.
Final Thought
You can microwave tomatoes by making an X cut on them and microwaving them in a microwavable bowl.
People fear microwaving tomatoes, believing they will lose their nutrients, which is invalid. Microwaving tomatoes makes them more delicious and more nutritious.
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