Think your microwave is just for reheating food and making popcorn? You’re wrong! Read on to see fifteen new ways you can use your microwave… it will soon become your favorite appliance!

If you’re only using your microwave to heat food and water, you’re underutilizing it! You can use the microwave to clean, sterilize, dehydrate, and even make your own cheese. Let’s look at 15 alternative ways to use it, with step-by-step instructions!

1. Use it to clean things…

Your microwave is a pretty powerful appliance, and you can use that power to  clean things around the house  ! Dirty stuffed animals? Dirty kitchen sponge? No problem, you can  clean them by zapping them in the microwave  ! Lightly dampen the items and microwave them on full power for about 2 minutes. Remember not to add anything with plastic pieces (like plastic buttons on toys), or they will melt!

2. …Or to clean yourself!

If you use your microwave a lot, you probably know that it can get dirty after a while. But you don’t need to buy harsh cleaning chemicals to clean it. Let the microwave do its job. For an  all-natural, non-toxic method  , cut a lemon in half, add it to a bowl of water, and cook on high heat for 5 minutes. Not only will all the grime loosen so you can simply wipe it away, but  your kitchen will also smell fresh  !

3.   Steamed vegetables

You don’t need a fancy steamer and basket to steam vegetables—use your microwave! Simply rinse the vegetables, add them to a microwave-safe bowl, and place them in the microwave.  No additional water is needed  ! The actual steaming time depends on the vegetable, but it’s usually about 5 minutes for broccoli (it should be bright green when done) and carrots, 6 minutes for zucchini, and 1 to 2 minutes for peas.

4.   Soften (and cook) the garlic

Use the microwave to make garlic preparation hassle-free. To make peeling easier, simply microwave a few cloves for 10 seconds and they’ll  pop right out  of their skins! They’ll still retain their raw garlic flavor. If you’re using garlic in salads and want  to take the bite out of raw garlic  , you can give it a quick microwave-safe cooking. Slice a head of garlic and add it to a microwave-safe bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of water, a drizzle of olive oil, and salt, and microwave on medium heat for about 8 minutes, until soft.

5. Stop crying

There are many stories about  how to stop yourself from crying when cutting onions  . While not many of them work, there are some (scientifically proven) methods to avoid tears when working with onions. One of these is heating the onions in the microwave before cutting them. This works because the heat in the microwave  begins to break down the sulfur  in the onions, the same compound responsible for tears!

6. Test your pasta

Home cooks know the challenges of baking bread, especially when waiting for it to rise. Sometimes you don’t have time to wait for the rising period, other times the weather is simply  too cold for your dough  . Next time you bake bread, try using the  microwave to help the dough rise  . Microwave the dough on the lowest setting (usually around 10%) for about 15 minutes. It should now be oven-ready!

7. Ripe avocados

Don’t you hate it when you’re ready to eat your avocado, but it’s not quite ready for you? If you have a microwave, then that wait is a thing of the past. Cut the avocado in half and remove the pit. Wrap the halves in  microwave-safe plastic wrap  and cook for 30-second intervals until they reach the desired ripeness.  You won’t get the same buttery texture  from a naturally ripe avocado, but at least you can eat it now!

8. Make homemade cappuccino

Want that coffee shop feeling without the price tag? Make your own cappuccino at home  by frothing it in the microwave  . All you need is a jar and 2  % skim milk  . Add the milk to a glass jar, seal it, and shake vigorously until frothy, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Microwave for 30 seconds, then remove the lid and microwave for another 30 seconds. Now you’re ready to make frothy milk!

9.   Prepare the ricotta

Need ricotta for a recipe but forgot to buy it? You can make your own and all you need is a microwave! Simply combine 2 cups of whole milk (or heavy cream), 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 2 tablespoons of white vinegar and microwave on full power for 4-5 minutes. If you have a  thermometer  , check that the temperature is about 165°F (74°C). Use  a fine-mesh sieve  or a colander lined with paper towels and pour the curds into the sieve. Let drain for 5 minutes and enjoy!