Food preparation
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Moisten a paper towel, squeeze it dry, and place it atop the rice before microwaving to restore moisture and stop splattering.
It helps re-humidify the rice and eliminates spatter.
- One person reported this method did not work for them.
- There is a concern that paper towels can catch fire in the microwave.
5 people, independently
Eat leftover pizza cold rather than trying to reheat it.
Cold pizza is tasty; it does not taste as good when only slightly warm.
9 people, independently
Put a glass containing roughly an inch of water inside the microwave while reheating pizza to prevent the crust from turning chewy.
The added humidity stops the crust from drying out and hardening.
- Does not make thin or crunchy crust crispy; works best for bready crust.
- Some users report this is a myth and does not work.
3 people, independently
Re-fry Chinese food or stir-fry in a skillet with a little oil to restore crispness.
Your stir-fry gets its crisp back
one person who lived it
Freeze leftover donuts and air fry them until soft to restore freshness.
This method makes them almost as good as hot and fresh.
- Glaze may melt.
one person who lived it
Arrange food in a ring shape on the plate, leaving the center empty, to ensure even heating in the microwave.
The center of the microwave often has a dead zone where food burns while surrounding areas cook unevenly; a ring exposes more surface area.
4 people, independently
Heat pizza on the stovetop using a skillet or cast iron pan.
It creates a nice crust texture and keeps it crisp instead of rubbery.
7 people, independently
Place two slices of pizza cheese-to-cheese in a waffle iron to reheat.
It is delicious and improves the eating experience.
2 people, independently
Add a little water to leftover rice prior to warming it up.
This stops the grains from becoming dry and gritty, restoring their moisture.
3 people, independently
23 more on this
Lightly spray fries with cooking oil before air frying.
They taste even fresher.
one person who lived it
Use a Misto bottle to spray oil on reheating fries.
This method yields the best results.
one person who lived it
- Use nonstick spray instead of drizzling oil when reheating fries for better coverage.1
Try dipping fries in satay sauce.
It sounds weird but is really good.
one person who lived it
Freeze blanched or par-cooked fries between frying stages.
It works even better for improving texture.
one person who lived it
Use 50% power level when microwaving pizza.
Full power can make bread crouton-like and cheese rubbery.
one person who lived it
Place fries on a cookie cooling rack set over a pan while baking to allow maximum air contact and eliminate the need to flip them.
This setup provides as much or more air contact than foil, resulting in nice crispiness without flipping.
one person who lived it
Pour out freeze-dried veggies from cup noodles before adding water.
For added goodness.
one person who lived it
Reheat leftover or soggy fries in an air fryer for a few minutes to restore crispiness.
Circulating air distributes heat evenly and dries out the surface, making food crispier without becoming soggy.
6 people, independently
- Freeze leftover french fries instead of refrigerating them before air frying to retain moisture and achieve a crispy exterior.1
Bag and freeze extra cooked rice for individual portions, then reheat using the wet paper towel method to avoid waste.
It works wonderfully and creates no waste.
one person who lived it
Filter grease through a coffee filter before pouring it into a storage jar to remove sediment and bits.
This removes unwanted particles so you don't need to worry about them.
3 people, independently
Microwave leftovers on half power until warm throughout, then finish in a preheated oven briefly to crisp the exterior.
Microwaving alone leaves surface moisture; oven heating alone takes too long and dries out the interior.
one person who lived it
Run stale bread under the faucet before heating it in the oven.
It makes a huge difference in restoring freshness.
one person who lived it
Place a bowl upside down over leftover pancakes in the microwave.
The bowl traps moisture, keeping them fluffy.
one person who lived it
Do not cook everything on maximum power (Power 10/10).
The microwave improves suddenly when you do this.
one person who lived it
Open the container of fast-food fries immediately after purchase to allow steam to escape and keep them crispy during transport.
Closing the bag traps heat and steam, which removes crispiness.
2 people, independently
Place a plate over food in the microwave to trap steam and prevent moisture loss without adding extra water.
It reduces the volume, allowing the food to steam more efficiently.
one person who lived it
Microwave spaghetti for 3 minutes, stir, then microwave for 4-5 more minutes.
Works for me anyway.
one person who lived it
Reheat leftover french fries in a toaster oven instead of a microwave.
Microwaving tastes like powdered butthole because water inhibits the maillard reaction.
- Some believe fries are only consumable when fresh and should not be reheated at all.
2 people, independently
Add milk to macaroni and cheese before microwaving.
It makes it delicious.
2 people, independently
Ensure any glass used in the microwave is microwave-safe.
For safety reasons
one person who lived it
Microwave a cup of water next to your meal to add humidity without soaking the dish.
3 people, independently
Store pasta and sauce separately to prevent the pasta from absorbing extra liquid and becoming gross.
Storing them together causes the pasta to absorb liquid, get gross, go rubbery, stick together, or become mushy.
one person who lived it
Avoid microwaving leftover fries.
Microwaving ruins the texture.
one person who lived it