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Microwaves serve a purpose greater than reheating leftovers or heating frozen foods. From breakfast through lunch, dinner and even dessert, an entire day’s worth of meals can be prepared in the microwave. Hundreds of recipes for microwavable meals can be found online, but are they any good? At first I was skeptical, but ultimately I was shocked by how tasty the recipes turned out. Now, I am sharing them with you so that you can enjoy them too.

French Toast

Surprisingly, I would make all the recipes I tried again, except for one, which was the French toast recipe from allrecipes.com.

What you’ll need:
• 1 tbsp butter
• ¼ cup of milk
• 1 egg, beaten
• ¼ tsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp sugar
• ¼ tsp vanilla
• 2 slices of bread cut into cubes
How to make it:

1. Melt the butter in a microwave-safe mug.
2. Tilt mug to coat all sides with the butter.
3. Stir melted butter, milk, egg, cinnamon, sugar and vanilla extract together in the mug.
4. Press bread cubes into milk mixture.
5. Microwave 90 seconds or until set up.

I wanted to love this recipe. I really did, but it turned out tasteless and soggy. If you want to try this recipe on your own, I recommend experimenting with more cinnamon, sugar and vanilla. Also, pouring the egg mixture over the bread instead of pressing the bread into the egg mixture might combat the sogginess. Honestly though, I recommend saving French toast for the stove-top.

Poached Salmon

For dinner, I loved the microwave poached salmon recipe from allrecipes.com. I know the thought of microwaving fish is less than appealing, but this was my favorite recipe.

I wanted to love this recipe. I really did, but it turned out tasteless and soggy. If you want to try this recipe on your own, I recommend experimenting with more cinnamon, sugar and vanilla. Also, pouring the egg mixture over the bread instead of pressing the bread into the egg mixture might combat the sogginess. Honestly though, I recommend saving French toast for the stove-top.
poached salmon
For dinner, I loved the microwave poached salmon recipe from allrecipes.com. I know the thought of microwaving fish is less than appealing, but this was my favorite recipe.

What you’ll need:
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp dried dill weed
• ¼ tsp white sugar
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 salmon fillet
How to make it:

1. Melt the butter in a microwave-safe cup or bowl.
2. Add the lemon juice, dill, sugar, salt and black pepper to the melted butter, and pour the mixture onto a small plate.
3. Place the salmon skin-side up into the butter mixture and cover.
4. Microwave for about 6 minutes or until cooked.
   Do not judge a book by its cover or fish by the way it’s cooked; it was the tastiest recipe I tried, by far. I expected the fish to have a rubbery texture but was amazed that it was cooked perfectly and juicy. The combination of butter, dill weed and lemon juice complimented the salmon well and created a better-than-expected flavor.

One-bowl Macaroni and Cheese

If you are still skeptical about the salmon, here’s another dinner recipe from geniuskitchen.com.

What you’ll need:
• ½ cup elbow macaroni
• ½ cup of water
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¼ cup milk
• Up to ½ cup shredded cheese of your choice. I used a mix of white, sharp and mild cheddar

How to make it:

1. Stir pasta, water and salt in a deep microwave-safe bowl.
2. Microwave for 2 minutes, and stir again.
3. Continue microwaving in 2-minute intervals until the pasta is cooked to your preference. If the noodles absorb the water before they are cooked to your preference, add an extra 2 tbsp of water.
4. When the pasta is done, stir in the milk and cheese.
5. Microwave the pasta again in 30-second intervals, making sure to stir each time.
6. When the cheese becomes creamy, the dish is ready to enjoy.

The cheese you use is going to make or break this recipe. I used a combination of cheddars, which tasted good but had a somewhat chunky texture. If I made it again, I would use a different cheese, like Velveeta, which would be creamier. Overall, I highly recommend making your own microwavable macaroni and cheese instead of buying one that is prepackaged because the serving size was larger and more suited for an adult.

Egg Caprese Bowl

For a tasty and healthy breakfast that can be made in the microwave, try the egg caprese breakfast cup recipe from foodiecrush.com.
What you’ll need: 2 pieces of sliced ham, a pinch of shredded mozzarella and/or provolone cheese, 2 eggs, a dollop of basil pesto sauce, 2 cherry tomatoes cut in half, salt and pepper.
How to make it:

1. Place the ham in a microwave-safe bowl so it can hold the remainder of the ingredients.
2. Sprinkle the cheese on top of the ham.
3. Next, crack the eggs into the bowl.
4. Top eggs with basil pesto, and toss in the cherry tomatoes.
5. Cover the bowl, and microwave for 90 seconds. Cook for an additional 20 seconds until the eggs are firm.
   I chose this recipe because the bright red cherry tomatoes, green pesto and yellow from the egg yolks looked visually appealing. To spice it up, I used cherry-wood flavored ham from the deli. However, the combination of basil pesto and cherry tomatoes really made this dish savory and delicious.

Classic Baked Potato

For lunch, I made the classic baked potato. I found the recipe on familyfoodonthetable.com.

What you’ll need:
• 1 russet potato (washed and scrubbed)
• Drizzle of oil
• Salt
How to make it:

1. First, dry the potato. Then poke it with a fork on all sides, about 15 times total.
2. Rub oil all over the potato, and sprinkle with salt.
3. Microwave the potato for about 7-9 minutes. You will know the potato is done when you push on the sides and it spreads open.
4. Slice the potato down the middle, and fluff the insides with a fork.

Potatoes are cheap, and they last for weeks. Also, potatoes are comfort food, and their density makes them an excellent option for satisfying hunger. I topped my baked potato with butter, sour cream, shredded colby jack cheese, turkey bacon and chives, but feel free to get creative. The potato was mouthwatering.

Chocolate Chip Cookie

No day is complete until you satisfy your sweet tooth. I tried the 1-minute chocolate chip cookie in a mug recipe from comfortofcooking.com!

What you’ll need:
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• tsp salt
• 1 egg yolk
• 3 tbsp all-flour
• 1-2 tbsp chocolate chips
How to make it:

1. Melt butter in a mug.
2. Stir in sugar, brown sugar, vanilla and salt. Mix well.
3. Add egg yolk and stir until it is completely mixed in.
4. Mix in flour and fold in chocolate chips.
5. Microwave for 40-50 seconds.

In a blind taste-test, I would never have guessed this cookie did not bake in an oven. It was warm and gooey; the chocolate chips were melted, and it tasted every bit the way a chocolate chip cookie is supposed to taste. It was also quick, easy and is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.