Fasta Pasta Microwave Cooker

Pasta is usually a quick weeknight dinner for us. What its not is a one pot meal. I use a wide pan to cook the pasta, a colander to drain it and another saucepan to make the pasta sauce. That's 3 pots to clean, apart from the plates and forks of course.

Here's something that can make it easier - Fasta Pasta Microwave Cooker. Works best for spaghetti.

Pyrex 1 Litre Glass Bowl with Lid

I have quite a few items sent to me by readers but I am being lazy and posting from drafts. From next week, the posts will be mainly from contributors and less about what's in my kitchen.

So, let's talk Pyrex bowls. This one was a hasty purchase because there was a sale and 50% off. I wish I had picked up one more because I use it for everything now. 

By everything, I mean, mixing batter for bajji, storing cut vegetables before cooking, freezing batches of dal, you name it. The nifty lid really helps transfer the glass bowl into a storage bowl in a jiffy. 

Its thick, its microwaveable, its Pyrex. Need more reasons?

What? Pyrex 1 Litre Glass Bowl with Lid

Where? Tangs Orchard, Singapore

Price: SGD 4 (at 50% off)

Microwave Egg Cooker

Cute kitchen tings always gets my attention, even more than cute babies do (sorry parents!). If the cute kitchen thing can also cook eggs in the microwave, even better. 

What? Microwave Egg Cooker

Where? NTUC FairPrice

Price: SGD 2

The one I have has a base and a lid with few holes on the top, for steam to escape. 

Its very simple to use and although it says 20-30 seconds, in my microwave, it took closer to a minute. 

I wish I had a picture of the cooked egg, but will post soon, I promise. 

Microwave Steamer / Cooker

Cooking in the microwave has become quite normal now. What started off as a luxury kitchen item (atleast in India) has now become a necessity, especially for the working men and women. Although I still cook my rice in the pressure cooker, I do use the microwave occasionally for boiling potatoes and other vegetables or to boil some eggs (a cute little microwave egg cooker coming up soon!). 

Thanks to Raks for sharing this nifty little microwave steamer with us. In her words, "This is a three piece steamer - bottom to pour in the water, middle container to place the item that has to be steamed, and a lid with a steam vent."

"Its excellent for steaming corn, vegetables and also other things such as rice noodles, dumplings. We can save time compared to the electric or stove top steamer (cooking time for corn- 4 minutes, rice noodles - 2 minutes)"

Wow! That is quick! Thanks Raks :)

What? Microwave Steamer

Where? Mustafa Center, Serangoon Plaza, Singapore

Price? Between 10 and 20 SGD

Microwave Potato Steamer / Cooker

Raise your hands if you love potatoes. Yep, that's what I thought. This has got to be the most popular tuber out there and I'd guess that there are as many ways to boil them as there are types of potatoes in the world. 

Here's the simplest and most mess-free way I have seen so far.

What?  Microwave potato steamer

Where? Mustafa Centre, microwave gadgets section

Price? 10 SGD or 330 INR

Contributed by Raks, here's the description in her own words: 

"Want to cook potato in hurry? You might have seen potatoes kept as such in the microwave bursts and moves here and there sometimes. 

This cool gadget allows you to microwave and cook the potatoes (8 numbers maximum) in a jiffy. Takes only 4 minutes (+1 Minute standing time) to get cooked!! (Time may vary from one microwave to other but no huge differences. Only 1 or 2 minutes difference)

Just nail the potatoes in the sharp edges provided in the stand and microwave. The stand never gets hot!

What's more? The handle can be removed for easy cleaning and for storing purposes."

So,  how do you cook your potatoes?