Dorm-Friendly Meals: The Microwave Approach

By Mariana Navarrete, Arts & Culture Editor

A mug and a microwave can create some magical meals when you do not feel like going to the cafeteria or when you want a late-night snack. Not everyone has an air fryer or an electric stove—hence, here are some meal ideas that cook in less than ten minutes in the microwave.

Breakfast Ideas

Upgrade your oats by adding mashed banana and a nut butter of your choice:

• In a large microwavable mug mash the banana well with a fork.
• Stir in one tbsp  of nut butter, six tbsp  of milk and honey, and mix well together
• Add in 4 tbsp  of oats with ½ of baking powder and stir until combined.
• Microwave for 45 seconds to 1 minute or until firm to the touch on top.
• Enjoy warm!

Eggs cook really quick in the microwave:

• Crack two eggs inside a mug, add some spices, drizzle either olive oil or half a tbsp of butter, and microwave 2-3 minutes.
• You can add vegetables, sausage, bacon, or cheese for an omelet.
• Additionally, adding rice or a baked potato can make it a complete nutritious meal.

French toast can be made in the microwave too:

• Cut any kind of bread into bite-sized cubes and place them in a mug.
• In a separate bowl, mix one egg with a splash of the milk of your choice, some cinnamon, and vanilla extract.
• Beat until smooth, add it to the bread cubes then microwave 2 minutes.
• Drizzle some maple syrup, add toppings of your choice (chopped bananas, berries, chocolate chips, Nutella), and enjoy!
•  

For Lunch or Dinner

Who doesn’t love some good pasta?

• Throw some macaroni in a mug.
• Add equal parts water (ex: 1/2 cup of water for 1/2 cup of macaroni).
• Microwave for 2-3 minutes.
• Add whatever toppings you want and microwave for another 30 seconds for a heartwarming meal.

Thin crust Pita bread pizza:

• Put some tomato sauce on top of a pita bread.
• Sprinkle mozzarella cheese with some Italian herbs and the topping of your choice (veggies, pepperoni, etc.).
• Microwave for 1 minute, or 3 minutes if you want your pizza to be crunchy.

Couscous Greek salad

• Microwave 1 cup of water for 3 minutes, then stir in ½ cup of couscous; let it rest covered for 8 minutes.
• Prepare the salad dressing by whisking together 2 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp red wine vinegar, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1/2 tb Oregano. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• In a large mixing bowl, add the couscous and chopped tomatoes, cucumber, feta cheese, sliced olives, and red onion. Mix well, until just combined.
• Pour the dressing over it and mix very well, until the dressing is fully incorporated into the salad. Serve immediately or refrigerate.

Soft but cheesy quesadillas:

• Grab some flour or corn tortillas and put cheese on top.
• Fold it in a paper towel and microwave for 30 seconds.
• Yes, that easy!

Easy Mug Desserts

Banana bread:

• In a large microwaveable mug lightly misted with non-stick spray, blend 4 tbsp of any flour, 3 tbsp of sugar, 1/8 tbsp salt, 1/8 tbsp baking powder, and 1/8 tbsp baking soda.
• Add in one egg with 3 tbsp of water, 1 tbsp of any oil, 3 tbsp of milk, and 1/8 tsp of vanilla extract.
• Stir in a smashed half banana with cinnamon.
• Microwave for approximately 3 minutes, depending on your microwave.

Chocolate muffin:

• Stir 1 egg, 1/3 cup unsweetened milk of choice, 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce, 4 tbsp of sugar, 1/8 tsp salt, 3 tbsp regular cocoa powder, 6 tbsp of any flour, and 1 tsp baking powder.
• Spray a 5″ baking dish or a large mug with cooking spray.
• Scoop batter and microwave for 4-5 minutes until surface springs back when tapped.
• Add some ice cream on top and enjoy!

Chocolate chip cake:

• Mix in a bowl 1/4 cup of any flour, 1/4 tsp baking powder, 1/8 tsp baking soda, 1/8 tsp salt, and 2.5 tbsp sugar.
• In another bowl, stir 1/4 cup applesauce, 1 1/2 tbsp milk of choice, 1/2 tbsp oil or more milk of choice, 1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract, and 1-3 tbsp of chocolate chips
• Pour wet ingredients onto dry ingredients and stir until just evenly combined.
• Pour into a greased mug and cook for 1 minute and 30 seconds in the microwave.
• Let cool before trying to pop out; makes 2 small muffins or one jumbo muffin!

Microwave Hacks for Sides

If you love potatoes, but are not in the mood to wait for the water to boil, here is a faster way to cook them:

• Poke holes all over the potato with a fork.
• Place it in the microwave and, depending on the size of the potato and the intensity of the microwave, cook 3-6 minutes until a fork goes through the potato smoothly.
• Cut the potato into cubes and add it to your eggs, or smash them with some butter and have mashed potatoes as a side.

Vegetables can be cooked ‘steam like’ in the microwave:

• Cut any vegetable of your choice (broccoli, squash, carrots, bell peppers etc.).
• Wash it well and place it in a mug with ¼ cup of water.
• Add salt, pepper, and other spices to your taste and microwave for 2 minutes.
• You can eat it with rice, pasta, baked potatoes, or eggs.

Here is a healthier way to cook bacon:

• Turn a bowl upside down and set it on a plate.
• Drape your bacon over the top of the bowl, and microwave it for about a minute per slice.
• Place a paper towel over the bacon to soak up any popping grease so it doesn’t make a mess in your microwave.
• A lot of the unhealthy grease will run down the bowl into the plate, resulting in crispy bacon you won’t believe came from a microwave.

Crunchy potato chips:

• Cut a potato into very thin slices.
• Spray a microwave-safe plate with oil and place the potato slices evenly apart.
• Microwave for 5-7 minutes or until you can feel the crisp!
• Add some salt, pepper, basil, or paprika for flavor.

These are some basic meals, easy to make in the microwave, that can be for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert. Of course, making a cold sandwich would not kill anybody, but heartwarming meals do make a difference when one craves food!