How to Toast Nuts and Other Items in the Microwave

By lorik

Ingredients

• From Americas Test Kitchen

Details

Adapted from americastestkitchen.com

Preparation

Step 1

When a recipe calls for a small amount of toasted nuts, we’ve always used a skillet on the stovetop—but with this approach, it’s easy to burn the nuts. On the other hand, the microwave provides more-even cooking and doesn’t require you to stir constantly. To toast nuts and other ingredients like seeds, bread crumbs, and shredded coconut, place the ingredients in a shallow microwave-safe bowl or pie plate in a thin, even layer. Cook on full power, stopping to stir every minute. Then as the food starts to take on color, cook at 30-second intervals to prevent burning. Whole spices need only a couple of minutes, and most other ingredients require about 5 minutes, although cooking times can vary with different microwave models.