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How to Microwave Muffins

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Muffins are a blank canvas with versatile options that complement well with various ingredients such as blueberries, chocolate, and many more. Muffins are a quick bread that is easy to warm quickly in a microwave, or even microwave in a mug or muffin mould.

Sweet but not sugary, muffins are surprisingly flavorful with a buttery taste from combination of buttermilk and butter. Moist and soft inside with slight crunch on the top, they are perfect baked goods to grab for breakfast or even as dessert. 

How do you microwave muffins? To soften already baked muffins, place muffin on a wet paper towel or microwave-safe plate and wrap a damp paper towel around the muffin. Reheat in the microwave on high for 15 to 30 seconds per muffin.

Once the muffin are warm in the center, serve with butter or honey and pair with a cup of coffee to enjoy.

Whether you are making muffins from scratch or using muffin mix, microwave is an excellent tool to make a quick version of baked goods, especially for a small amount of muffins. Fresh made muffins are moist warm, and so much tastier than day old ones.

In this article, we are answering all the frequently asked questions about how to microwave muffins. We share microwave tips to avoid muffins with a chewy texture, uneven crumb or flat tops.

Can I microwave a muffin?

Yes, you can microwave a muffin. Use microwave-safe paper towel or plate to prevent fire hazard or damage to the baked good. 

A muffin pan with paper liners helps to contain the mess, keep the muffin shape when baked, and be able to achieve the round top instead of flat top. When microwaving a muffin, use the convection setting to allow for even baking.

Easy Pumpkin Muffins Recipe from Workweek Lunch

Is it safe to microwave muffins?

Yes, it is safe to microwave muffins. Whether you are baking or warming up the muffins, microwave is a safe and convenient method.

Oven baking isn’t the only method to make muffins taste fresh and delicious. In fact, microwaving is a quick way to freshen up old muffins so they are moist and tender. 

How long to microwave muffins?

Muffins taste best when served warm, and day old muffins tend to be dense and loose its fluffiness. Therefore, slightly warming up before serving is highly recommended. 

In general, it takes about 30 seconds on high power to microwave each muffin. This will change based on size, amount of muffins, and the wattage of microwave.

If the muffin is dried out, consider wrapping with a damp paper towel and reheat in microwave for 15 second intervals.  

Where the muffin has been stored can affect the reheating time: 

  • To reheat muffins stored at room temperature, it takes about 1 muffin 10 to 15 seconds on high power, 2 muffins 15 to 20 seconds, and 4 muffins 25 to 30 seconds.
  • To reheat frozen muffins, 1 muffin takes 20 to 25 seconds at high in microwave, 2 muffins 30 to 35 seconds, and 4 muffins 40 to 45 seconds.

Tips to microwave muffins

Muffins are more delicious when warmed up in microwave because it enhances the texture and recovers moisture when done properly. However, microwaving tend to quickly turn baked goods by drying up the moisture. 

To avoid the issue, use these tips to microwave muffins the right way:

  • Unwrap the muffin liners and wrap in a damp microwave-safe paper towel on a plate. 
  • To freshening up the muffin, sprinkle the muffin with a bit of water and place in a paper bag to microwave fo 5 to 10 seconds on medium heat until moisture is trapped. 
  • Do not overcrowd muffins in the microwave. Do not heat up more than 4 pieces at a time.
  • If the muffins are frozen for a long time, thaw completely at room temperature or use the defrost setting before warming on high heat.
  • Avoid using aluminum foil liner when microwaving since it can create a fire hazard. 

Best way to microwave muffins

The best way to microwave muffins is by minimizing the amount of muffins and use high power with short increment of microwave time. 

Remove any aluminum or paper muffin liners, and use microwave-safe plate.

If the muffin is too dry, wrap with a damp paper towel around the outside to revive the moisture.

Microwave on high for 15 to 30 seconds per muffin for best result. To reheat room temperature muffins, on high power, microwave for 10 to 15 seconds per muffin.

But for any frozen muffins, it is best to defrost them first. After thawing, you can also microwave on high for about 20 seconds.

Blueberry muffins in microwave

Microwaving Muffins: Conclusion

Microwave is a safe and fast way to reheat muffins, and there is no better method to warm day old dense muffins

When warming up muffins in the microwave, eliminate any aluminum foil liners, plastic wrapping or paper liners that are not microwave-safe. Instead, use a microwaveable plate to safely reheat without starting a fire.

Depend on how muffins have been stored will vary the microwave time, but it generally takes about 30 seconds in total on high power. It is recommended to microwave 10 seconds at a time until the muffin is warm in the center. 

When microwaving more than one muffin at a time, be sure to not overcrowd the plate. Leave space between each muffin so that they can warm evenly.

It is recommended to warm muffins in the microwave to revive the taste and texture. Furthermore, it’s possible to microwave muffins in a cup or mould when making from scratch.