Do you have sweet tooth and looking for a simple dessert idea for after dinner? The lava cakes from Trader Joe’s are a definite standout, and they are super easy to reheat in a microwave.
The cake contains all the decadent goodness of a gooey, creamy chocolate cake, without the hassle of dirtying your kitchen and baking for an hour. In fact, it is quite easy to prepare Trader Joe’s Lava Cakesby pressing a button on the microwave.
How do you Microwave Trader Joe’s Lava Cakes? Remove the lava cake from plastic film, turn upside down on a microwave-safe plate, and loosen the cup by pressing the center of cup with thumbs while holding the edges, but do not remove the plastic cup.
Set on high power and microwave 45 seconds for a 1000 watt-microwave. Then, use an oven glove to carefully remove the cup and garnish the lava cake with raspberries, ice cream, whipped cream, or sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Trader Joe’s lava cake come in serving sizes that are perfectly suitable for one person. It is recommended to microwave 1 cake at a time, and the microwaving time may vary depending on the wattage of your appliance.
The lava cake from Trader Joe’s uses melted semi sweet chocolate in the center, which is easily achieved in the microwave without burning.
The outer part of the lava cake is likely to taste more like a brownie. with the semi-liquid center containing the most robust flavor. It’s somehow makes a pudding texture with a strong coffee and dark chocolate taste.
Be keen when microwaving as to not alter the texture and richness in flavor.
In this article, we are going to share microwaving tips for the best way to microwave Trader Joe’s lava cakes. Answered below are frequently asked questions about heating Trader Joe’s lava cakes in a microwave so it can satisfy your sweet tooth craving.
Can You Microwave Trader Joe’s Lava Cakes?
Absolutely yes, Trader Joe’s lava cakes are simply the best when reheated in the microwave. Because they are fully cooked, it is important to reheat to an internal temperature of 74 degrees Celsius or 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Take them from the fridge and cover them with a damp paper towel. Put it in the microwave and warm to make the center soft and gooey.
Avoid overheating the lava cake in the microwave to prevent the lava at the middle from cooking through and drying out. It will most likely take you around 30 to 45 seconds.
If your lava cake is frozen, consider thawing it completely in the fridge before placing it in the microwave. The less thermodynamic transition the better the result.
Is It Safe to Microwave Trader Joe’s Lava Cakes?
Yes, it is safe to microwave it as long as you remove the plastic film before nuking. In addition, the lava cakes are a previously cooked food that must be reheated to an internal temperature of 74℃ or 165℉ to be considered safe to eat.
The cakes are responsibly portion-controlled for a single serving that delivers a rich and fulfilling chocolate flavor when microwaved.
Ensure to keep the plastic cup, but loosen the cup before microwaving. The cup itself is considered to be microwave-safe, so you do not need to remove it before zapping.
In about 45 seconds, the cake will go from frozen to a molten lava center. Add vanilla ice cream and fresh berries to compliment the richness. It contains a high level of calories, up to 400 calories making them quite filling by themselves.
How Do You Microwave Trader Joe’s Lava Cakes?
The lava cake is usually soft on the outside and saucier as you move towards the center. There is a pool of melted chocolate in the center when it is microwaved properly.
In order to microwave Trader Joe’s lava cake, start by carefully removing the plastic film. Turn it upside down and place it on a microwave-safe plate.
Press the center of the cup and try to loosen the cup, but do not remove the plastic cup.
In 1000 watts microwave, set it to high heat and run for 45 seconds. After heating, carefully remove the cake with a glove and check the center and outer if it is fully heated by poking a toothpick.
If there is chocolate sauce coming out with steam, it is ready to garnish, serve and enjoy.
How Long Do You Microwave Trader Joe’s Lava Cakes?
On average it takes about 45 seconds to microwave Trader Joe’s lava cake. However, this cooking time is based on 1000 watts microwave and may vary depending on the wattage of the appliance.
The timing may change shorter or longer based on the wattage of microwave. Evaluate the microwave watts and adjust the power to get the best results.
Tips to Microwave Trader Joe’s Lava Cakes
Microwaving Trader Joe’s lava cake is pretty simple and can be done in less than a minute. However, achieving a soft and saucy lava cake does require a few secret tips to make it taste just like fresh baked.
So, here are microwave tips to properly heat up Trader Joe’s lava cakes:
- Do not overheat lava cake in the microwave; you shouldn’t be worried about the center being uncooked since it’s soft as long as you microwave for 45 seconds.
- Avoid substituting chocolate chips or melting wafers. Adding ingredients to this microwavable cake can prevent it from developing the same lava texture.
- If the cake is from the fridge, place it on a microwavable plate. Cover with a paper towel, and microwave for approximately 30 seconds for a soft core.
- When microwaving frozen lava cake, consider thawing it overnight in the fridge before heating in the microwave.
- Remove the plastic film when placing it microwave. These outer package is not microwave-safe, but the inner cup is.
- Microwave 1 cake at a time. Even though they are small size and both cakes fit in the microwave at once, it can delay the cooking time and may create too much steam to get the best texture.
Best Way to Microwave Trader Joe’s Lava Cakes
Trader Joe’s lava cakes are soft on the outside and fudgier towards the center due to the melted chocolate core. There are two ways to heat these cakes including conventional oven and microwave.
However, heating the lava cake in the oven will take approximately 15 minutes, plus the additional time to preheat the oven.
If you are looking to save time to prepare dessert, choose microwave to heat Trader Joe’s lava cake quickly. It takes much shorter time, and you do not need to wait for the oven the heat up.
Start by removing the plastic film surrounding the cake. Place the lava cake on a microwave-safe plate and flip upside down.
With your thumbs, press the center of the cup and hold the edges to loosen the lava cake from the cup, but keep the plastic cup and do not remove it from the base.
Put the lava cake in the microwave and microwave for 45 seconds or until warm throughout with a molten lava cake center.
Microwaving is much easier, relatively quick, and still leaves the cake moist and tender throughout. Drizzle caramel sauce and add a scoop of softened ice cream to serve.
Microwaving Trader Joe’s Lava Cakes: Conclusion
Trader Joe’s lava cake is an excellent way of fulfilling your chocolate sweet tooth cravings. It is pretty rich, gooey with chocolate, and can be prepared by quickly heating up in a microwave.
Start preparing the lava cakes by removing the plastic film and put the molten lava cake on the microwave-safe plate in the upside down direction.
Press the center of the cup to loosen the cake and cup so it is slightly separating. This will help once the cake is heated so that you can easily remove the cup to hold its shape.
Microwave on high for 45 seconds, then check the cake by poking in the middle with a toothpick to see the chocolate is melted. When it is heated completely, serve with ice cream, fresh berries or sprinkle with powdered sugar.
If you are a chocolate lover, you will want to ensure you have a box of Trader Joe’s lava cakes in your freezer at all times. Satisfy your sweet tooth by popping a lava cake into the microwave, then consider a drizzle of whipped cream, chocolate, or a scoop of ice cream to make it even more decadent.