Here’s how to prepare your microwave for Sadya

Onam is officially here, and festivities are in full swing. Chances your house has seen a flurry of visitors in the past couple of days and will continue to do so for the next day or two. It also means that most of your appliances are likely working overtime, with Sadya food prep and storage. One such appliance is the humble microwave. Here’s how to get this kitchen appliance ready in time for the Sady preparations. 

Sadya consists of an elaborate spread of over 25 dishes, a lot of which can be prepped in the microwave. These include roasting coconut, boiling milk for payasam or even cooking rice amongst others. Bearing in mind that Sadya consists of several dishes, one may also prep them a day in advance, and simply heat them up the next day when they have guests over.  

ALSO READ: Onam 2023: Tips to ready your refrigerator for the festive season 

Since your microwave may have to work overtime this Onam, we spoke to in-house experts at Croma and put together this little guide on how to clean and prep your microwave in time for Sadya preparations. 

How to clean your microwave

“Whether you’re preparing food for festivals or otherwise, you always want to be hygienic because you’re starting something new and celebrating,” says Nikhil Birari, Lead Value Added Service, Service Delivery, at Croma. 

The most basic part of cleaning and maintenance with regards to a microwave starts with cleaning the outer body. This must be done at regular intervals to help maintain its appearance. “That’s the simplest part. What’s important in a microwave though, is that the internal cavity, where one places their food, must be hygienic,” he mentions. It is recommended that anytime you cook or simply reheat food in the microwave, you must wipe the internal cavity, along with the glass turntable, with a damp cloth. 

It is also advisable to regularly do a deep cleaning of the microwave’s internal cavity. “The actual way of cleaning the internal cavity and keeping it bacteria-free is to pour some water in a bowl and squeeze some lemon juice into it and microwave it in magnetron mode for about five minutes,” says Birari. This creates steam and the citric acid in the lemon gets circulated within the microwave cavity, and one can simply use a damp cloth to wipe it thoroughly. 

There are a few things to be kept in mind when going about this cleaning exercise. Keep the microwave unplugged when cleaning the outer body, when cleaning the interiors, use vinegar or mild detergents instead of chemicals so as to not affect the paint layer.  

By following these relatively simple steps, one can ensure that their microwave’s lifespan and everyday efficiency remain unhindered for a long time to come and that one gets the best out of their appliance.