Spicy, fried, and wonderfully cheesy, jalapeno poppers are the savoury snack of dreams, covering every craving you could possibly experience.
Jalapeno poppers are a very easy snack to make, taking little effort but yielding great results. The only issue you may have with making jalapeno poppers is that it is very easy to get carried away and make a bigger batch than you intended. Instead of wasting time heating up your oven and re-cooking the poppers, can you use your microwave to enjoy your jalapeno poppers whenever you have that savoury craving again?
To microwave jalapeno poppers, pop a small hole in the ends of the poppers to allow steam to escape, pop them onto a covered microwavable plate and then microwave for around 3 minutes.
How to Microwave Jalapeno Poppers
Microwaving jalapeno poppers is very easy once you know how. It requires little effort and just a few minutes:
- Make A Slit
Take a sharp knife or pair of scissors and cut a little slit into either end of each of your jalapeno poppers. This will allow any moisture build-up from the filling to be released. - Cover
Place the jalapeno poppers into a microwave-safe bowl. Then cover the bowl with a clean, dry tea towel or plate. - Microwave
Set your microwave to a high setting and set the timer for 3 minutes. Press start and let the microwave work its magic. - Check
Pause the microwave and uncover the poppers, ensuring they are not burning. Turn the poppers over. - Microwave Again
Remove the cover from the bowl and microwave the jalapeno poppers for a further 1-2 minutes or until the jalapeno peppers are soft.
How to Microwave Jalapeno Poppers Successfully
You should not run into too many problems when if you choose to microwave jalapeno poppers as they are so easy to microwave. But just in case you are unsure about if your poppers should be microwaved, here are a few tips and tricks to keep in mind:
- Bring Frozen Poppers to Room Temp – Jalapeno poppers are the perfect snack to make ahead of time in a big batch to freeze until you are ready to microwave them and enjoy. Just remember to bring your frozen jalapeno poppers to room temperature before microwaving them to prevent soggy peppers.
- Avoid Repeatedly Reheating – You should not reheat jalapeno poppers more than once. Trying to microwave jalapeno poppers a second time can ruin the peppers’ texture and may also lead to a build-up of bad bacteria in the popper’s filling.
- Add Salt and Pepper – Depending on how long you have left your jalapeno poppers in the fridge or how long you have frozen them, they may begin to lose their flavour. Re-season the outside of the poppers with a touch of salt and pepper before you microwave them to create the most delicious snack.
Why You Should Microwave Jalapeno Poppers
A microwave is undoubtedly one of the best inventions for the kitchen ever. It is easy and so quick to use, and though not every food can benefit from being microwaved, there are always some benefits to using a microwave.
Jalapeno poppers have plenty of benefits to being microwaved, such as:
Easy And Mess Free
There is nothing to stop you from using your air fryer or oven to warm up leftover jalapeno poppers.
But if you want a much quicker, cleaner method, then your microwave is your best option. You can have wonderfully warm jalapeno poppers in less than 5 minutes, making it the ideal appliance to use when you want a quick snack.
Portion Control
One of the perks of using a microwave to heat up your jalapeno poppers is that there are only so many poppers you can heat up at one time, given how small a microwave is.
This can be a nuisance, but in the case of jalapeno poppers, the limited space makes it easier to portion out the perfect amount for snacking without any waste. After all, once the poppers have been reheated once, they cannot be reheated again.
No Loss Of Flavour
Using your oven to reheat jalapeno poppers runs the risk of burning or changing the flavour of your poppers.
When you use your microwave, there is less of a chance of the flavour of the jalapeno poppers changing, keeping their delicious flavour intact.
Why You Shouldn’t Microwave Jalapeno Poppers
The best jalapeno poppers are those that have been breaded or battered and fired to give the spicy snack a crispy punch.
However, breaded snacks are notoriously difficult to reheat effectively in a microwave. That is why many avoid using their microwaves to reheat jalapeno poppers for reasons such as:
Potentially Dangerous Steam
As you should only be microwaving cooked jalapeno poppers, you should not have to worry too much about the peppers themselves releasing too much capsaicin-induced steam when they heat up.
However, if you have undercooked the peppers and then try to microwave them you do run the risk of creating a steam with similar qualities to pepper spray which will irritate your eyes once you open the microwave.
Soggy, Not Crispy
Even if your jalapeno poppers only have a light breaded coating, there is still a perfect crispiness that makes jalapeno poppers an all-round star.
The issue is that the heat that a microwave produces is vastly different from that of an air fryer or oven, which is why instead of making leftover jalapeno poppers crispy once more, a microwave is more likely to make them soggy.
This is especially true if you have used an oily or overly moist filling in your jalapeno poppers. The filling’s extra moisture will soak into the jalapeno peppers and breading, making it even more difficult for your microwave to make the coating crispy once more.
Limited Space
Unlike an oven, a microwave is not designed to accommodate more than a few servings of food at a time.
As such, you will only be able to reheat a handful of jalapeno poppers in one go, which can be inconvenient and annoying if you want to reheat a larger batch of the poppers to serve as a side dish.
Microwaving Jalapeno Poppers FAQs
Do you still have questions about microwave jalapeno poppers? Then have a look over these FAQs:
You do not need to fully thaw jalapeno poppers before microwaving them. However, you’ll want to remove them from the freezer around 10 to 15 minutes before you microwave them to get them up to room temperature.
Yes, you can use an air fryer for cooking your poppers. Set it to around 190c and then cook for 12 to 14 minutes.
Acacia may be a freelance writer by day, but they are a food fanatic by night. They are always trying out new recipes or finding different ways to elevate classical dishes. But their biggest culinary aim is to educate others on the basics of the kitchen so that they too can enjoy delicious food.
