During the festive season, mulled wine is a favourite for most. Heating and making mulled wine properly is quite a lengthy process, and it would be great if you could speed up the process. So, can you microwave mulled wine? Yes, you can!
To microwave mulled wine, prepare your mix and pop it into a bowl before microwaving on high for 3 minutes. Allow it to steep for 15 minutes before serving it up.
How to Microwave Mulled Wine
The method to microwave mulled wine is quite simple, but there are a few tips and tricks you’ll want to know to help you on your way. We’ve covered everything you could need to know below:
Here is our to-the-point method for microwaving mulled wine successfully:
- Make Your Mulled Wine Mix
You can follow your own recipe, but a delicious and quick version is to add about half a cup of honey, citrus zest, cinnamon and cloves to a bottle of relatively cheap red wine. If you want more information, then check this out on the BBC Food website. - Add to a Bowl
Put all of these ingredients into a bowl that is safe for the microwave. If possible, having a lid would be great too. - Microwave
Put the bowl with all the ingredients into the microwave and heat on high for about three minutes. You want the mulled wine to be hot but not quite boiling. - Steep
Pull it out of the microwave and keep it covered. Let it steep for about fifteen minutes before adding a glass of brandy to the mixture. - Enjoy
Ladle into mugs and serve.
How to Microwave Mulled Wine Successfully
If you want to have the greatest of success with making mulled wine in the microwave, then check these easy tips out:
- Adapt Recipes – If you don’t like the flavours in a recipe for mulled wine, you can mix it up and make your own! It will soon become a family recipe you can turn into a Christmas tradition.
- Microwave Ready-Made Mulled Wine – The method outlined above also works if you want to make it super easy and buy ready-mixed mulled wine. Heat it up in a microwave and let it steep for a few minutes and then serve.
- Don’t Boil It – Be careful not to make the mulled wine too hot. You want to avoid boiling it because this could cook the alcohol out of the wine.
Why You Should Microwave Mulled Wine
There are a couple of very clear and obvious benefits to using a microwave to heat up the wine at home:
Super Speedy
The significant advantage of microwaved mulled wine is the speed at which it can be ready. Even if a guest unexpectedly turns up at your door over the festive period, you can serve a festive drink within minutes.
Using the microwave to heat mulled wine would be no different than offering coffee or tea.
Delicious
Microwaved mulled wine is delicious!
You would be hard-pressed to tell the difference. You might even prefer it. It’s also so easy to make you can always whip up a batch whenever you fancy a warming treat, even if it isn’t Christmas.
Why You Shouldn’t Microwave Mulled Wine
Although the drawbacks are only minor, there are a couple worth bearing in mind if you’re going to microwave mulled wine:
Potentially Messy
It is very difficult to keep liquid from boiling over when microwaving.
The liquid can seem to go from barely hot to boiling within seconds. This wastes your wine and makes a big mess to clean up. Mulled wine is particularly sticky!
Limited Quantities
Another disadvantage to mulled wine is that you are limited in how much you can make in one batch. You need to have a large enough microwave to make anything other than small batches of the wine.
Microwaving Mulled Wine FAQs
Do you have more questions about microwaving mulled wine? Then these might help you out:
On high heat, a bowl of mulled wine will take around 3 minutes to warm up in the microwave. Of course, the greater the quantity, the longer it will take.
Yes, it is possible to reheat mulled wine, but you may find that some of the spiciness and flavours degrade every time it is reheated. Instead, it is better to warm just the right amount each time.,
Ross is a freelance writer with a passion for delicious food and drinks, having worked in the hospitality industry in the past. He began working with Let’s Foodie when it first launched to provide information on how to reheat, freeze and microwave different foods.
