How to Boil Arvi/Aloo in Microwave! Tip from Reader.

One of the readers of Bachelor Cooking, Parul writes in, with some useful tips, which I am sure will be very useful to bachelors and other rookie cooks. She writes in:

All you guys that I have seen mention to boil arvi/aloo in cooker-
Man… this takes time and sometimes the arvi comes out mushy – I like
mine firm and well boiled.

Try this

Take one of the grocery/plastic bags if you live outside india( I use
the ones you buy veggies in that don't have handles the transparent
ones- the handle ones I usually keep to collect grabage)

Put your aloo/arvi in it and tie it up in a knot . Make cuts ( several
usually but if you are angry make some more) with a knife or fork to
make sure the steam escapes.

Put in a Microwave on high for 5 min and your arvi will come out just
rightly boiled. ( if you have like 2 arvis they try for 3 min if you
have 2 lbs then it may take 8 min)

To test for doneness try poking in a knife through the plastic to see
if it goes in without resistance.

In case of aloos my mom suggests you can wash and wipe them with an
oily hand to get a better flavor

( saves up time and the effort of cleaning up the cooker). Tear up
the bag and throw it( its worthless now anyways) and take the aloo/
arvi out. be careful it will be hot.

Note: the Baingan done the same way for bhadta comes out ok.


Thanks parul.
It was such a valuable Tip and I am sure my readers will appreciate.


Update:
The tip was found valuable, but even more valuable were the feedbacks given by a few readers.
It was more to do with the safety of the use of plastic in Microwave. The common question was is it microwave safe? Since, parul had tried it, and she mentioned that she used the polythene without the holder, which is usually a better grade , so it must be safe, but then, it is always good if you are 100% sure , since it is food.

Some of the feedbacks are in the comments, and I am reproducing them,

Manisha says:
Make sure that the plastic you use in microwaves is microwave-safe. Better still, use glass bowls. How often have we heard that something that was declared 'safe' is no longer safe because of new research? Glass is safest - its melting point is well above 2000F.

A grad student writes:
I would just like to add that not all plastics are food safe. Here is a link that describes the dangers of using plastics: http://www.fda.gov/Fdac/features/2002/602_plastic.html

The last paragraph contains examples of plastics that are safe to use.

Alternatively, you can use a microwavesafe bowl, fill it up with a 1cm of water and poke holes in the arvi/potato and cook as usual.


At Hindsight, using plastic bags, in a microwave is scary, but you can use the better quality, MW safe bags, I believe. But then, like Grad Student suggested, you can always use a bowl.
If you have any tips that might be useful to a Bachelor Cook, or any cook, do send your tip. I will post it with due reference and linkback.