No need to steam buns with an electric pot! Experts teach a simple trick '1-minute quick heating', texture is soft and fluffy comparable to just out of the oven

Many office workers and renters often choose frozen buns or baozi for breakfast, but if heated directly in a microwave, they often become dry and hard. Experts teach a simple trick using a mug to steam buns in just a few minutes, achieving a texture comparable to restaurant-quality steamed buns.

Why do microwave baozi become hard? Water loss is the key. During traditional microwave heating, the water inside the food evaporates quickly. Without a water replenishment mechanism, the starch crystallizes and ages, making the skin dry and hard. On the Japanese X (formerly Twitter) social platform, culinary experts have shared popular tips, pointing out that using a mug to form a small 'steam circulation' can easily solve the dry and hard problem. PX Mart has also publicly shared the same hidden microwave steaming method in 'PX Mart Life Encyclopedia'.

Bun heating. (Image source: PX Mart)

Experts teach 'mug heating method' to restore the soft texture of just-out-of-the-oven buns in 1 minute

To microwave soft and juicy baozi, you can prepare a regular-sized mug and a small amount of water to operate: 1. Spray water on the surface: Take out the frozen baozi or bun, lightly sprinkle or pour a little water on the surface to keep the skin moist. 2. Add water to the cup: Prepare a heat-resistant mug and pour in water about 1 cm deep. 3. Microwave heating: Place the baozi flat on the mug, remember the mouth of the cup needs to be smaller than the baozi, then put it in the microwave, heat it at 500W to 600W for about 1 to 2 minutes, and you can enjoy the steamed baozi that is as good as just out of the oven.

Netizens' practical tests praised! Avoid these 3 common pitfalls

This heating tip has sparked heated discussions, and many netizens have tried it and exclaimed, 'I did it wrong before, no wonder it was like chewing a stone', 'This trick really saved me in the morning'. However, experienced users also remind that there are a few details that must be noted during operation to avoid not eating the delicacy but causing danger: ・ Cup mouth too large: If the cup size is larger than the baozi, the dough is easy to fall directly into the water during heating. ・ Cup body unstable: When taking out the microwave, if the cup is too light or the bottom is not flat, it is easy to cause spillage, be careful of being scalded by high-temperature hot water. ・ Overheating: Overheating time is easy to cause the water in the cup to boil and splash, it is recommended to 'heat in stages (such as every 30 seconds)' to observe the degree of cooking.

What if there is no mug? Experts add 3 tricks 'alternative microwave methods'

In addition to the mug, many experts have also shared other alternative methods that can achieve the same 'steaming' effect: ・ Wet paper towel wrapping method: Lightly wrap the baozi with a damp kitchen paper towel and microwave it, which can also lock in the water. ・ Plate with water cover: Pour a little water into a flat plate, place the baozi on it, and cover it with a microwave dedicated heating cover. ・ Silicone microwave box: Use a commercially available dedicated silicone microwave box, add water to the bottom layer and use a steaming rack, which is both safe and convenient.

As long as you master the two core elements of 'supplementing water' and 'steam circulation', even if there is no steamer or electric pot at home, you can quickly make soft and juicy delicious baozi with a microwave!

Also, this season has come.... Put 1cm of water in a mug and heat it at 600W for about 2 minutes, and you can eat a fluffy and fluffy meat bun of store quality #麦ライス pic.twitter.com/Ujm9jsgd8x — 麦ライス(シェフ) (@HG7654321) October 9, 2022