Q: Sometimes it may take us hours to find the answer to the question which we are supposed to raise here in this article. Sunflower oil is one of the widely spread products kept in our cupboards. We use it to fry, boil and season dishes. We add it to hair and face masks. But won’t it eventually change its chemical structure after being microwaved? Won’t we gain hair loss instead of its nutrition?
Will the Sunflower Oil Heat in the Microwave?
To make a long story short, you can microwave sunflower oil. What you really need to be careful with is the temperature. The oil will be heated if you take into account a few facts about the process of its microwaving:
- Don’t be afraid to microwave sunflower oil at high powerts
- Sunflower oil, just like some other frying oils, has a high smoke point, but it may catch fire fast if goes past the allowed level
- The manufactured sunflower oil always contains some water, and since the water molecules are the ones that get heated in the microwave, you can be sure that the sunflower oil will warm up too
- Be especially careful with pure 100% sunflower oil, since it does not contain water that can warm up in the microwave oven
The sunflower oil can still get warm, but the origin of this warmth will be slightly different.
In case with the sunflower oil, this is not water that gets warmed up but the container in which you pour the oil to microwave.
Due to its structure, the microwave oven heats the glass bowl or a plastic container first and then the microwaves reach the middle of the dish and its contents.
So your sunflower oil will absorb the heat from the container it is microwaved in, not the microwaves.
Although, the less dangerous way to microwave sunflower oil is using a plastic container.
The glass bowl or mug is often not perfect, so it may shatter and warm up unevenly.
How to Make a 3-Minute Chocolate Cake in the Microwave?
Sunflower oil is one of the main ingredients in this recipe. Actually, this oil substitutes butter, grease or margarine in most of the microwave recipes.
Try this fast recipe and call your friends to celebrate the new era of baking cakes in cups.
Ingredients:
- Flour – 4 tbs
- Cocoa – 2 tbs
- Sugar – 2 tbs
- Egg – 1 pc
- Milk – 3 tbs
- Sunflower oil – 3 tbs
- Vanilla – ¼ tsp
- Finely chopped chocolate (optional) – 1 tbs
Preparation:
Take a large heat-resistant ceramic or glass mug (never use metal containers.)
Add flour, cocoa and sugar to the mug, stir well.
Add the egg and stir again to make sure that there is no flour left at the bottom.
Pour in milk and sunflower oil, then add vanilla and chocolate and mix it all.
Put the mug in the microwave and bake for 3 minutes at high power.
Wait until the cake stops rising and sits down in the mug.
If needed, separate the cake from the mug’s walls with the knife and turn over on the saucer.
Decorate with sugar powder, nuts, jam or glaze.
Can I Sterilize Sunflower Oil in the Microwave?
We just want you to reassure that you are not going to do this any day in the future.
Sunflower oil can’t be sterilized in the microwave oven.
If you ask why, here follows the answer: overheating can lead to the destruction of bonds and complex fats of the product (therefore it is not possible to fry on the waste oil too), and if the oil is not warm enough, it will not be sterile enough.
You may need a glass of sterilized sunflower oil for different purposes like preserving food or baby massage and cleaning. Therefore, give the preference to a traditional stove and sterilize the oil on a water bath.
