Here's How To Cut Lasagna's Cook Time In Half Without Touching The Stove

Zapping your lasagna to tender perfection may be one of many microwave hacks you didn't know you needed, especially if you love this dish more than Garfield but simply don't have the time to make it the traditional way. Between the time required to simmer the sauce and beef together, assemble the layers of ingredients between noodles, and bake it long enough for everything to get bubbly, classic lasagna can take over 2 hours to make from start to finish.

With the help of the almighty microwave, this process takes well under an hour and doesn't require any time spent standing over a hot stove. In fact, this hack is also a great way to avoid heating up your kitchen, since microwaves don't radiate warmth the way ovens do. It also requires very few tools or cooking pans, making it the ideal dish for when you want some tasty comfort food without all the hassle that typically comes with those kinds of dishes.

When putting together your microwave lasagna, you can handle the protein and sauce one of two ways. The first is to nuke the sauce and beef together in a microwave-safe bowl to help infuse the meat with tomato-y goodness. The second is to omit meat altogether, simplifying your lasagna to include cheese and sauce alone, which is an equally tasty option. This can be a great way to help your lasagna hold its shape, as overloading the layers is what causes slices to droop under their own weight.

The main thing to remember with microwave lasagna is that moisture is your friend. The right amount of moisture not only helps ensure your noodles soften to the perfect al dente texture, but also helps prevent scorched edges and undercooked areas, as it helps evenly distribute heat throughout the dish. For a single-serving lasagna in a relatively small dish, the sauce alone may provide all the moisture you need, especially since cook times will be shorter.

However, one of the most common mistakes people make with lasagna, especially larger ones, is not adding extra liquid. Longer cook times mean more opportunity for evaporation, which increases the risk of your dish drying out or burning. If you're making four or more servings of lasagna in the microwave, you should add additional liquid to your baking dish. This may be several tablespoons of good ol' plain water, or a splash or two of beef or veggie stock for added flavor.

Something else to consider when microwaving lasagna instead of baking it in the oven is how thick the layers are. A slightly thinner lasagna with fewer layers will cook more evenly in the microwave than the hefty deep-dish recipes you may be used to. The simplest way to create a more svelte lasagna is to use your favorite recipe, reduce the amount of fillings, and omit a few of the layers. That way, you enjoy your favorite flavors without risking your lasagna being underdone.