So here I was staring at this frozen dim sum packet in my freezer yesterday, you know, those little shrimp dumplings and pork buns? Thought I’d try something crazy: zapping them in the microwave instead of steaming for ages. Figured, how hard could it be?
My Microwave Dim Sum Adventure
First, I grabbed that sad frozen packet—shrimp har gow and char siu bao. Plastic felt icy, honestly looked like despair. Dumped them onto a plate, straight from the freezer frost. Microwaved a mug of water first (saw that trick online), then yanked it out. Steam filled the kitchen for a second. Good sign, maybe?
Slapped the plate right in there. Nuked ’em on high for one minute. Ding! Pulled it out… still rock solid in the middle. Meh. Stuck a wet paper towel over the top this time—read that keeps things from drying out. Gave it another minute and a half. Ding!
Result:
- Saw steam rising!
- Har gow looked kinda see-through like it should.
- Char siu bao felt… suspiciously doughy when I poked it with a chopstick.
Took a bite of the shrimp dumpling first. Hot. Like, roof-of-your-mouth-burn hot. Texture was actually decent – soft, a bit sticky, shrimp not rubbery. Better than expected!
Then the char siu bao. Bit into the fluffy bun… filling was warmish but the very middle felt lukewarm. Bun itself was okay, but dense at the thick folded part underneath. Wouldn’t win awards, but not terrible either. Sweet pork flavor came through alright.
What Worked (And What Didn’t)
- Har Gow Wins: Skin didn’t toughen up! Moisture from the paper towel + the hot mug trick probably saved it.
- Bao Trouble: The thick doughy bottom needs more time than the top. Maybe flip it halfway? Or break one open near the end to check.
- Timing is Tricky: My microwave is kinda old. Takes more zaps. Gotta check often. Burnt mouth taught me patience!
- Plate Matters: Used a flat ceramic plate. Microwaved faster than my deeper dishes would have.
Honestly, felt like a lazy victory. Were they restaurant quality? No way. But for something I threw together in under 3 minutes total cook time while waiting for my coffee? They came out okay. Good enough for a quick craving fix. Next time, I might try flipping the buns halfway. Baby steps in the microwave dim sum journey!