When the microwave first came out in the 1950s, it was innovative and sexy. But almost 70 years later, its often frowned upon, conjuring the image of bland TV dinners and nuking. Now, the Instant Pot and air fryer take the spotlight as coveted kitchen appliances.

But the microwave still wins in terms of simplicity and range. With a push of a button, it can quickly make oatmeal, veggies, rice or even quesadillas. And thats on top of reheating leftovers, one of its most popular functions.

Contrary to popular opinion, microwaved food (if done properly) can taste just as good as if it were cooked on the stove or in the oven. As with cooking in general, the key is having a few tricks. Fortunately, chefs (yes, even chefs microwave food) arent stingy about sharing their secrets.

Ready to elevate your microwave meals with minimal effort? Keep reading for their tips.

How to make leftovers taste like something you literally just made

For many people, the number one use for their microwave is reheating leftovers. If youre making a meal and you know youre not going to eat it all in one sitting, chef Carla Contreras , who has been on Chopped! and hosts the Show Up Fully podcast , said the first step to making it taste amazing when you reheat it later is to store it properly.

Store things separately, Contreras said. For example, if youre making pasta, store the noodles in a different container than the sauce. That way, when you reheat the foods, they will more closely taste like when you just made them. After all, freshly made foods arent hanging out together for days before you plate them.

When youre done microwaving the different parts of your leftover meal, chef Ali Slagle recommends adding something fresh to it, such as thinly sliced scallions, herbs or a squeeze of lemon juice. You may also need to pull out the spices that you originally used when making your meal.

Flavors shift in the fridge and also once the food is reheated in the microwave, so be sure to taste whatever youve microwaved and adjust seasonings until it tastes great and not like leftovers, Slagle said.

How to upgrade your instant oatmeal

Instant oatmeal is a classic breakfast go-to, especially during the coldest months of the year. But if all thats accompanying your oats are the tiny bits of freeze-dried fruit that come in the package, youre doing it wrong.

Oh gosh, those dried little berries or peaches take em out, Contreras said. Replace them with frozen berries, she said. Add them to your bowl of oatmeal and water (or milk, if youre fancy), and zap it for about a minute. Frozen fruit adds texture, flavor and moisture, Contreras said.

Slagle said spices make a big difference, too. Personally, she sticks to the classics brown sugar and cinnamon. But then she throws salt and black pepper in as a wildcard. It keeps the oatmeal from tasting too sweet, she said.

Contreras recommends warming spices like cardamom or pumpkin pie spice, which also add flavor.