What could be nicer than preparing a hot cup of mulled wine or fruit punch for yourself at home during the cold season. But can you do that in the microwave, too?
Of course you can, and very well in fact, if you keep a few basic things in mind.
It is important that the mulled wine does not boil. The perfect temperature for mulled wine is around 72°C. From 78°C, the alcohol, an important flavour carrier, boils away. If you heat it further, the fruit flavour also changes. Overheated mulled wine tastes bland and bitter.
So it comes down to setting the right time on the microwave. But the right power level is also important. Microwaves only penetrate liquids a few centimetres deep, the rest is heated indirectly by convection. If you simply choose the highest power setting, the mulled wine will boil at the edge of the cup, while it is still relatively cold in the middle of the cup. At lower power levels, the heat can distribute more evenly in the drink.
So let’s set out to find the right recipe for our microwave.
It is important to have the same starting conditions as much as possible. The mulled wine should therefore always be at the same room or fridge temperature before preparation, and it is best to always use the same (and of course microwave-safe) cups.
The recipe for my microwave: 2 glass cups of room-temperature mulled wine at 0.2 litres each, 440 watts, 4:30 minutes.
With this recipe as a starting point, you can now find the right power and time for your microwave. You prepare the mulled wine, take it out of the microwave and check the temperature with a tea or cooking thermometer. If the mulled wine is too cold, you increase the preparation time by a few seconds next time. If it gets too hot, you reduce the time. If the mulled wine tastes overcooked, you reduce the power or the time slightly. (Please do not put the thermometer in the microwave!)
If you are only preparing one glass, the time is roughly halved. For four glasses, it doubles. But that is only a rule of thumb. It is worth finding the optimal time setting for other quantities through trial and error as well.
Once you have found your recipe, your microwave will prepare the perfect mulled wine practically by itself. You don’t have to constantly stir and monitor the temperature like on the stove, but simply wait for the beep.
Important: Never heat bottles, cans, beverage cartons or sealed containers in this way, but always only single cup portions.