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How To

How to Press Flowers Using a Microwave!

Member
By KCout
User-Submitted Article
(14 Ratings)

Pressed flowers are great for craft projects, but take so long to press. Pressed flowers can be ready for use in minutes when you use a microwave.

Difficulty: Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Paper Towels
  • Blotting paper
  • Flowers and Leaves to press
  • Heavy flat microwave dish
  1. Step 1

    Lay 3 to 4 paper towels on your removable turntable in the microwave. If you don't have a removable tray, then just use a flat plate. Top the paper towels with blotting paper. Use more towels if the flowers you are using are big or full of water.

  2. Step 2

    Carefully place the flowers you intend to press on the blotting paper, making sure they don't touch each other.

  3. Step 3

    Cover the flowers with another sheet of blotting paper, and place 3 or 4 more paper towels on top. If the flowers are very big, or very wet use a few more paper towels.

  4. Step 4

    Place the flowers and paper in the microwave, place a dish or lid on top of the paper to keep it flat while drying. This doesn't have to be heavy, just to hold the papers down.

  5. Step 5

    Microwave on medium heat (low-medium for dark colored flowers) for 3 to 4 minutes. Stop every minute to check flowers for position; straighten any flowers or leaves that have moved. Check for dryness too!
    The flowers should feel dry and they should be rigid.
    *Note the paper towels may still be slightly damp.

  6. Step 6

    Usually 3 to 4 minutes is enough for flowers to reach the desired dryness. Times for drying will vary according to the flowers being dried. If you use large flowers or flowers that contain a lot of water-an extra minute or so may be needed.

  7. Step 7

    Be careful not to microwave the flowers too long. It's a good idea to err on the side of under drying them. When the flowers feel dry or very nearly dry, leave them in the microwave for a few minutes with the power off. This will safely finish the drying process.

Tips & Warnings
  • Flowers become brittle when they are dried too quickly.
  • Microwave ovens get hotter the more they are used. If you are drying several batches of flowers, lower the heat setting as the microwave gets hotter.
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