On those occasions when you need a dinner party appetizer on the fly, a wheel of brie is your best friend. Skip the oven and pop it into the microwave instead. In less than five minutes, you'll have a Pinterest-worthy cheese plate to serve your guests.
![dipping cracker into warm brie](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/1bbb462d-ed52-4737-b3a8-5271fd3c8821.png)
Prepare the Brie
Slice off the top rind of the brie wheel. This not only makes for a prettier presentation when you serve it, but it also allows for easier dipping.
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![slicing top off brie](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/92a49709-31ea-4cd2-9daa-dd033df81a82.png)
Line a microwave-safe plate with parchment paper and set the brie on top. The parchment paper will allow you to easily slide the brie onto a serving platter when it's done.
![placing brie on parchment-lined plate](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/f5fd1b20-ef0d-43d4-88c5-882b3618b700.png)
Heat in Microwave
Set the microwave to high heat and place the brie inside. Following the correct cooking time is essential to getting the best result...
Too Firm
If you microwave it for 1 minute, the result is a wheel of cheese that's too firm and disappointingly not spreadable onto a cracker.
![pressing knife into brie that's too firm](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/d86008ea-86c3-488e-9032-5648dc487de7.png)
![trying to spread brie on a cracker](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/530836e0-4eff-4ed4-8fe1-823938b0d149.png)
Too Soft
If you microwave it for 3 minutes, your wheel of brie becomes an oozing hot mess. Not that hot oozing cheese is the worst thing in the world, BUT you want it to retain its shape for a pretty presentation.
![hot oozing wheel of brie](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/128877a3-2659-4a43-b78f-9eb7e33571f1.png)
Just Right
If you microwave your brie for 2 minutes, you end up with a perfectly melted wheel of cheese that is hot and bubbly on top but also keeps its beautiful round shape and offers the perfect cheese-pull factor.
![hot and bubbly wheel of brie](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/7325835d-3a8e-4063-a259-a6e82362725e.png)
![dipping cracker into warmed brie](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/e54f0b2b-f9c5-4c7a-a2e3-f019048b1930.png)
Garnish & Serve
The best thing about brie is that so many things pair well with it -- nuts, fruits, honey, herbs. Try a handful of pecans on the top, drizzled with honey, and serve it with your favorite cheese board accoutrements.
![drizzling honey on top of brie](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/21eed3a4-f4a7-4d02-973c-43b9f33250d1.png)