To not own a microwave?

[WheresTheCat]

My Mum maintains microwaves radiate people's brains. So, I've never owned a microwave, used one a few times in my life and never really understood what they are for (unless you don't have an oven)

SO - should I have one - and if so, why?

[NinkyNonker]

We don't, haven't needed it yet.

[travellingwilbury]

I don't have one either , I had one for a wee while 10 years ago , I never used it and I don't quite trust them but have no scientific reason why .

It just doesn't seem natural that they can cook a potato that quickly .

[PommePoire]

YANBU - we don't have one. Although, it's not so much to do with brain radiation (not sure about that, either) and more to do with not really seeing the need.

[trixymalixy]

I think they are a must for the working Mum.

It's hard to cook from scratch while a starving toddler just back from nursery screaming at you.

It's much easier to batch cook and freeze and then you can have home cooked food ready in a couple of minutes.

[SausageGoulsAndFruitSpooks]

YANBU to not have one.

We've had one sitting unused on the kitchen side for 4years. It's finally going this weekend. I just cannot remember the last time I used it.

[ColdSancerre]

I rarely use mine and resent the work top space it takes up.

[NinkyNonker]

We reheat anything that needs reheating in a pan, grill or oven, it really doesn't take that long.

[EllaDee]

I don't have one and obviously our mums managed without them - I doubt they do you any harm but they take a lot of space and use a lot of power IME.

[squeakyfreakytoy]

Much easier for reheating food. More economical than using the oven.

I prepare and cook veg in advance, I bulk cook mash and freeze it. Both can be heated in a couple of minutes in the microwave.

Soup can be heated in a short time, and plastic pots are usually a lot easier and quicker to clean than pans and oven proof dishes.

[AheadlesswomancalledHorse]

YABU; they do a jacket potato in under 10 minutes!
Only reason I own one, oh and sometimes it's easier to make a hot chocolate than on the hob. Baked beans taste rubbish from the microwave though.

The way I see it; I get exposed to so much pollution living in the city that a few microwaves (which I assume would have to get OUT of the microwave via a crack, as they're confined otherwise) won't do me much harm!

[mousyfledermaus]

they are great for warming up leftovers, taking the chill of milk, cooking frozen veg reheating countless cuppas

[trixymalixy]

Plus ours is a combi, and we use the oven and grill functions much more than the range oven, as it is smaller and much more economical.

[Naoko]

Not unreasonable, but I'd hate to be without mine. I am chronically disorganised and usually forget to take things out of the freezer in time use it for quickly defrosting meat, for steaming vegetables, for softening butter in a hurry, for reheating leftovers/batchcooked stuff, reheating my tea when I forget to drink it, heating a heatpad for sore muscles, and a million other things.

[squeakyfreakytoy]

My mum used to balance a glass plate on top of a pan of simmering water to keep dads dinner warm if he got held up coming home from work. The microwave was a brilliant invention as far as she was concerned.

My dad didnt quite understand it though, and was most peeved that it would not cook toast!

Oddly enough, my parents never owned a toaster. (The obviously got married a decade too early!)

[chopchopbusybusy]

MIL bought us one about 20 years ago. We used it occasionally for heating up beans/peas/sweetcorn. When DD1 was younger we used it for heating her bedtime milk.
One night it lit up quite spectacularly with some sparks. We chucked it out and I've never felt the need to replace it.

[WheresTheCat]

Reheating cups of tea?
That's just made my stomach turn!

[mamalovesmojitos]

YANBU

Only have one as it was given to me, went four years without one before that, never missed it.

[faverolles]

How do you make chocolate mug cake?

[auschopper]

I have one, and while new technology if you haven't had a need for one, then you probably don't need a new one.

I find that they are very handy, and amazing what you can do in them. I usually cook up a big batch of food and then just reheat when needed.

[MumPotNoodle]

don't have one either.

[Naoko]

I drink my tea very weak and without milk, and reheating seems to make very little difference to the taste. I probably wouldn't if I drank strong milky tea though, that does sound kind of icky.

[Pascha]

We don't have one. Can't remember now what I would use one for.

[GetOrfMo1Land]

Mine broke and I never bothered to replace it. I only used it to reheat cold cups of coffee and to cook rice. I don't see the point of them otherwise.