I want to get rid of the microwave

[Beamazing]

But how do I heat up say, leftovers? Any non microwave users that could give me some tips? Also, jacket potatoes which my children like, will take forever! Thanks

I’ve never had a microwave. Baked potatoes can be speeded up a bit by using a potato nail - or fork for that matter. I’ve never had a sudden unplanned urge for one so I’ve honestly never minded the time they take. Good luck op. I’ve never ever wanted one.

Well, don’t come running to me when it takes off and makes me millions and you’re left without a small metal container to piss in.

you never said it was multi purpose in your pitch...…..

I have one, but we only use it for heating up coffee and defrosting meat from the freezer. I have never used it for actual cooking!

Baked potatoes and frozen leftovers always done in the oven.

How will you make porridge in the winter without a microwave?

Is this for real??

I'm another one who hasn't had one for years.

I don't use the microwave. Porridge on hob , left overs rarely exist.

Plenty of space in our kitchen and we had an integral one built in. I don’t have anything on the sides except a kettle (which I would happily ditch) and I definitely wouldn’t want a microwave sitting on the surfaces!
It’s used a couple of times a week, mainly for softening butter or when I make the caramel layer of a millionaires shortbread!
Leftovers aren’t really a thing in our house so there’s no issues there.

These small heat inducting items someone up thread is imagining - imagine if they came in differing sizes and shapes ! Wow. Wonder if we will ever see the day.

Unless your kitchen is tiny and you really need the counter space, why get rid? I didn’t have one for years then moved and new flat had an internal one already fitted. Have to admit, I didn’t miss having one when I didn’t but now I have one I’d struggle to get rid of it. It’s just easy for everything from steaming veg to cooking rice to reheating and also saves on washing up with e.g. soup or leftovers - food straight in bowl or on plate and into microwave, no pans to wash.

Ours broke a few months ago.

Now we have to:

• warm milk for hot chocolate or dc bedtime drink in a pan
• plan in advance and get things out of the freezer to defrost a few hours before we want them
• get butter out of the fridge an hour before making a cake
• erm.... That's it.

I always use hob for porridge and oven for jacket spuds anyway. I don't miss it at all (except for when I have to wash up the milk pan).

The only thing I really use the microwave for, is soup or jacket potatoes

I put the tato in the microwave, par cook it and then stick it under the grill to crisp the skin up.

I used to have microwaved potatoes as they went all soggy and would spent ages waiting for an oven one.

Dh changed my life with this tip

But how will you warm up tea that's gone cold?!

I've only ever had a microwave in furnished rented houses at uni. Imo reheated food tastes so much better if you do it on the hob or oven.

I couldn't manage without mine. I batch cook loads of food, its easier to reheat in a microwave.

Ovens are all well and good but they don't switch off and go ping when it's done.

I grew up without a microwave, so know I could manage without one just fine. I do like having it though. Mainly to avoid cleaning pots and pans, because I just heat up soup, etc in the bowl I'm eating it from.

DH would struggle. He grew up with everything cooked in the microwave or the deep fat frier.

A colleague recently told us that she keeps her microwave in the cupboard and only uses it once in a blue moon, we were a bit 😯 apparently if she is heating up beans/peas etc she just takes the lid off the can and puts in on the bottom shelf of the oven to heat!

Also, we have a halogen oven now. They're really good to use for heating up leftovers etc. And make nice chips! Still take up a lot of counter space though.

apparently if she is heating up beans/peas etc she just takes the lid off the can and puts in on the bottom shelf of the oven to heat!

Yeah that's one option, or just pop in a small pan to heat. I used to do this with sweetcorn, take off lid, drain and pop some butter on top then shove in the bottom of the oven for 10 mins.

I've not had a microwave for at least a decade.

the porridge comment and the Dragons' Den thing has made me weep with laughter

We ditched our microwave when I got a Kitchen Aid last year. We only used it to heat milk for my breakfast, so don't miss it as I now use a silver thing with a handle. 😂😂

All you people making porridge in the microwave, HEATHENS!! And there's a special place in hell for those that make it with water and not milk!

Vegetables are much better when done in the microwave and retain more nutrients.
Much quicker to make a white sauce or cheese sauce in the microwave.
Rice is great in the microwave.
And being Mnet need to mention the infamous mnet mug cakes.
Zapping potatoes while the oven warms up for jacket potatoes so they don’t take as long
Mash is much better if you microwave baked potatoes then peel and mash (don’t need to crisp up the skin if you’re discarding) as it’s not as watery (that’s a tip I’ve heard top chefs give on the tv several times - avoid using boiled potatoes for mash as they have absorbed too much water.
And so much more...

If I was designing a new kitchen I would want two microwaves in it (one could be a multi functional oven at a pinch).

Much less hassle and much Less washing up than using the hob. Much better to use the microwave and gain extra time in your life than throw it away!

Much better to use the microwave and gain extra time in your life than throw it away!

How is it 'throwing your life away' by cooking food properly?

I read that as throwing the microwave away not throwing her life away.

Timely thread for us, we are about to move, and I've been debating getting rid of the microwave.
We use it to scald milk when baking bread, to par cook potatoes for baked potatoes, to reheat leftovers, defrosting, melting chocolate, and reheating tea.