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Original poster

Do I need a microwave?

51 replies

Whathappenedtothelego · 01/12/2019 10:53

I've never owned or used a microwave.

Someone has offered to buy us one for Christmas.

Would it change my life? I can't really think that it would, and it takes up lots of precious counter space on the kitchen.

What useful things do you use yours for? Do you use one every day?

Basically I'm perfectly happy without one, but feel a bit ungracious turning down a gift, so hoping I can have my mind changed.

OP posts:
Dodie66 · 01/12/2019 10:56

I use mine for making scrambled egg, heating ready meals, cooking mushrooms (which are yummy done with a knob of butter) heating soup, making porridge etc. Saves a lot on washing up because I use the bowl I will be eating from. Mine packed up yesterday so I’ve just ordered a new one. Can’t be without it.oh and I use it for ice cream. 10 seconds makes it just right to eat 🙂

NotTonightJosepheen · 01/12/2019 11:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

dementedpixie · 01/12/2019 11:03

Starting off baking potatoes, reheating portions of food that have been frozen, heating ready meals, heating portions of chocolate cake ready to pour cream on them

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Original poster
Whathappenedtothelego · 01/12/2019 11:05

Definitely don't have space in the cupboards for on, it would have to stay out.
Don't like porridge or scrambled egg much, maybe that's why I've never missed having one.
Perhaps I could try and get into porridge.

OP posts:
viccat · 01/12/2019 11:51

After a lifetime of having one, I've been without for the past five years (not enough counter space in the kitchen). The two things I miss are occasional microwave ready meals (most of the Tesco Wicked Kitchen vegan range for example can only be heated in a microwave) and those microwaveable wheat/grain filled heat packs for winter.

ByAppointmentTo · 01/12/2019 11:53

Ours broke almost exactly one year ago and we haven't replaced it. The only thing I miss it for is reheating leftovers and heating tortillas!

MustardScreams · 01/12/2019 11:54

I only use mine for warming milk for dd or hot chocolate and steaming veg bags.

If you’ve not got space I’d say no, don’t use up counter space for something you’re not using every day.

snowone · 01/12/2019 12:16

Ours is used daily - mainly for sterilising bottles at the minute but I wouldn't be without one.

Swishyswash · 01/12/2019 12:19

I had one when DS was a baby. We moved, it broke and we've never replaced it. He's now 17.

Don't think I'd ever have one again, not sure what I'd use it for.

BarbaraofSeville · 01/12/2019 12:19

How do you heat your leftovers without a microwave? We use ours for that nearly every day. Much quicker and easier than pans, ovens etc.

MustardScreams · 01/12/2019 12:21

@BarbaraofSeville depends what it is. Soup/curry/chilli I leave out all day to defrost and then shove in a pan. Stews/lasagne/fish pie etc just pop in the oven and put in at 180 till bubbly again.

Pipandmum · 01/12/2019 12:22

Great for steaming veg, especially if just making it for one or two people. I do those pouches of rice too. Bacon goes nice a crispy and the odd ready meal. Popcorn. I'd say mine gets used most days.

sashh · 01/12/2019 12:23

Great to soften butter.

Baked beans in a jug - no messing washing up of the pan.

IMHO peppers and sweet potatoes are best cooked in the microwave.

Mine is a combi so you can use it as a spare oven or use the microwave and oven combined to roast a chicken in 30mins.

If you ever buy ready prepped veg you can stick a tablespoon of water in the bag and cook in a couple of mins.

Frownette · 01/12/2019 12:23

Use it for part cooking jacket potatoes, ready packet rice, reheating drinks/food.

Unfortunately mine packed up earlier this year (It was quite old) but it was useful

Nighttimefreedom · 01/12/2019 12:26

I've been without one for 6 months now and wont be bothering. I've moved to a flat with a tiny kitchen and theres just no room! I bought pyrex type containers for leftovers and they can go in the oven as is.

kitk · 01/12/2019 12:29

Our life is much easier with one as were often eating at different times and it's much easier to reheat food with a microwave. It also gives jacket potatoes a useful head start!

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 01/12/2019 12:31

Hot chocolate, soup, scrambled eggs, melting chocolate, porridge and other cereals. Odd ready meal. Croissants.

You can't miss what you've never had. We can go for a couple of weeks without using it.

changeforprivacy · 01/12/2019 12:36

Last time I used one was 1993 before I left home - I never bought one because I can't see any need for them; and they take up so much space.

Someone mentioned hearing leftovers - this is something I have never done. We just cook a meal and eat it, I never over cook.

horse4course · 01/12/2019 12:36

It suits certain lifestyles but you don't need one.

Treq · 01/12/2019 12:40

I haven't had one for 2 years, the only thing I miss is I can't heat up those rice heat bag things for when I have a sore back.

Original poster
Whathappenedtothelego · 01/12/2019 12:41

I do heat leftovers sometimes, but just on the hob or in the oven, no bother. Same with soup, it takes 5 minutes in a saucepan on the hob.
There's nothing really leaping out at me - but like pp said, you can't miss what you never had.

OP posts:
Toomanycats99 · 01/12/2019 12:46

I work full time so much corn batch cook at weekends. Microwave means I can quickly reheat portions when DD's come in from school/ activities.

bookmum08 · 01/12/2019 12:48

Who is buying you one. Just tell them you don't want one. A microwave is a random thing to buy someone if they haven't asked for one. How odd.

JorisBonson · 01/12/2019 12:49

Got rid of mine a few years ago and have never missed it!

Frlrlrubert · 01/12/2019 13:00

I'm trying to think what we use ours for:

Heating tortillas
Leftover Chinese
Porridge

That's it really since we stopped sterilising bottles. I don't think we'll replace it when it dies.