Has anyone ditched the microwave?

[BlueRidgeMountain]

Thrilling chat for a Sunday morning I know, but I’ve been thinking about getting rid of ours for a while. It takes up so much of our limited worktop space, and yes we do use it a bit, but we have an air fryer that can reheat so we’d really just be losing the defrost function, and ability to cook a microwave meal (not necessarily a bad thing?!)
So, has anyone got rid of theirs, was it not even missed or will we be making a big mistake?

I definitely couldn’t live without mine long term. I have a built in combi oven / microwave and the microwave part went just before Christmas and can’t be repaired. I’m going to reorganise the utility tomorrow to make space for a cheap microwave as I’m missing it too much.

I have discovered I can do porridge on the air fryer! Is there anything it can’t do?!?

No, I wouldn't ditch it. Mine has oven, grill and air-fry settings as well as the microwave, so it gets used more than the oven, and I have a separate air fryer too. It's easier to clean, cheaper to run and faster than the oven. Other than at Christmas I think I could manage without the oven more easily than without the microwave.

Ours died a few months ago, and I haven’t replaced it as we could also use the space. It’s missed a little, but not enough to buy a new one!

I would never get rid of our microwave. I use it every day for warming things up, cooking tomatoes, etc. I don't have an air fryer though so can't compare them.

Our microwave gets used more than the air fryer does.

I have a Samsung smart oven with all sorts of pre-sets, grill+mw combinations etc. It’s huge.

If it broke I’d replace it with the smallest, simplest microwave. Just for heating milk and making porridge. And popcorn. And freezer food…

Sounds amazing 😀. I do like to throw mine in the oven though as when I inevitably don't get to finish work on time, the old tattie can hang out in the oven for another half an hour without being ruined.

@CatamaranViper Can I just ask how you cook the microwave rice pouches on the hob? Do you fry it? It’s one of the very few things I still use my microwave for. Thanks

Mine too.

First thing I use in the morning to warm my heat wrap for my back ( comfort and warmth)
Also use for milky coffee, porridge, scrambled eggs re heating mash, especially if making a big roast dinner.
In the utility so not taking up valuable kitchen space. Also have 2 air fryers as one was at our recently sold caravan.
Downsizing soon so may need to rethink.

No . I use the microwave regularly for reheating defrosting ,white sauces etc .Air fryer doesn’t appeal to me as a replacement.

We got rid of ours in 2017 when I bought a KitchenAid, and there was no room for it. We've not missed it at all!

I won't be getting rid of mine. I don't eat many ready meals but I use it a lot to heat things like tins of beans, packets of rice etc. Also use it to sterilise baby bottles.

Also if my husband's on a late shift I can plate his dinner up for him to heat in the microwave later.

I don't have one, or an air fryer. Although if I was going to get one I'd get the air fryer.
Not much space for either really. I get by with a bit of inventive thinking!

Ours is a combination one, which is useful.
I probably only use the microwave for porridge and defrosting.
I use the combination basically as people use an airfryer. For beige food, heating a small portion of something, jacket potatoes, etc.
It's really a small oven and grill, but you can use all three at once, so you get quick cooking with an oven baked finish

I use mine loads - mainly for defrosting as I do a lot of batch cooking. Microwave defrosts things much quicker than the hob and also without having to keep stirring.

Also use it for microwave hot water bottle (3 of us, every day in winter)

Plus hot chocolate, baked beans, baked potato, microwave rice. All of these can be done on the hob or oven but would be slower & more mess/washing up.

Never used it for ready meals.

Ours is not on the surface though, it’s built in to an upper cabinet. Could you do that?

Sacrilege!

Never had one, so don't miss it.

I wouldn’t ditch mine I use it for lots of things veg , heating milk , warming up puddings , porridge etc but I have a lot of workspace so it’s not in my way .

Never, I use it to steam vegetables, so quick and easy

I wouldn't, I use it more than the air fryer, which I could probably ditch

Mine is used daily. Quick, cheaper than the hob and healthy. I don't have an air fryer. My kitchen is tiny. I do have an air fryer shelf facility in my oven. Put it in the utility room!! My kitchen is so small my washing machine and tumble dryer and freezer are in the conservatory!

I use mine often! I use it for heating soup, re-heating foods, taking the chill off the morning milk, all sorts!
A friend told me only a few weeks ago that they've never had a microwave, and I was shocked.
My parents bought their first one when I was about 5, and it's still in daily use at their house, so I guess I'm just used to seeing one used regularly.