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?

We only have one because dh already had it when he moved in with me. We mostly use it for defrosting bread and reheating the occasional home made meal, having defrosted it from the freezer. To be honest if it went wrong, I don't know if I'd bother replacing it.

Mine broke about 6 months ago and we haven't bothered to replace it.

I don't miss it one bit.

Like nearly everyone else, we didn't replace ours when it broke yonks ago as I preferred the worktop space. For some reason I still have a microwave rice cooker though.

YANBU not to have one if you have no need for one. For me, I like having one as dh works long hours so I can cook his dinner with everyone else and just reheat it when he gets in.

I was v smug about now having one for 10 years +. Then we moved into a place with one in and it became v useful. Now we've moved again and want to buy our own. Best use? Heating up milk bottles in a hurry.

Mumsnet is a bad influence :(

Just tried to microwave a grape, it didn't explode but there were lots of sparks. Best not trying that again

I don't own a microwave either. Used to have one which came with the property - quite useful for having hot food or drinks within a minute or two, if you are time starved. It does take up a lot of space though.

If it works properly, it doesn't radiate your brains a lot more than a tv does. (The cathode ray tube kind).

yanbu if you have no need or desire.

We'd manage without one but they're great for cooking frozen veg, porridge, hot choc, reheating, heating things like beans or soup quickly. I always though it was more economical than putting the gas on for the stove.

It will irradiate your brain (with non-ionsising radiation, ie not the nuclear type) if you put your brain within the shielded chamber, but that would be the least of your worries compared to the heating effect! Every electrical current emits electromagnetic radiation unless shielded so there are plenty of other things irradiating you anyway to no detrimental degree.

I've got one & would retain one if there was space in the kitchen as very quick to do certain things as mentioned. I like doing beetroot in mine as I'm less likely to get purple stains everywhere.

I don't own one.

I reheat meals in the oven , in a baking dish ...in a little foil pouch.

Or...in a saucepan on the hob ,adding a bit of veg stock (if needed)

We had one , but it started to make me nervous (when I went down a health -kick type thing) a few years back...