To ask what you use you microwave for?

[Afternooninthepark]

At 47 and having lived together for 23 years, dh and I have never had or felt the need for a microwave.
However, ds (15) is badgering me to get one, he says he can make things quicker in it and in the future when we are away or out he and his sister can make quick and easy meals for themselves.
I remember having one when we lived at home and it was only used for heating beans and defrosting stuff.
They are obviously still popular as they are for sale everywhere.
So what do you use yours for?
Does anyone actually make proper meals in there microwave?

[ShrimpSymphony]

Soup, beans, hot chocolate and Reheating food mostly

[FatGirlShrinking]

Breakfast - scrambled egg or porridge usually, both done in 2 mins and cooked in the bowl they're eaten in so quick and easy.

Steaming veg or cooking frozen peas, sweetcorn, brocolli
Precooking potatoes for roasties or jackets
Beans, spaghetti hoops, tinned tomatoes
Hot chocolate
Microwave sponge for a quick hot pudding, chocolate, golden syrup or jam on the bottom of the bowl, simple sponge mix on top, 3 minutes and it's done
Melting chocolate or toffee/marshmallows when making rice crispie cakes with DD
Melting butter for cake baking
Heating up ready meals/leftovers

[FippertyGibbett]

My kids use it a lot so I’m happy to have one.
I could do without one though, so doubt I’ll have one when they have left home.

[bigbluebus]

My microwave died last week. I was keen to replace it quickly. I use it to make porridge, reheat meals, defrost things (mainly meat that hasn't quite defrosted) or cook peas. DS (23) tried to convince me that I didn't need one. I bought a new one and will continue to use it for all of the above!

[Happymum12345]

Melting butter for cooking
Melting chocolate
Reheating leftovers
Ready meals
Cooking peas

[LesLavandes]

Heating Ready meals
Defrosting
Heating soup
Starting off baked potatoes

[CiCiFreakingBabcock]

Cooking rice/poppadoms
Taking the fridge chill off food for the cat

[ToastyCrumpet]

Potatoes- cook them whole then cut them in half an put them through the ricer. Brilliant mashed potato.

Porridge.

Reheating anything.

Cooking veg.

[CatSmith]

I got rid of mine when I had a new kitchen as I just never used it. I’ve barely missed it, used it occasionally to make porridge dh used to reheat his coffee if it went cold.
I’m much happier having the extra worktop space.

[eatsleepread]

I actually use it surprisingly much, considering my children are no longer small. In fact, I can't imagine being without it!

[minipie]

Defrosting
Reheating tea/coffee when I’ve let them go cold
Hot chocolate
Reheating leftovers
Poppadums
Cooking frozen peas and sweetcorn

Going to read this thread for other ideas now! I feel it’s underused.

[pontiouspilates]

Warming up milk to go in coffee and cooking frozen peas!

[WeakandWobbly]

Sorry to hijack your post, OP but I've always been a bit scared of microwave ovens and haven't used one for 20 years. I'm tempted to get one of those air fryers for making small batches of fries, reheating leftovers etc. Do people think an air fryer is better than a microwave?

[MrsToothyBitch]

I bought my first property in Jan & still haven't got round to buying a microwave. I haven't missed it either yet , much to my surprise.

[SleepOhHowIMissYou]

Cooking fresh veg. Green beans, peas or broccoli in Tupperware with splash of water for 3 mins. Comes out perfectly cooked, steamed but with bite.

Heating cheese and ham in a croissant. Nom.

Making cheese sauce in a jug from scratch. Butter, cornflour, milk then heat. Add cheese and zap again. Takes minutes and you can serve in same jug.

All the obvious ones like soup, beans and ready meals for lunch.

[ReeseWitherfork]

Sorry to hijack your post, OP but I've always been a bit scared of microwave ovens and haven't used one for 20 years.

I’m terrified of them!!! Tin hat stuff I know. The only thing I use mine for is mug cakes because somehow I think that’s worth it?! Weak Sunday night sugar addict me thinks so! I had one put in the new kitchen because we had kids on the way and thought it would be a necessity but it hasn’t proved so at all. Everything can be done on a hob!

[Mmmmdanone]

I use mine several times a day for various things- heating soup/ leftovers, cooking frozen peas or sweetcorn, baked potatoes. I could probably get by ok without but it's handy I think so I wouldn't not trying. The extra kitchen worktop would be handy if I got rid of it but it's not enough of a reason for me.

[Rocketpants50]

Used for defrosting dog food, hidden away but sits on top of spare freezer which is mainly full of dog food.

Dd makes mug cakes in it
Ds tries to make popcorn in it
Dh attempts to warm coffee in it but fails everytime.

[loveyouradvice]

all of the above....

and my favourite, heating frozen fruit (such as a smoothie mix) so its hot and luscious and ready to pour onto either yogurt and muesli if I'm in a healthy mood, or ice cream for a pud....

Love to know top tips for melting chocolate well, especially white chocolate which often seizes for me... actually even 70% does when Im making a chocolate mousse!

[cakewench]

Steaming fresh veg.
Cooking frozen veg.
Reheating leftovers.
Defrosting meat if pressed for time.
Heating up beans.

Ours is used at least once a day.

[Thurmanmurman]

Defrosting meat that I've forgotten to take out of the freezer . Reheat leftovers, warm milk for hot chocolate, heat tinned food. I use it a lot.

[fluffi]

Use mine for ...

Porridge - less washing up than using a separate pan on hob
Fresh pasta (less washing up again)
FIsh - cooking frozen cod
Heating veg - peas, carrots, broccoli, brussels etc
Heating beans, sauces etc
Bacon
Re-heating batch-cooked meals
East-cook Lamb / Chicken / Beef joints - all done in 12 mins!
Baked beans
Soup
Microwave burgers
Popcorn
Mug cakes
Mulled wine in the winter!
Melting chocolate, butter, coconut oil

I could manage without an oven far longer than a microwave!

[TheDuchessofMalfy]

Reheating stuff! Mine has just broken and I miss it!

Will replace though .

[fitbciz1]

Defrosting/reheating
Peas!
Hot chocolate
Some vegan ready meals for wfh lunch

Were briefly without one and couldn’t stand it as I need hot food to be properly hot. If husband went out to get takeaway I would panic that it wouldn’t be hot enough.

[ELM8]

They aren't worth the amount of space they take up in my opinion.

We didn't have one for years but then got one on the insistence of DH just before we had our baby as we will "definitely be using it all the time with a baby"...

It was used once or twice a week for nearly a year and for things that could have been done on the hob or in the oven, so we sold the microwave and are doing just fine without it.