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?

[BarbaraofSeville]

Microwaves are so bad health wise

Ooh! Do tell!

[SecretNutellaFix]

I use mine for heating beans or tinned soup; steaming veg; melting chocolate; warming milk for hot chocolate; we use the packets of rice; jacket potatoes etc.

It's used every couple of days in Summer and almost daily in cold weather.

[Flaunch]

Milk for coffee, porridge and peas.

[sashh]

Mine is a combi so you can make just about anything in it. It has setting to auto defrost some things and to cook other things eg jacket potatoes or roast a whole chicken in 30 mins. Oh and great Yorkshire puddings.

I use just microwave to heat up left overs. To make sweet potato mash - 10mins in the microwave (turn half way through) cut in half and squeeze the flesh out ready mashed.

I think stuffed peppers taste better microwaved.

I make an egg in a ramekin while my toast is cooking.

Baked beans - heat in a jug and pour out - no manky beans pan afterwards.

'Airing' wine.

Sterilising dish cloths.

[Wannabegreenfingers]

I don't own one. The oven heats things and if I need hot milk I have a pan. Takes up to much space.

[honeybeetheoneandonly]

I got one of these a couple of years ago.
They are perfect for making 1 person meals.
Toasties.
But I'm currently using it for quick lunches such as a grilled chicken thigh or stuffed chicken breast (with a packet of cous cous and some salad, for example).
They even make some very acceptable chips. Just cut a baking potato into chips or slices; spray or brush with oil and cook for 3-4 minutes- turn the potatoes, cook another 3-4 min DONE.

www.lakeland.co.uk/26373/L%C3%A9ku%C3%A9-Microwave-Grill-for-Toasted-Sandwiches-and-More

[AlternativePerspective]

I don’t own one. Absolutely no need as pans etc can be used for everything.

And if you only eat foods e.g. scrambled egg in the microwave you won’t realise how rank it tastes compared to done properly in a frying pan.

The microwave works by dehydrating the food essentially. Added to which it takes up far to much space on the worktop.

[tabulahrasa]

Well there was a reason eggs weren’t on my list of things I use the microwave for.

I mean of course I could do everything I do in a microwave with a cooker, but you know, I could get rid of my hoover and washing machine because I could use a brush and my bath - but the point of having a microwave isn’t really whether you could do things without one.

[baytreetavern]

Baked beans, the odd ready meal (amazing time saver when needed), heating the inside of arancini before frying the outside, defrosting meatballs, sausages etc, steam veg.

I think my husband didn't see the point in having one, but now says we can't really do without it!

[baytreetavern]

@AlternativePerspective

I don’t own one. Absolutely no need as pans etc can be used for everything.

And if you only eat foods e.g. scrambled egg in the microwave you won’t realise how rank it tastes compared to done properly in a frying pan.

The microwave works by dehydrating the food essentially. Added to which it takes up far to much space on the worktop.

It's subjective re the eggs. I hate frying pan scrambled eggs. Has to be done in a saucepan for me!

[ilovemyrednosedaymug]

poached eggs
soup
baked beans
spaghetti
tinned peas
scrambled eggs
the odd ready meal (prefer to oven cook them)
packet rice
sponge pudding
custard
carrots
warming up roast dinner when my mum makes me a takeaway

stuff stays hotter for longer if you do it on the hob, like soup, beans etc, but microwave is quick and easy.

[Lurchermom]

We got rid of ours when we renovated our kitchen. Generally we don't miss it - just the odd thing:
-baked potatoes. I love doing them in the oven bit it takes ages, so great to be able to do in microwave and then finish off in the oven
-precooked rice packets- when. We have people over I like to cook the main meal from scratch but rice can be so hit and miss it's easier just to have predone rice
-re heating leftovers. This is probably the biggest bugbear

[AlternativePerspective]

I mean of course I could do everything I do in a microwave with a cooker, but you know, I could get rid of my hoover and washing machine because I could use a brush and my bath - but the point of having a microwave isn’t really whether you could do things without one. that’s not a comparison though. Most people have a hoover because it’s a necessity really. To clean the house with a brush isn’t comparable to cooking in an oven.

A better comparison might be a dishwasher, which is a useful thing to have but A, not everyone has the space or the money to afford one, and B, nobody needs one but having one makes things a lot easier in some instances.

It’s the same with a lot of other kitchen gadgets, soup makers for instances were all the rage at one point, but it’s a lot cheaper to make soup in a saucepan with a blender and therefore a soup maker is only a gadget you’d have if you really wanted one.

If the washing machine broke down you wouldn’t expect someone to say “we’re not getting another one of those because we’ll just do the washing in the bath. But as a microwave isn’t necessary then the OP would be perfectly within her rights to say that they’ve never had one or had the use for one and therefore won’t be getting one.

[sashh]

The microwave works by dehydrating the food essentially. Added to which it takes up far to much space on the worktop.

No it doesn't and it depends on the size of the microwave, the size of your worktop and whether you can be bothered to put a shelf in.

A better comparison might be a dishwasher, which is a useful thing to have but A, not everyone has the space or the money to afford one

One of my friends lived in a flat for 5 years without an oven, even now he only has a mini oven with 2 electric rings.

I lived for years without a washing machine.

Just about every appliance is only essential or optional depending on your home and lifestyle. For me a dishwasher is essential as I can't stand at a sink to wash up.

The OP it asking what people use one for in order to make a choice.

[IaltagDhubh]

Hot chocolate.

Other than that, the bastard just sits there, taking up valuable worktop space and collecting dust. Nothing else edible has ever come out of the stupid thing, so I’ve given up.

I’m planning to replace it with a velvetiser.

[CrunchyNutNC]

The microwave works by dehydrating the food essentially.

It really doesn't, and by covering whatever you're heating you generate steam - which keeps things moist.

I would survive without my microwave, but then in theory I'd also survive without my washing machine, dishwasher, hoover etc - it doesn't mean life would be better!

[Lurchermom]

@Tillygetsit

I use mine for hiding things from my snaffling lurcher

and that is where I'm going wrong not having one!

[BertieBotts]

Reheating single portions without using a pan.
Part baking potatoes so I can quickly finish them off.
If meat is ever accidentally undercooked I microwave it to finish it off (emergencies only!)
Make porridge in it in the bowl, less washing up.
Make scrambled egg for breakfast or toddler. If I was doing it for more people or lunch i use a pan.
Mug cakes!
Hot chocolate with proper milk, not using hot water with powder.
Frozen peas to accompany e.g. Oven food.
Heating wheat bag thing.
Heat up milk for posh coffees.

[Sooverthemill]

We have one and replaced our broken one last week with a next day delivery ( but we are without a kitchen at present) but managed perfectly well without one for many years. For me it's about convenience. You can do everything in an oven/ on the hob but it's quicker and sometimes less washing up ( so I can make one portion of porridge in the same bowl I eat it out of). I can warm my soup in the mug etc. I like it for cooking rice, for heating ready meals, for warming just a small amount of milk for my real coffee. My kids use it to make mug cakes and our new one can be used to grill and bake stuff but I haven't gone their yet ( not having anything like a kitchen to prep stuff in). It's good for speed really. Not great for some stuff but I'm happy when I realise I've forgotten to take an uncut loaf from freezer and can still defrost in time for lunch.

[BertieBotts]

Microwave meals as well. I like the aldi steam fresh ones.

[Bagadverts]

Sometimes feel I am one of the few people on MN that eat ready meals, though a few more have said it on this thread
Reheating
Baked potato ideally finish in the oven
Microwave heat pack has saved me a lot on gas when I’m alone in the house.

[Sewsosew]

Oh yes. I have a bad neck and my microwave heat pack is invaluable!

[Sooverthemill]

Oh god yes heat packs. I have one on my neck now. Hot water bottles aren't so safe imo

[BackforGood]

PLEASE will someone tell me how to poach an egg in the microwave.
Pretty please ???

[dementedpixie]

Do you not have to crack it into a wee egg poaching contraption thing. You definitely don't leave it in the shell