Is there an intrinsic difference between food cooked in a microwave and food cooked in a pan?

[Katymac]

If so - for what sorts of food & why?

Food cooked in the pan tastes better IMHO.

really? - would you honestly know?

microwave is horrible..it is not for cooking with or even reheating which also tastes better done elsewhere

nothing more dispiriting than being presented with a microwaved meal

we have recently got a microwave this last week.

i keep forgetting we have it - its good for beans
and baked potatos

but what i dont get is how you can feed 5 or 6 people at the same time

you can only fit one lot in at a time - therefore meal #1 would be cold?

A pint of custard?

microwaves cook from the inside out and ovens cook from outside in (vague memory from home ec wrt baked alaska)

Microwave steamed broccoli is nice, as is scrambled egg

food turns out crap when people don't know how to use a microwave properly

it affects the molecules in the food so texture is different and of course doesn't brown

so most foods are useless in the microwave and as custy says can't cook any quantity in it as speed slows dramatically with increased amount and the foods all take different times to cook

So is scrambled egg or custard in the MW ok?

no imo

Oh god no - RUBBISH for baked pots as you don't get a crispy skin......Only ever used mine to defrost ds's purees and stuff....bined it as soon as I could..

only if you have no alternative...but scrambled eggs wouldn't be on my list

I agree about Baked potatoes

i zap them - then finish off with 15 min in a high oven (after rubbing butter into the skins...mmmmmm)

But Custard - it never burns, it never gets lumps - it just cooks

Vegetables are far better for you cooked in the microwave than boiled and are similar to steamed (assuming they are done properly).

I prefer to do them in the microwave than use my steamer because the washing/pfaffing is less. I also use it to reheat small portions of stuff that I've cooked and frozen for ds (eg shep pie, fish pie) or cooked the day before but need reheating.

I know in theory it is better from the oven but if you have just go in the door, ds is hungry and the choice is reheat in the oven which takes 30-40 mins (plus oven warming time) or 5mins in the microwave I know which one ds prefers

I also agree baked potatos are better in the oven, but the they take hours - 1 hour never seems enough in my oven and who has the time if you want a jacket potato for lunnch/tea and also want to go out!!.

I microwave mine (5-10 mins for two) to get them soft then put them in the oven or on a high heat for 20-30 min to crisp the skin and finish cooking

Scrambles eggs are absolutely fine in the microwave and I defy anyone to tell the difference as long as they are done properly and checked frequently.

tbh they don't take much less time than in a pan though.

Porridge