please come and tell me about your microwave.

[snowballinashoebox]

I have always managed without one, but it has got to the point now with ds doing lots of evening sports, me coming in late knackered and usually disorganised that I can to see a use for one.

Or will it just turn into another shelf?

dh reckons it would cost loads less in electricity than turning on the oven to heat up one small item

So what do I need, grill? combination? size? makes?
thanks

size: standard size
Make: pass, no opinion
Wattage: somewhere around 700-850w? I wouldn't be too concerned, never found a huge difference myself.
Grill: I have one and never use it. Its a bit crap and its a faff.
Cost: found this on t'interweb:
Medium lasagne
30 mins in electric oven cost 8p
8 mins 30 in microwave 3p
Frozen ready meal for 2
40 mins in oven 10p
15 mins in microwave 5p
(all based on about 14p per KWH/Unit).
So cheaper but I wouldn't book the exotic holiday quite yet

I find a microwave good for many things, but not some. Case in point - baked beans. There is no comparison between microwave beans and saucepan beans, I won't eat microwave beans anymore! But tinned tomatoes taste identical. Go figure. I don't use my microwave massively but I still wouldn't be without it. When I do need it I NEED IT if you see what I mean! Got my current one from Amazon.

HTH

we have an 850w one from argos with no grill. It is good for defrosting and reheating frozen foods, part cooking baked potatoes, heating beans (dont find a difference between microwaved and pan cooked), etc

I have a large combi m/w and hardly ever use any function except the microwave (I sometimes use the hot-oven setting to warm plates). I don't think I've ever needed to use the grill element. DP considers it was a waste of money. I think it was about £400

Combis are considerably more expensive than plain microwaves, and usually bigger. Plain m/ws all seem to have plastic linings now, combis are stainless.

If I felt like spending heaps of money I might buy one of those multifunctional ovens that looks like an ordinary sized oven but also has a microwave function. They are ridiculously expensive though.

We don't use ours everyday but I'd be lost without it. Don't bother with grill function as pretty rubbish tbh. I use ours mainly for beans (I buy the mini Heinz snap pots), I also use it for my tins of sweet corn (in a tub) and to cook my frozen peas (no need for water). DH warms his soup in it but I prefer the hob & saucepan. Great for defrosting sausages etc and to start my jacket potatoes if short of time. DH also likes warm milk on cereal so a mug of milk is normally in there in the morning and sometimes evening for hot choc etc. toddlers bottles/cup of milk also goes in as only takes 40 secs! Maybe mine is used more than I though!

I fancy one of these corner ones

I agree with others; grill is a waste of time.

We have one of those, chipmunk. Ours is the creamy/yellowy colour and I love it cos it reminds me of a 50s tv set...

Don't bother with a grill, OP- we never used the one on our old microwave and it just makes the whole thing too big. The one we have now (see chipmunk's link) is good although the interior is quite small. I can still fit in one of our oversized dinner plates though.

Thank you all for the great advice especially regarding the grill as I was leaning towards that option.

gemma4d thanks for the costings

Looked at some yesterday some even had different buttons for Chinese and Indian food, how have I managed all this time?
I liked the look of the small panasonic but am loving your link chipmunk will check out the daewoo too thanks mrsmagnlia