anyone NOT got a microwave? can you tell me how you manage pls? !

skintchick

I don;t want to use it more really as I am not convinced they are entirely healthy, but I don;t have a utility room to relocate it to(we researched having one but it will cost us 6k for a tiny extension).

I have seen metal plates that say they defrost things quicker, and I wondered about using that kind of thing?

I guess I'd have to not reheat leftovers with no microwave?

greenbee

I reheat my leftovers either in a pan on the hob, or bung them in the oven in a pyrex dish. You really don't need it... but you could keep it in a shed/garage if you've got one, just in case of emergencies!

As far as utility rooms go, I know a number of people who have put up lean-to greenhouses outside their back door to use as utility rooms. It helps insulate the back door a bit too - stopping the draughts & retaining the heat. You'd need to electrics & plumbing done, but if you're desparate for space it might be an option while you save up for your extension (they should be cheaper soon given all the construction workers who are being laid off )

SunnyGirl

My microwave is wall mounted due to space lilimations. Its out of the way yet still easy to use to reheat food when the kids are coming & going at different times or when we are interrupted during a meal!

I have one of the metal trays from Betterware. Its ok but a pack of frozen sausage or some chicken pieces will still take 3-4 hours. It does melt an ice cube before your very eyes though LOL!

skintchick

I thought about wall moutning but I have a six-foot side galley kitchen with a door at each end and I think it would stick out too far into the 'walking' space.

pandas66

Hi Skinty

I don't use mine a great deal and not for defrosting at all! If I take something out of the freezer then it is on a plan ahead kind of a deal, mainly as in the past I get defroster burn or similar.

I do use it a lot to heat beans and frozen veg and milk, for cereal usually. That would be my 'think long and hard about this move' as we like hot cereal in a morning before we go off to work/school.

I've heard of the defrosting plate but never used 1 or know anyone else that has.

My ex MIL had hers on a shelf, I had mine on the top of a tall fridge freezer that was too high for any other use.

skintchick

OH uses it for porridge but other than that it's hardly used. Maybe I could stick it under the stairs and dig it out if we ever need to use it?

Pink.

Hi skint_chick,

I rarely use mine for anything other than reheating leftovers or warming milk so when it dies I don't think I'll bother replacing it.

For defrosting someone on another thread mentioned using a frying pan or a cast iron griddle (not on the heat) in the same way as those defrosting trays. Apparently they absorb the cold out of whatever you're defrosting so defrosting time is much quicker.

There's an earlier thread that should help:

anyone NOT got a microwave? can you tell me how you manage pls?

I'll add your thread to that one later to keep the suggestions together.

Pink

Triggles

We don't have ours anymore. We gave it to MIL & FIL when theirs died, and we don't miss it at all. We hardly ever used it. I just take stuff out to thaw (meat for meals) the night before and put it in the fridge and that works just fine. Just means I have to be a bit organised, but that's it.

overlykeensaver

We got rid of our microwave because we only used it for defrosting and reheating and I haven't missed it at all. We meal plan so know to take something out of the freezer the night before or in the morning, and we reheat our food in a pan on the hob.

The only real change is baked potatoes - we do those in the oven now and they do take a long time but taste infinitely better.

frugallass

I only use the MW for melting cheese on nachos

oh and to hold the radio / cds / other rubbish that doesn't really have a home

You've made me think about getting rid of mine now, could use the extra space

Thanks :beer: