our microwave has died

dougk_2

Microwaves are very cheap to buy now (for instance comet do one for £25!).

Whilst they are not a "requirement" they are very handy and can save you money.

To heat something up it is much quicker and uses less energy than a cooker - so long term it maybe cheaper to buy a replacement! Certainly if you are single its far more efficient (and thus more environmentally friendly) than pre heating a large oven etc etc.

If your coffee goes cold you can reheat it without throwing it away (though it don't taste as nice).

Horses for courses really.

Jay-Jay_4

swampytiggaa wrote:

so i can count that as money saved towards my long term goal of swopping my electric cooker for a gas one

We had a new kitchen put in last year and I had my heart set on a gas oven and I was sick of electric and MUCH prefer gas for baking etc. We shelled out the extra that a gas inbuilt costs (amazing that they're so expensive) and I was really happy.... for about a week

The oven cooks everything at the back really quickly but the front stuff stays raw. I make yorkshire puds and the back row are burnt, the middle ones don't rise and the front ones are still liquid. I really hate it but I have to keep it as it's only a year old

I loved my old freestanding gas cooker and never had this problem, so make sure that you've had a really good look at the cooker you want before you buy it and if possible get some recommendations. I would hate for you to save up and buy your dream oven only to be disappointed.

billieboy_2

I agree. We went from an electric fan oven about seven(?) years ago to having a gas hob and oven. While I love the gas hob (much more controllable) I hate the oven. It doesn't matter what regulo I put it on, the oven is always too hot, so I have to be really careful baking cakes, roasting, etc and usually end up putting things on a much lower shelf. Roast potatoes do really well though at the top! As for the economy setting, when you're supposed to be able to use it like a slow cooker, it just cooks at the "normal" temperature. I'm just waiting for it to die and go back to an electric oven!

Queenie

foreverskint wrote:

mine died 3 weeks ago, and although i used it a lot I have managed to live without it so far. The only thing I really miss it for is heating my wheat bags up.

Wrap it around your kettle while it boils?
Pop it in a sealed tub and sit it in some boiled water?
Keep it laid out on the Emersion heater?
Swap back to a good old fashioned hot water bottle?

Queenie

billieboy wrote:

I agree. We went from an electric fan oven about seven(?) years ago to having a gas hob and oven. While I love the gas hob (much more controllable) I hate the oven. It doesn't matter what regulo I put it on, the oven is always too hot, so I have to be really careful baking cakes, roasting, etc and usually end up putting things on a much lower shelf. Roast potatoes do really well though at the top! As for the economy setting, when you're supposed to be able to use it like a slow cooker, it just cooks at the "normal" temperature. I'm just waiting for it to die and go back to an electric oven!

Sounds to me like the thermostat on your oven has always been faulty! Pity you didn't get it checked out 7 yrs ago when it was still under guarantee You could try getting an estimate on how much it would cost to repair, I do believe gas is cheaper to cook with then electric.

KrazyFool

all depends on how much you cook. If your in to your food Microwaving generally isnt good for you, certainly microwavable food. An electric fan oven is also very useful but as long as you have gas hobs cos electric hobs are a no if you are any sort of cook. I think in this case its not really about saving money but having some sort of good tasting food

Austin_Allegro

Most food is microwaveable, and I find veg cooked in the microwave using a steamer retains more flavour than boiling in a pan on the hob. I live in a tiny flat with a manky baby belling oven, I have not used it for about four years because I do everything on my microwave. It's much quicker and doesn't produce any steam to mildew the flat up.

Curry_Queen

For those that are having problems with gas ovens it might be worth getting a corgi gas engineer to check your gas flow and thermostat as you shouldn't be experiencing thses types of problems. Another good tip is to buy an oven thermometer and monitor the actual temperature each setting is giving to find out if it's set up correctly.

I've used gas all my life (and so did my parents) as I absolutely detest cooking on electric, but I guess it's what you get used to, and I've never experienced those types of problems before

Galtizz

If you do decide to replace it have a look at THIS thread. They might have all gone but it looks like it's worth a go.

Paul_Varjak

I think microwaves are useful backups to gas cookers (when no gas) and even electric cookers if cooker breaks down.

I was recently without a cooker for about a week, so my 3 way combo microwave proved inavluable.

Here is info on another thread about an ALDI offer from today:

ALDI Combo Microwave £59.99p