Do you actually use your Microwave??

helenecollins

In our last house we had a built in microwave, which like many others seemed to be used for reheating etc. When we moved 5 years ago we did not rush to get a new one, we thought we would see how we managed without it.
Well we manged very well [only two of us, kids now left home], and just recently have got a new kitchen, and still no microwave. Mind you, now got a steam oven which is flippin' fantastic!:j

AngelaHammond

I use mine to cook chillis, stews, tomato based sauces for pasta as well as heating up the usual beans, tomatoes, peas & sweetcorn. I have used it very successfully to make small quantities of jam if we've been out & picked a few berries. You can only make about 1LB at a time, but that's fine for us.

overlykeensaver

Mad_Lil wrote: »

Try cooking rice in there - Its perfect --- never burns or sticks to the container like it does on the hob -

My rice never burns on the hob - here is how: using about 100g rice for two people. Put the rice in a large pan and cover with boiling water from the kettle. Stir it once, put the lid on and let it cook for 8 mins. Meanwhile boil some more water in the kettle. After 8 mins, drain in a sieve and then pour over the hot kettle water too. Put the drained rice back in the pan, lid on top and let it sit (off the heat!) for another 5 mins. Perfect rice with separated grains every time

Hope this helps!

Absoluutbeginner

I use mine for absolutely everything - I am very absent-minded, and food left on the stove tends to catch on the bottom of the pan, that's if I've even switched on the correct plate

I have a microwave steamer, find all the veggies (I am a vegetarian) are tasty and crisp. Cook noodles and rice as well. Reheat coffee / tea I've forgotten to drink, melt chocolate over ice cream, yum

Wouldn't be without it, if there was only one appliance in my kitchen it would be my MW. And I'm sure it uses less electricity than the conventional cooker.

exlibris

Thanks OP for this thread. Like most of you I use my MW for a limited no of tasks. Some of the ideas on here, though, have inspired me to make more use of it.

I will bake cakes in the MW - I will make cakes in the MW - I will.........

cheekymoney

I agree whole heartedly with Greg 123!! Microwaving food destroys all the nutritional value of food. I think they are just about one of the silliest inventions of all time. It takes as long to heat soup in a microwave as it does on the hob, by the time you have finished stopping and striring the food to ensure even cooking, what a pain!

And people also seem to have lost the abilty to stand at a sink for a few minutes washing up...no wonder we are all getting obese, nobody does anything anymore!

I have not had a micorwave for about 5 years and I do not miss it at all. As I have said, I do not have one because it destroys the nutritional value of food. So, if you heat up cheap ready meals, which already have little nutritional value, in a microwave you are feeding yourself absolute rubbish.

Everything I used to do in the microwave I now do on the hob or in the oven. I heat up things like shepherds pie and mousaka by putting them in a frying pan with a little water and a tight fitting lid and leave them on a very low heat for about 15 mins. This not only heats them without drying them out it also also give you the lovely cripsy bit on the bottom, which I just love!

rosieben

exlibris wrote: »

I will bake cakes in the MW - I will make cakes in the MW - I will.........

let me know if you need any recipes to start you off - I have quite a few from my 'Home and Freezer Digest' days!

rosieben

moanymoany wrote: »

I make jam in mine. Never sticks and never burns! :j

Do you use a special recipe or just adapt your own? I have a couple of recipes but always interested in more

I'll find out the recipes I have and post if anyone is intersted (also have a lemon curd recipe).

NewToThis_3

I must say that I use mine a lot. It can be used as a conventional oven (I think it is called a "combi") and is cheaper to use this way than a conventional oven. Since I now live alone, it suits me. Perhaps I should get rid of my conventional oven! I do still use my hob.

Kind regards, Pollie

Mark_Beech

Such negativity! I'd be absolutely lost without my microwave.

Anyone who heats soup or cooks porridge or scrambled eggs in a pan must be mad ... both of the latter taste MUCH better cooked in a microwave ... and are far simpler.

Buttered leeks are fabulous (just put in a dish with a knob of butter and a splash of water). Or how about 'fried' tomatoes without the fat ... just cut up and microwave for a couple of minutes.

Heating milk or making custard is also easy ... and if I have a last minute mushroom craving I just cut some up and MW for a minute to release all those yummy mushroomy juices.

Spring greens and other veg are great in the MW ... and MUCH more healthy than boiled.

But the MAIN thing for me is that I like my food piping hot ..... so once it has lost its heat I stick in the MW for a minute. I find myself doing this at pretty much every mealtime.