Do you actually use your Microwave??

newlywed

I use it for porridge... flapjacks, microwave sponges, defrosting, reheating, heating tinned veg if in a hurry and mostly for cooking fish fillets as I like them best done this way and its quick

Merlot

I used to have a microwave, but when it caught fire I thought I would try without one, well 2 years later and I don't miss it at all, I would not have one given to me now never mind buying one. When the tumble dryer stops working I will not replace that either, and I will not be getting a flat screen TV either (we r thinking of getting rid of the aerial in the TV, as I am sick of paying for TV licence for the junk they put on it).

We r fairly young, mid 30's with young children, and I am totally fedup of the gadgets/latest electronic things, we have decided to opt out of all that and live a peaceful life and play cards/board games in the evening with the children, we found we were constantly saying quiet to the children cause we were trying to watch some mindless programme, alot of our visitors cannot believe that we don't have a microwave, have disconnected the childrens TV aerials (they do have PS2 to play), and only have one car since selling the other one, and we don't miss any of it, and my children are far healthlier now having to walk everywhere.

mr_forward

I've no room in my kitchen for a Microwave. So I don't have one and I have not missed it yet. I can reheat in a pan or in the oven and I defrost things by moving from freezer to fridge a day before.

asset77

I use mine for boiling veg - and steaming frozen veg - my house has no gas so I only have an electric hob and I thought (no maths or info, just logic) it must be cheaper to boil veg in a microwave than to use an electric hob - anyone think the same or does microwave energy cost the same as electric hob energy?

Lizalu

ooh i feel bad now. We've got a combi too but we hardly ever use it for anything other than defrosting. It's just too darn complicated, you have to type in the weight of the food etc. Now I just remember to get the meat out in the morning, have never really liked the way it starts cooking on the outside but still frozenish in the middle.

moanymoany

rosieben wrote: »

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).

Many years ago I had a special recipe book. Now I use any ordinary recipe. I bring the fruit to the boil and do any cooking on the hob in a pan and then mix it with the sugar and continue in the MW. I use an ordinary large plastic bowl with a plastic lid thing.

The only problem is that you can't make huge batches.

I'd love any recipes you have, especially for lemon curd. I've just thought, with value butter and lemons it should work out quite reasonably priced!

itzmee

I always use my microwave - in fact it gets more use than my cooker!! We live on ready meals but if I'm heating something, cooking porridge, doing baked spuds etc then it all goes in the microwave. It also cuts down on the washing up! I couldn't live without my mw but I never use the grill function on it as I don't know how to! Plus it looks very good in my kitchen :rolleyes: .

Hime

We use ours as a bread bin!! Saves cluttering up the kitchen benches with unattractive bags of bread......and somtimes to cook frozen veg. Food loses lots of its texture when done in the MW. My Mum does her veg in it and they taste crunchy, mine taste chewy. But give me slow cooking/food any day. Made a divine musroom risotto last night, took an hour. The kids have made one in 20 minutes in the MW. Have to admit, mine was better :cheesy:

DocBambs

We use ours quite a lot but it’s just another tool in the kitchen. Defrosting is the big thing. We often cook bigger volumes of food than we are going to eat and freeze the rest in 1 or 2 person size portions. It’s particularly good for defrosting liquids – we normally have chicken and vegetable stock frozen ready for use and you can defrost it on high!

Reheating : Our (almost) two year old is another reason – he is very good at eating, but often slow and being able to just warm up the cold food is a real help (always make sure that there aren’t any very hot spots in the food). Some foods are just really easy – steamed and Christmas puddings are very the best examples, but frozen veg is good too (peas, sweet corn, carrots, mixed veg).

However, there are lots of other great kitchen gadgets I’d be sorry to be without: Good quality pans; a range of good sharp knives; a can opener that doesn’t leave sharp edges; clay chicken brick; food processor (a small one with about the capacity of 2 mugs); wok.

There are some I’d just miss… coffee percolator, dishwasher, steamer, etc!

(favourite MW defrost tip… frozen pizza’s are so much better with 5 mins of defrosting before putting them in the oven! If you have them with oven chips, then: 18 mins for the chips and 12 for the Pizza is perfect!)

DocBambs

Mad_Lil wrote: »

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

How long does it take in the microwave? (I reckon it's about 9 mins for basmati, and 16 for long grain on the hob)