Microwaves - educate me!
Author
Discussion

mrsshpub

Original Poster:

929 posts

213 months

Tuesday 21st January 2014
quotequote all
I've never owned or even used a microwave.

A while ago, we had someone doing a bit of work here & at lunchtime, he produced a plastic box & asked me if I'd mind 'popping it in the microwave'. He was 'very shocked' when I informed that we didn't have one.

He told me that they're 'really good for heating up pies'. Well, we don't eat pies. We don't eat ready meals either — so why would I need one?

motco

17,593 posts

275 months

Tuesday 21st January 2014
quotequote all
Okay for heating liquids, quickly cooking baked potatoes and baked apples, poaching eggs, and heating plates (with suitable things from the likes of Lakeland), but IMHO not a lot else.

vanordinaire

3,701 posts

191 months

Tuesday 21st January 2014
quotequote all
I use mine for 'baking' potatoes, sponge puddings and Christmas puddings. Also if you are entertaining and producing too much food for your cooker to get ready all at the same time, you can parboil some earlier (eg potatoes, carrots etc) and finish off in the microwave at the last moment to get the timing right.

illmonkey

19,805 posts

227 months

Tuesday 21st January 2014
quotequote all
We don't have one. I've not needed one in years.

The only thing I've thought it'd be handy for is warming up profiteroles with the chocolate already on.

Afanc

353 posts

166 months

Tuesday 21st January 2014
quotequote all
How else would you cook a Rustler burger?!

DoubleSix

12,533 posts

205 months

Tuesday 21st January 2014
quotequote all
Great for heating babies milk.

Melman Giraffe

6,794 posts

247 months

Tuesday 21st January 2014
quotequote all
DoubleSix said:
Great for heating babies milk.
When my boys were young this is what we did.

Our went pop about 5 years ago and didn't bother replacing it and haven’t missed it tbh.


jogon

2,971 posts

187 months

Tuesday 21st January 2014
quotequote all
Depends on what features it has. I can cook a frozen pizza in 10mins with not too soggy a bottom and a crispy top in mine. Also useful as mentioned for baked potatoes and reheating stuff like left over curry and ragu etc.

Forgot vegetables work well too in a bowl with a dash of water and some butter on top and cover with cling film then cook for a couple or few minutes depending on veg and power of your machine.

Edited by jogon on Tuesday 21st January 12:06

DoubleSix

12,533 posts

205 months

Tuesday 21st January 2014
quotequote all
Yeah, I think re-heating takeaways and casseroles etc is the other main use in our household. I'd certainly always have one as they really aren't expensive luxury items are they...

Wombat3

14,971 posts

235 months

Tuesday 21st January 2014
quotequote all
Baked potatoes (but then finish them off in a hot oven for 10-15 minutes), defrosting stuff & cooking some veg (potatoes, carrots, peas, broccoli, green beans). Find its very good for that, keeps much more flavour in than boiling the crap out of stuff. Occasionally use it for heating soup.

Chocolate Teapot

351 posts

234 months

Tuesday 21st January 2014
quotequote all
jogon said:
Depends on what features it has. I can cook a frozen pizza in 10mins with not too soggy a bottom and a crispy top in mine. Also useful as mentioned for baked potatoes and reheating stuff like left over curry and ragu etc.

Forgot vegetables work well too in a bowl with a dash of water and some butter on top and cover with cling film then cook for a couple or few minutes depending on veg and power of your machine.

Edited by jogon on Tuesday 21st January 12:06
Most frozen pizzas I've eaten have all cooked from frozen in a really hot oven in around 10 minutes (and no soggy bottoms!)

Pixelpeep

8,893 posts

171 months

Tuesday 21st January 2014
quotequote all
Chicago town pizzas - best home pizza by a country mile - yes they have a non crunchy base but that can be forgiven..

2.30 from frozen. Jobs a goodun.


'full of taste, from the brim to the base'

lol smile

jogon

2,971 posts

187 months

Tuesday 21st January 2014
quotequote all
Chocolate Teapot said:
Most frozen pizzas I've eaten have all cooked from frozen in a really hot oven in around 10 minutes (and no soggy bottoms!)
Do you leave your oven on all the time? Must be expensive.

jmorgan

36,010 posts

313 months

Tuesday 21st January 2014
quotequote all
Warming cups of tea gone cold and..... and..... softeng butter........ give me a minute here......

grumbledoak

32,558 posts

262 months

Tuesday 21st January 2014
quotequote all
Microwaves heat water. They don't "cook" things as such.

Good for defrosting things(*) or warming liquid (ish) things up: coffee, soup, baked beans, casseroles, or even mashed potato.


ETA- you can steam your green veg in them. Into bowl with a little water, cover, 1 or 2 minutes. Done.




* though a sink full of cold water does the same thing for free.

Edited by grumbledoak on Tuesday 21st January 12:45

trashbat

6,298 posts

182 months

Tuesday 21st January 2014
quotequote all
Make meals in bigger batches, freeze them in tupperware, reheat (albeit normally at work using theirs)

Hot drinks that don't involve a kettle, e.g. hot chocolate

Cooking ready-made-ish veg like mash (the subject of another thread)

That's about it for me.

KFC

3,687 posts

159 months

Tuesday 21st January 2014
quotequote all
I use the microwave for heating up the remains of the Indian curry from the day before, thats about it. Also for baked beans when I have them (hardly ever).

Everything else I prefer to use the oven for - baked potatoes are so much better when done in the real oven.

calibrax

4,788 posts

240 months

Tuesday 21st January 2014
quotequote all
Soup. I use one of these mugs, it holds a full tin of soup and heats it in about 3.5 mins, and prevents splashing as well.

http://www.lakeland.co.uk/16359/Klip-It-Soup-Mug

Butter - straight from the fridge, I find that 10 secs in the microwave and it's soft and spreadable. Just be careful with the timing, because the difference between "soft" and "liquid" is about two seconds!

A microwave is also great for heating up tinned or frozen veggies, defrosting bread, heating up baked beans, making popcorn, etc.

Also, porridge, baked spuds, reheating takeaways or meals you prepared before.

Edited by calibrax on Tuesday 21st January 12:43

Melman Giraffe

6,794 posts

247 months

Tuesday 21st January 2014
quotequote all
calibrax said:
Soup. I use one of these mugs, it holds a full tin of soup and heats it in about 3.5 mins, and prevents splashing as well.

http://www.lakeland.co.uk/16359/Klip-It-Soup-Mug

Butter - straight from the fridge, I find that 10 secs in the microwave and it's soft and spreadable. Just be careful with the timing, because the difference between "soft" and "liquid" is about two seconds!

A microwave is also great for heating up tinned or frozen veggies, defrosting bread, heating up baked beans, making popcorn, etc.
I like that.

Might treat myself

NPI

1,310 posts

153 months

Tuesday 21st January 2014
quotequote all
mrsshpub said:

He told me that they're 'really good for heating up pies'.
well, it'll heat them up but they go soggy.

mrsshpub said:

We don't eat ready meals either — so why would I need one?
You don't "need" most things. People just buy stuff.