Perhaps because I am in my mid-twenties and grew-up with a microwave in the house -- I simply cannot live without one! I must use it at least five times a day, whether from reheating foods, to defrosting meats, and if I am really lazy - cooking entire meals in there! I think it's part of my mentality that I simply do not have the time to wait for something to cook when I know that it can be done in the microwave for a quarter of the time.
BBCNEWS.com ("Cancer Risks in Microwaved Food")
CambridgeUniversityNet ("Health Risks and Dangers of Using Microwaves in Food Preparation")
Mercola.com("Hidden Hazards of Microwave Cooking")
Guess it depends if the convenience is worth the risks.
I could probably live without it at home. I use it in the mornings for my oatmeal, but I could always use the stove. I will use it to soften butter for a baking recipe or reheat food on occasion. But I frequently use the microwave at my office for heating up leftovers - otherwise I'd spend a lot more money on lunch!
@chari - same here. I steam vegetables, cook potatoes and squash, melt butter and chocolate, defrost meat, boil water, reheat leftovers and cool coffee and various other things not coming to me at the moment. One thing I never do is pop popcorn. That is best done stovetop. I would sorely miss my microwave if someone were so cruel as to take it away. I use it at least 5 times a day, which is more than my coffee maker, toaster oven, mixer, food processor, dishwasher, oven. Only my sinks gets comparable use. Microwaves RULE!!!!
As a college student, I can vouch that there certainly is life without a microwave!
No one seems to mention my favorite use - steaming vegetables and making baked potatoes. Is there some reason - did I miss a major health warning or something? I also like to buy artisan bread on the weekends, then freeze it and defrost it piece by piece as the week goes along. Also prevents binging on bread!
Mine caught on fire; the internal electrical failed and burst into flames while my daughter was using it and I'm just glad I was there as she had no clue what to do other than scream for me (I always unplug the toaster too because one day in my mom's kitchen I noticed the cozy on hers was smoking... and if I hadn't been there her house wouldn't be now).
Well, that was months ago and except for a few fleeting things and a minor adjustment time of a few days (while I was trying to figure out which one to buy as a replacement), I really haven't missed it and I love the extra space. It's amazing to me how much better food is when we don't have the option of the microwave. In fact, 5-7 minutes for pizza slices in the oven gives them a lovely browning but I actually like most roasted veggies cold the next day (they seem to have more and richer flavor).
It was perfect timing as I'd been hearing/reading a lot about how the waves change up the food and the plastics (and other chems used in micro-friendly foods) just aren't good for us.
I'd much rather have really good pots and pans (and I do) that are easy and fun to use and clean up pretty easy (and they aren't non-stick just worth every penny) than a microwave. Though we did invest in a few inexpensive aluminum pie pans to put something quickly in the oven. They clean as easy as a plate.
Speaking of easy cleaning, no more contortions scrubbing out the inside of the box after splatters and explosions because truthfully, only one person ever bothers so none of the rest worry about the mess they're making.
I live in a dorm, and cause I'm too cheap (and too health conscious !) to eat the UW's food service food... There would be no life without the microwave, just long months of crackers and cold cereal-FOR EVERY MEAL. *Shudder*
I'm with EtherMaiden. I don't currently have a microwave and rarely think about it. When I had one I certainly found ways to use it, but I find that not having one keeps my food purchases on track, when I might occasionally otherwise be tempted by cheap frozen Trader Joe meals.
I don't have a microwave, and the only time I really miss it is when I am sick and want to heat up a mug full of broth or somesuch quickly, and without having to scrub the pot that my partner used to make oatmeal that morning.
it's definitely do-able, and I highly reccomend living without one. I eat much less lazy processed food because of it.
I talked about this topic last night with my partner over dinner (the grilled sweet potatoes with chili powder started in the microwave were delicious, thank you!). He recalled not really missing the nuker those years that we didn't have one. And certainly anything done in a microwave can be cooked or reheated in the oven or on the stovetop, but we both agree that it's just a helpful tool, like the food processor or my stand mixer (neither of which he ever uses). I use these tools to make pie crust, pasta dough, biscuits, coleslaw, etc., all of which could easily be made by hand, but I guess because I've invested in these tools, I'd just as soon use them. Plus there are so many other things that such kitchen tools can be used for, like sanitizing a sponge in the microwave or making mashed taters in the stand mixer. It's all good!
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