Cooking with microwaves

[November Rain]

I was heating up a pre-cooked (home) & frozen portion of stroganoff today & immediately went for my oven (20 mins) rather than my microwave (2mins?) I didn't even defrost it in my microwave, preferring to take it out of the freezer this morning & let it defrost naturally (yes, I put it back in the fridge when defrosted).

I have a microwave (obviously) but it only gets used for popcorn & the very occasional shop bought burrito or similar. I hate microwave cooked foods (particularly potatoes & meats!).

So, am I the only one to view my microwave with disdain, or do others prefer to cook properly, too?

[Mid]

had one once that was a combination of convection and microwave ,

now that sucker could cook ,

a plain microwave ain't getting any use round my hong aharn

[chassamui]

On the whole i agree with you on this, however; There are times when you just can't be arsed and a Jacket spud with half a tin of beans or a lump of cheese in it, is quick nutritious and not too messy.

They are not very good for cooking live hamsters either.

[November Rain]

They are not very good for cooking live hamsters either. __________________

A la Freddie Starr??

[Lily]

This is really strange NR, because my neighbour and I were talking about this about a half an hour ago. She told me she was throwing out her microwave because she hasn't used it for a year. I also dont own one anymore, because I just didn't ever use it and they take up so much room on the workspace in the kitchen.

[melvbot]

Microwaves, hmmm. Cant say as Ive ever used one for anything other than reheating Sunday dinners that have been pre cooked. Jacket spuds in a microwave are awful plus most liquidy stuff you reheat in them needs stirring so you have to stop it, take it out, stir it and put it back, may as well use an oven.

My wife did decied to put an egg in the microwave while we were in the UK even though she knew not to, BOOOM!

[Rural Surin]

Microwaves were created and are used for people that can't cook or know nothing of the interaction of food chemistry. What a disuseful 'lazy man's way' invention that is.

[Thetyim]

I can't remember the last time I used the Nuke.

I don't think food tastes the same

[Rural Surin]

I can't remember the last time I used the Nuke.

I don't think food tastes the same

It generally neutralizes or destroys food. Amazingly enough, over the years, there have been advocates that create 'microwaveable' cookbooks and recipies.....

[dirtydog]

Just off to microwave some frozen chicken samosas, don't know what I would do without the microwave, probably have to clean the kitchen

[Thetyim]

It generally neutralizes or destroys food.

Do MacDonalds use them ?

[dirtydog]

^Only to initially kill the cows.

[BigRed]

great for scrambled eggs, steam pudding, baked apples, braised onions (whole)

rubbish for anything involving pastry.

[Sir Burr]

When I cook, I make recipes that can be frozen (bolognaise, curry, chili con carne etc).

I use the microwave on defrost for 15-20 minutes, then, nuke it at 450 for 2 minutes. Excellent.

You can get this plastic thingy for poached eggs. Crack the egg into the mould, prick the yolk (so's it doesn't explode), nuke for a minute.

I confess, I don't have an oven. If I did, I probably wouldn't use the microwave either.

[S Landreth]

I use ‘em,…………soup (canned),.about 15 seconds,….Potato about 15 minuets. Now vs. a traditional oven,……….soup,.need a pot, heat for about 15 minuets and then there’s clean up (depending on the cook top),….potato about 1 hour (depending on the oven).
Reheating left-over’s,………no contest. Microwave.

I don’t want to spend that much time in the kitchen, waiting. So a microwave is handy to have in the kitchen, I think.

Another factor that should be considered,………..energy. A microwave might be better in some circumstances.

[Jet Gorgon]

I bought a mike a year and a half ago (it was only C$50). I just unpacked it. It's good for precooking squash, heating up leftovers and popcorn. Wouldn't use it for anything else. Tried doing scrambled eggs in it once, and they tasted phoney.

[Jet Gorgon]

Oh, and it's good for melting butter for various recipes.

[Marmite the Dog]

RS is right. Microwaves destroy most of the nutrients in the food. I very rarely use a MW.

[kingwilly]

So, am I the only one to view my microwave with disdain, or do others prefer to cook properly, too?

not the only one.

i use them to defrost.

and reheat food, - that's it.

[blackgang]

I use ‘em,…………soup (canned),.about 15 seconds,….Potato about 15 minuets. Now vs. a traditional oven,……….soup,.need a pot, heat for about 15 minuets and then there’s clean up (depending on the cook top),….potato about 1 hour (depending on the oven). Reheating left-over’s,………no contest. Microwave. I don’t want to spend that much time in the kitchen, waiting. So a microwave is handy to have in the kitchen, I think. Another factor that should be considered,………..energy. A microwave might be better in some circumstances.

I go along with this too.
I couldn't get along without one anymore.

[UpTooYou]

It is good to defrost and reheat! It has other advantages, steaming veggies, par cooking veggies before I bake them. Par cook snags before the bbq. Can even make a mean beef ball noddle soup in it.

[Toptuan]

Agree. I use it for all types of seafood. With proper instructions, you can easily keep from over cooking seafood, which can often happen with more conventional methods. Fish cooked in a mic comes out flaky and moist.

[Sparky]

Ive got one now with a built in grill which turns it into a much more versatile beast .

[beano]

I'll have one if anyone's chucking theirs out but I wouldn't buy another one.
Eggs, fish, leftovers, thawing out, canned food... all great.
That "it destroys nutrients etc" wouldn't stand up in court.
Veggies actually retain more nutrients in a microwave as your not boiling the guts out of them. (As in la cuisine de Anglaise).

[Marmite the Dog]

Veggies actually retain more nutrients in a microwave as your not boiling the guts out of them.

The microwaves break everything down and sterilise it.