What do you cook in your microwave oven?

Microwave Oven - Microwave oven with pizza maker
@Humbug25 (12540)
September 7, 2008 7:56am CST
I really don't use my microwave oven and have been very tempted to give it away before on freecycle. It did come in very handy when I moved into my house a year ago and had no cooker for 6 weeks. Nowadays I simply use it for heating milk in the morning for my kid's breakfast and sometimes cook peas in it. I used my mum's once to dry my son's socks in and forgot about them and yes they caught fire, turned my mum's microwave black and it really smelt awful. I think she bought a new one even though I did clean it out! How often do you use your microwave? Are you a microwave connoisseur? Do you hate to use a microwave and don't even own one?
20 people like this
109 responses
@julianarw (1521)
• Netherlands
7 Sep 08
Almost everyday i use my microwave. But I never cook in my microwave :D Mostly I just make it warm food or drink. I LOVE our microwave because it is so easy to use and fast.
3 people like this
@Humbug25 (12540)
7 Sep 08
Hi there julianarw Mine is easy to use to, I just don't much!! Thanks for your response
1 person likes this
• Canada
9 Sep 08
julianarw I agree with you about that! I do the same thing.I always heating something food.or drink.or making popcorn which is good too it so easy and fast... I LOVE our microwave TOO!!! Happy mylotting! cd
• United States
7 Sep 08
I make anything that has directions for the microwave on it.We use our microwave all the tmie.It saves on energy compared to use your stove.
3 people like this
@Humbug25 (12540)
8 Sep 08
Hi there queenbofthepc I am trying to get some ideas so that I will use my microwave more often! Thank you for your response
@sexylc (501)
• United States
7 Sep 08
For the lazy people like me...we almost used microwave everyday...like now I just re-heat my left over last night to eat my breakfast.
2 people like this
9 Sep 08
As for me, i used my microwave reheating frozen foods and when i have appetite on eating pop corn.
@Humbug25 (12540)
7 Sep 08
Hello sexylc Viva Le Microwave eh? Thank you for your response
1 person likes this
• Canada
8 Sep 08
I can't live without microwave.I use it for popping popcorn,defrost meat,heating hot water and reheat leftover food.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
7 Sep 08
We were bought a huge one for a wedding present 22 year ago and it is still going strong. We mostly defrost, cook potatoes and general veg in it. I'm pleased that we have it. But I'm not sure that it would be at the top of any future priority list for future kitchen equipment.
2 people like this
@Humbug25 (12540)
7 Sep 08
Hi p1kf1sh 22 Years eh that some good going, for the microwave too!! . Aren't you supposed to replace them after so many years because of radiation leakage and all that? ... and I am not referring to your wife on that one! Cheers for the response
1 person likes this
@p1kef1sh (45681)
7 Sep 08
That explains my green skin and two heads!! LOL. I don't think you have to change them. Just check the door seals occasionally.
2 people like this
@Humbug25 (12540)
7 Sep 08
I don't think anything would explain your green skin and 2 heads p1kf1sh!
1 person likes this
@4ofmyown (1119)
• United States
8 Sep 08
We have a microwave but we really don't use it..maybe once a week if that. It isn't even in the house, it is out in the garage. My husband and I are a few of the strange people that think microwaves might actually be bad for you so we won't have it in the house. It is actually quite funny that most people who come into our kitchen for the first time usually notice right away that we don't have a microwave in there. I guess if I ever learn to pop popcorn on the stove then we really won't need it.
2 people like this
• United States
8 Sep 08
thats not strange to me. i use one yes but i also do know the readiation it gives off is not good for you at all... thats why when your pregnant your not supposed to use one:).
• Canada
7 Sep 08
My microwave was a gift and about the only thing I really use it for is to heat up the dogs food. I buy the large cans and use 1/3 of it each day to mix with their dry food, so to take the chill off I put some water in it and heat it up. I don't even use it for microwave popcorn. I know they are suppose to be time and energy savers but I just don't cook that much.
2 people like this
@Humbug25 (12540)
7 Sep 08
Hi ya dmartin51 Ha, I have never heard of any one heating up dog food in a microwave, well I guess I have now!! Thank you for your response
1 person likes this
@Humbug25 (12540)
7 Sep 08
Fair enough dmartin51, that is totally justified and why not, well I dry clothes in a microwave why can't you heat your dogs food in it!!
• Canada
7 Sep 08
humbug: Well if you think about it, if you eat meat, would you chomp down on a cold hamburger or steak. I figure dogs are the same, they want a nice warm dinner just like us humans. Some may say it's a bit of pampering, but since I dont have kids......
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
7 Sep 08
I will heat my coffee and my tea in my microwave as well as reheat chili, beans, soups, and frozen vegetables. I usually cook things in the oven or on the stove. So the food I do in the microwave has been made already. I have not done any silly things like cooking socks. I used to have a convection microwave and I used to be able to cook cakes and roasts in there, but this one I have is a regular microwave, although I have a convection stove.
@Humbug25 (12540)
8 Sep 08
Hi there suspenseful Well I wasn't actually trying to cook the socks just dry them Thanks for your response
@leafgxu (472)
• China
8 Sep 08
In my house, my parents often use microwave oven to heat some dishes which is cold or bring out from fridge.
2 people like this
@Humbug25 (12540)
8 Sep 08
Hi ya leafgxu Yep microwaves sure are useful to reheat stuff! Thank you for your response
@Cocoa33 (921)
• United States
8 Sep 08
i use to cook popcorn, heat up leftovers, heat up the water so i can make tea. i sometimes use to cook frozen dinners,etc.
2 people like this
@Humbug25 (12540)
8 Sep 08
Hi ya Cocoa33 Thank you so much for your response
@zebra2222 (5268)
• United States
8 Sep 08
I use my microwave for all my frozen dinners. I also use it for popcorn. It comes in handy when I want to warm up corn beef. Also, I use it to warm up milk. It has been enormously useful in our house.
@Humbug25 (12540)
8 Sep 08
Hello zebra2222 You have to be a bit careful when heating milk because it doesn't heat evenly and that is why you should never heat babies milk in a microwave but then you probably know that eh? Thank you for responding
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
7 Sep 08
humbug I use mine a lot. cook veggies in it, heat casseroles, a number of foods, I make nuked cheese sandwiches in it. I make myoatmeal in it. I defrost my frozen fruit and veggies in it, and cook my veggies without water in it. more vitamins and'better flavors that way. I would not be without my new microwave at all. It helps me every day.
2 people like this
@Humbug25 (12540)
8 Sep 08
Hey Hatley Doesn't the bread from the cheese sandwich just go dry? How do you make them exactly? Thank you for responding and happy microwaving
@apples99 (6556)
• United States
7 Sep 08
Well i love to microwave those chicken finger dinners and theres these really good microwave pizza i love pizza oh and popcorn and hot chocolate yum i love the convince of my microwave, it cooks so fast its grate when im in a hurry.
@Humbug25 (12540)
7 Sep 08
Hi ya apples99 I really hate to reheat anything in the microwave that has pastry on it and actually I use a conventional oven to do that but once they made these microwaveable meat pies that were amazing and the pastry never went soft or greasy, there were great. I don't think they make them anymore. Now I have thought about them I will look for them the next time I do my grocery shopping!! Thank you for your response apples99
1 person likes this
@apples99 (6556)
• United States
7 Sep 08
Well you'd love these pizzas they cook really good in the microwave i use to hate cooking pizza and pastries in the microwave to until i found these pizzas they still taste good even in th microwave, lol.
1 person likes this
@AamidMS (73)
• India
7 Sep 08
i usually use it to warm up stuff, not actually preparing anything. preparing tastes better in pan, than in this oil less preparation warming up the cooked up things is preferred much, easy, fast and energy saving.
2 people like this
@Humbug25 (12540)
7 Sep 08
Hi there AamidMS Well I think you are right there. Thank you for responding
1 person likes this
• India
8 Sep 08
HumBug25 thanks for ur counter response, very appreciative. haha
@VE3IYB (209)
• Canada
8 Sep 08
We have used Microwave ovens since the '70's (1976, Panasonic) And they were HUGE back then, not like the wimpy ones today that hold what like 1 coffee and they are full. Back then you could put a 25LB turkey in there it was that big. We never used it for cooking though, just for warming stuff up. My Grandma had an Amana RadarRange Microwave from 1975 that was way bigger than the Panasonic...
@Humbug25 (12540)
8 Sep 08
Hi there VE3IYB and welcome to myLot Boy have times changed but then look at how the mobile phone has changed I mean that used to be the size and weight of a house brick! Thank you for responding
• United States
7 Sep 08
I heat up those boxed meals in my microwave sometimes. It's just faster that way. Sometimes I heat up water to make tea and heat up noodles or leftovers. I heat up meat sometimes to make melted sandwiches. That was before I managed to get a sandwich maker though so maybe I can start using that instead of the microwave.
2 people like this
@Humbug25 (12540)
7 Sep 08
Hi ya highflyingxangel Noodles, that is something else I do cook in the microwave, like supanoodles, not like spaghetti noodles! Thank you for your response
1 person likes this
@ersmommy1 (12588)
• United States
7 Sep 08
I heat up my daughters instant oatmeal in the microwave. I have also been known to re heat my coffee in it. However, I have a roommate that makes every meal he eats in it. I could never do that.
2 people like this
@Humbug25 (12540)
7 Sep 08
Hi there ersmommy1 I used to reheat my coffee in the microwave but found that when I did it, it would then be too hot, leave it to cool, forget about it then it would go cold again and would end up tipping it away!! I wonder how many times it is ok to reheat the same cup of coffee? I would only do it once personally!!! Thank you for your response
1 person likes this
@ruby222 (4847)
7 Sep 08
Microwave ovens are fine as a quick fix,and im the first to admit that if we need to heat sometihng up then its off o the microwave.But for cooking they are awful,the things come out pale and insipid,and look raw.I have done a chicken once,the one and only time!it was cooked yes,but the skin was a milky white,it looked like candle wax,and to me looked totally inedible,so I quickly popped it into the oven and finished it off ,to give it a `roasted` appearance!the other thing I tried was a chocolate sponge,well what a fiasco,the sponge was like leather,and it really didnt rise too much,even when there were two sandwiched together the whole thing looked prety disguting.So for heating and warming the micro is fine,for anything else its a no go area for me.
@Humbug25 (12540)
7 Sep 08
Hello ruby222 I feel the same after having simular experiences. I know someone who used to cook bacon in the microwave and yes it was cooked and looked cooked but you are never going to get that crispy bacon that so many of us like, I think the longer you left it in there the more dried up it would become and leathery just like your sponge! Cheers for your response
1 person likes this
@Stegeo3 (199)
• United States
7 Sep 08
I basically use the microwave to heat leftovers. I don't know what I'd without it.
2 people like this
@Humbug25 (12540)
7 Sep 08
Hi there Stegeo3 I don't usually have leftovers in my house anyway I don't think my kids would eat the same the following night as they had the night before! Thanks for your response
1 person likes this
@Rintis (646)
• India
7 Sep 08
I use my microwave for warming food almost every day. Other than that I use it sometimes to bake as mine is a convection too. I also try out microwave recipes that are quick and tasty on Sundays. One thing I like about a microwave is that food can be cooked with very little oil.
@Humbug25 (12540)
7 Sep 08
Hi ya Rintis Don't you find that food dries out in the microwave especially if it cooked too much? I think it is hard to get the timing right! Thank you for your response
1 person likes this
@my2boys (821)
• United States
7 Sep 08
I dont really cook in the microwave. I warm up foods in it. If we have left over food from the night before then I use the microwave.
@Humbug25 (12540)
7 Sep 08
Hi ya my2boys It sure does come in handy for reheating the leftovers doesn't it? Thank you for your response
1 person likes this