The microwave oven is a curious and contentious kitchen device. On the one hand, it shows up in nearly every American kitchen, as ubiquitous as the stove or oven. On the other hand, mention the microwave and many cooks will curl their lip in disdain. What about you? Where does the microwave fit in your cooking? Read more below for some expert thoughts and opinions!

What is espresso and how did it ever come about? These questions are at the heart of Smithsonian Magazine's recent dive into the history of the espresso machine, which is a fascinating read for any coffee lover. More

Q: I am a Senseo owner but it looks like they are being discontinued in the US. Pods are nearly impossible to find in supermarkets or online. I'd love to replace it with a similarly priced machine that can deliver a good cup with the same sort of Senseo crema.

Sent by Haley More

Q: I have a new Kenmore blender/food processor combo. I love it for chopping vegetables, but I just cannot get the hang of using it to grate cheese. All I get is a bunch of tiny "chunks" that are going to be very hard to get off my blades and the bowl. Please help!

Sent by Linda More

Item: Magimix by Robot-Coupe 12-Cup Food Processor (Compact 3200 XL)
Price: $299.95 to $349.95
Overall Impression: A well-built, powerful food processor with smart, cook-friendly design and easy cleanup. On the high end pricewise, but a value if you expect to use it frequently.

In my opinion, the best food processors are the ones that keep the lowest profile. No jumping and diving, no burning motors, no array of buttons. No drama, mama. It might not seem good to define a tool by its negative (here's what it isn't) but I think that in this case, this is exactly the right way to describe the Magimix 12-Cup Food Processor — it's pretty dreamy to use, but this really just means one major thing: No fuss, no hassle. It just works. More

Q: I'm a college student on a budget with limited storage space. I'd like to have a blender or food processor for making smoothies and since many recipes call for a food processor. Is it better to buy an immersion blender or a 3-cup food processor?

Sent by Audrey More

Over the past couple years we have reviewed 5 ice cream makers that each get the job done with panache. We looked at the pros and cons, and an array of makers at different price points. Here's a look back at each one of these ice cream makers. More

We recently shared six methods for making ice cream without an ice cream maker, but here is one more: Jeni Britton Bauer's very simple method for making creamy ice cream with the help of your food processor. More

Item: Cuisinart ICE-100 Ice Cream and Gelato Maker
Price: $299
Overall Impression: An easy and reliable way to make consistently good ice cream at home.

I love making ice cream, but after being spoiled by a glorious industrial ice cream maker I got to play with at the Culinary Institute of America and scarred by a series of misadventures with a "rock salt and ice bucket" model, I was skeptical that I'd ever be able to make it to my satisfaction at home. A compressor model sounded like the ideal solution, so I was curious to try the latest one from Cuisinart, the ICE-100. More

One welcome question I heard from readers for Reader Request Week was, "More on pressure cookers please!" Pressure cookers are a very undervalued appliance in many American kitchens, although they are more widely used in other parts of the world. A pressure cooker can cook dried beans in under 20 minutes, a pot roast to tenderness in 45. Sounds amazing, right? Do you have a pressure cooker, and if so, what do you like to cook in it? More