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!
It is interesting to me how strongly some people feel about the microwave oven. For instance, here's a reader comment on a past post: "The best use of your microwave is to slowly kill yourself. That thing is deadly and should not be used at all." Another reader went on at length about how seeds won't sprout in water that has been microwaved. This is actually an urban myth (see the Snopes rebuttal here), but the reader was vehement.
Why is it that microwaves are held in such disregard, when compared to other forms of cooking? Gas and electric stoves, convection ovens, induction cooktops and yes, sous vide machines, don't get the hate that microwaves do.
I have two hunches. One, the microwave is a newer technology, and so comes in for a sort of reverse snobbery. Older forms of cooking (charcoal, flame) must be better, right? Two, I think that microwaves are conflated with the culture of fast, easy, processed meals. "Microwave dinners" — throw a cardboard tray in the microwave, slit the plastic, and you'll be sitting in front of the TV with a meal in no time. The microwave enables this culture of fast food, and so it must be the culprit.
But neither of these are quite fair. Many experts and chefs adore the microwave, and anti-microwave health claims just don't have data to back them up. In fact, the microwave can be a healthier way of cooking altogether. Here's Harold McGee, food scientist and microwave advocate:
Microwave energy can instantly penetrate food to a depth of about an inch, instead of slowly working its way in from the surface by conduction. If the food is less than an inch thick, it's essentially cooking all at once. That rapid heating generally means that the food retains more of its vitamins than it does when it's boiled, steamed or baked. - The New York Times , 2008
Read that whole article from McGee, in fact. It's an excellent overview of how a microwave oven works, and how to use it to its best advantage. Microwaves are a good way to cook some vegetables and foods without using any fat at all. It's fantastic for cooking vegetables, says Barbara Kafka, author of Microwave Gourmet and quoted in this article by Mark Bittman:
"Their color is better, their flavor is better, you have no water dripping, and there are studies that show they retain more vitamins." - The New York Times, 2008
We've found other uses for the microwave, too, like making low-fat potato chips, drying herbs, poaching eggs, toasting nuts, cooking polenta, making a quick bowl of mac and cheese, and proofing bread dough. See these and more here:
• 10 Uses for Your Microwave That May Surprise You
What's the point of all this? No, I'm not a shill for a microwave manufacturer. In fact, I don't use my microwave as often as I'd like. I do understand that microwaves take up a lot of space in small kitchens — this is perhaps their greatest drawback. I've thought of pitching mine a few times, just to regain that corner of countertop.
But I really deplore the reflexive rejection of a tool for unexamined reasons, reasons without real data to back them up. (How's that for a high-handed statement?!) Seriously — many of us are stuck with built-in microwaves, and others of us simply will never give up their leftover-reheating power. So if we have them, let's learn to use 'em! Make them work harder for their little spot on the counter. Maybe then the microwave can be a tool in our arsenal of ways to cook real food, real meals, and help us to keep up with the busy pace of our days and evenings. A microwave can do more than cook TV dinners.
If you do use your microwave oven on a regular basis, what's your favorite use for it?
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• Warming Food and...? How Do You Use Your Microwave?
• How to Re-Heat Leftovers in the Microwave
• Musical Microwave: Replacing Beeps with a Beat
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We never eat packaged convenience foods, so that's one use I certainly don't have for my microwave. However, I love it for baking - like this flourless chocolate cake, which I've made so many times I don't consult the recipe anymore:
1 can chickpeas (kidney beans or black beans can be substituted too)
1/3 cup vegetable oil or melted butter
4 eggs
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup cocoa
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
In food processor, blend chickpeas, sugar, eggs and oil until smooth and foamy. Mix in cocoa, baking powder and baking soda. Microwave in a silicone bundt form for 11 minutes at 70% and then another 1-2 minutes at full power. The cake is ready when it comes away slightly from the sides.
I currently don't have one but I need to get one soon.
I don't use it all that much, but it does come in handy for defrosting meats, warming butter, and reheating soupy leftovers.
I use one at work to reheat my homemade lunch. I love it for that.
I do not have one at home. I had one many years ago while co-habiting with a boyfriend. I found that it led me to very lazy kitchen habits. I got rid of it as soon as I got rid of him! Never, ever, ever missed either of them!
Homemade mug chocolate cakes. 30 seconds and here's love in a mug. I reheat cold coffee, defrost veggies, melt grated cheese into crisps, make quick dessert sauces in 15 seconds... And that's aside from making quick leftovers and quickening recipes (ATK 30 min or less recipes use the microwave a lot)... The list goes on.
I have a family of four. We used to use the microwave a lot for things like steaming vegetables and reheating leftovers- but after all of the bad press that we had been hearing about microwaves we decided to try and reduce our usage or them. At first it was a big adjustment, taking out the steamer to steam and heating up the oven to reheat, but in the end we learned a few things. First, we learned that food tastes better when you use the stove/oven/toaster oven to reheat. You have more control over the speed at which the food cooks- no guessing times or "power levels". The food also won't taste rubbery when you reheat it. Yes it takes a bit longer- but in the end it is worth it. We weren't feeling sick when we were using the microwave- and we don't have new-found energy now that we're not- but now we don't even have to think about breaking out the steamer or preheating the stove. After a while it feels completely natural not to use it- both in sense that we aren't using the (possibly harmful) rays and that "traditional" cooking methods are what we lean to.
we don't have one and don't intend to ever own one. i guess once you get used to reheating over the stove (which often makes leftovers even better!), it's no big deal. i don't miss having a microwave at all.
People who are anti-microwave clearly have never lived in a warm climate without air conditioning :). I use mine all the time to re-heat leftovers -- but I'm a vegetarian who eats a lot of pasta, soups, stews, etc. It sits above my oven and doubles as a range hood so no counter space sacrificed.
We haven't had one for about 15 years. They can be handy (I grew up using one) but they've always creeped me out. It's nice not having another appliance on the counter. Now that I got an electric kettle for tea (thank you Kitchn for that suggestion!) I don't yearn for one at all.
We use ours about once a day for reheating leftovers. But at one time it was broken for a couple of months, and we really didn't miss it. There was something kind of relaxing about having things slowly heat in the oven or on the stove.
I don't own a microwave, but I don't have a problem with them. If I had one I would use it for reheating leftovers (and making porridge probably), but I can't justify the counter space for that. I just don't like having too much stuff in the kitchen, and I do especially see electrical appliances as just another that will probably break! But if someone gave me one i would use it.
Where I think they really come into their own is in the workplace, I love the luxury of having a warm lunch in the winter!
We use ours mainly for defrosting meat. Sure, this could be done with advanced planning in the fridge, but my fridge is pretty full, and I like having the spontaneity of deciding on dinner when I get home from work.
We only own one because it is mounted above the stove in our rental and the only practical use I have found for it is for cleaning the dish sponge. I'm not a fan of what the microwave does to the texture of food and I don't mind warming up leftovers on the stove or in the toaster oven. If I had children I might mind the extra time it takes to do that but for my current lifestyle a microwave is pretty unnecessary.
I only have a microwave because my housemate has one. I never had one before moving into this house and probably wouldn't get one if I moved out. I occasionally use it, but I don't think a lot of things taste as good reheated in the microwave, and for most of the leftovers I reheat, I find it just as easy to use the stove.
I couldn't live without mine. The only way I can survive grad school and still cook your own meals is to do most of my cooking on a couple of free days during the week, and then reheat my meals as needed. I'd be living on ramen and take-out if it weren't for my microwave - and I have the exact model as shown in the picture. My microwave is famous!
Wow, I can't believe how many posters either don't own microwaves or don't use their microwave. When I was quite young my uncle gave us one of the very first models of microwave, and I've never lived without one since -- even in college I always had one in my dorm room. I find them endlessly useful, for thawing meat, heating leftovers, quickly steaming a couple of carrots for my toddler. It might make me sound lazy to some, but I honestly can't imagine trying to live without one.
We got one when we had a baby, I managed fine without one for years, but I enjoy the convenience of reheating - especially as its tiny amounts of food for a little person... If I did the reheating in a saucepan, I would resent the extra washing up, and she would eat as much as was left in the pan- its such small amounts!
I also make quick sauces, melt butter, cook veggies, heat soup etc, and every now and then, yes, I buy a microwave meal!! Even microwave meals have come a long way- the pouches with fresh ngredients arent bad at all.
Mostly its used to melt butter for baking and to soften brown sugar. Occasionally used by the teenagers in the house to warm pasta.
We have a microwave that I used quite a bit, especially for leftovers, oatmeal, and baked potatoes in a hurry. There is very little data to back up claims of bad health caused by microwaves so we're definitely keeping ours!
Well, this has inspired me to get rid of mine! I've been wanting to for ages, but haven't been brave enough to give it away, although I only use it occasionally.
I don't have a microwave in my current apartment, but the one I'm moving to does have one. I've gotten used to reheating things on the stovetop or in the oven, but it'll be nice to have a more convenient option. Plus I'll finally be able to make homemade microwave popcorn!
I wonder how many people without microwaves at home use them to heat up their lunch at work? I eat leftovers nearly every day and rely on the microwave in my office.
I prefer a toaster oven over a microwave any day!
I have a microwave, but only because it was given to me as a gift by a friend who couldn't take hers with her when she moved. The only reason my family got one when we remodeled our kitchen was because our contractor insisted it would raise the re-sale value. So we got a range hood/microwave combo...and we use it to store leftovers that don't need to go in the fridge. in fact, that's pretty much what I use mine for. True, it makes melting butter or other ingredients for baking easier, but I'm still dirtying whatever bowl I use to put it in the microwave instead of the pot to heat it on the stove. And that's the extent of my microwave usage.
When we last moved, there was no counter space for the microwave, and I went two and a half years without it. The only time I really missed it when baking--setting up a double boiler to melt chocolate is annoying.
A month ago we packed up most of the office nook (in prep for our next move) which is at the end of the kitchen. SO set up the microwave simply because he missed it. Our daughter started eating solids soon after, and it's nice to be able to warm her food up quickly. I would probably be pretty annoyed with taking out a pot to warm up two tablespoons of rice mush.
Other than that, I use it here and there, but I still prefer to heat up food on the stove. I don't like putting plastic in there, and I hate how hot my ceramic/glass bowls get and end up transferring them.
Several people have told me I "need" a microwave but my stove/oven + toaster oven have done well for me, so I don't see the need for something I don't use to take up precious kitchen space. My mom lives a couple of floors up and has one, so on the rare occasion, I have access to one but rarely use it.
Freezing is my primary method of both preservation and time saving, and the microwave is a natural companion. I don't really know what I would do if I couldn't keep bread in the freezer and defrost it in seconds, let alone beans, grains, vegetables, etc.
I don't have a microwave in this apartment as the wiring killed two when we moved in. I generally don't miss it, but I'm sick and would have loved to just pop my soup in the microwave rather than spend the extra effort heating it on the stove
Currently using our microwave to steam-clean bags of milk-pumping accessories! Certainly handy for someone who doesn't own a dishwasher...
I don't own a microwave and have learned how to live without it. However, when I have the money and space I will definitely get one. There are things that are simply much harder without one!
I was a big anti-microwave snob, for no good reason at all. Then I moved into an apartment that came with one built-in. I didn't use it for a year. Then I discovered microwaving corn on the cob right in its husk. Just a few minutes, no giant pot of boiling water on a humid August day? Perfect corn? Now I'm always on the lookout for new ways to use it, especially in the summer. But I still refuse to bake a potato in there. I'm a big anti-microwaved baked potato snob, but at least I have actual reasons this time! (don't like how the potatoes turn out)
We use ours several times a day, despite never eating convenience foods. I use it to cook my porridge every morning, soften butter and ice cream, melt chocolate, heat milk for hot chocolate, cooking just one portion of veggies if I'm eating alone, reheat soup and leftovers (and it's particularly good for reheating meat without drying it out - place the meat on a plate with a few drops of water, cover in cling film and zap till hot), defrosting meat... I could live without it, but I'd really rather not. And we are happy to give up some of our precious counter space for our microwave.
In fact, I just bought a new one today as after eight years of constant use, our old one has gone to appliance heaven. It's a nice stainless steel one and was a bargain at £40 (just over $60).
I fall right in between the first two. I'm all for my microwave but it's used primarily for reheating foods, warming baby food, cooking some sides and defrosting meats.
If I didn't have it to warm up frozen baby food I'd probably scream!
I use mine almost daily for steps that would otherwise be fiddly or time-consuming: thawing home-cooked frozen beans, heating up juice or liqueur to soak dried fruits for baking, reheating sauces. Because I store most things in glass jars, I can pop a chilled or frozen jar (lid removed) into the microwave and save myself from dirtying the pan I'd need to reheat it on the stove.
I also use my microwave as a rising chamber for bread: bring a cup of water (with a wooden skewer in it to act as a bubble nucleation point so it doesn't boil over) to a boil so the microwave is nice and steamy, then put the pans of dough in and close the door. In our tiny, breezy kitchen, it's a great little trick to keep the counters clear and the dough from drying out.
We're trying to phase ours out. Not for very logical reasons, we're just opposed to it because we're trying to move towards a very rustic lifestyle. Get this - the veterinarian I used to work for was on a macrobiotic diet so he refused to use the microwave at work, instead he would heat up his lunch in the autoclave. That's the machine that sterilizes surgical instruments by steaming them.
I am just amused at all the microwave conspiracy-theorists! If you can't see those microwaves, they must be BAD!
I said I don't own a microwave, because we have one, we just never use it. It's in the back of a closet.
It just took up sooo much counter space and hardly ever got used.
I rarely use mine and resent the amount of valuable counter space it uses. I want a small one I can put away in a cabinet when not in use. If that means it can't fit a standard size plate, so be it.
Haven't had one for the past few years - a stove, oven and toaster oven are more than enough for me. In terms of "microwave meals" - I figure anything that's made to be cooked in the microwave probably isn't something I should be eating.
I don't own a microwave, but my summer roommate does ... I've used it once since she moved in, to melt butter for popcorn.
It's not so much a dislike for the microwave (I'm not a huge fan of how it heats food ... but, when you're hungry you're hungry!) , just not in the habit of using it. I've gone without since leaving home in 2006, and have established other food prep patterns ... microwave dinners go into the oven, and I start defrosting meat in the morning, etc. You can live without, and it saves a TON of counter space!
I usually cook dinner, then have the leftovers the next day for lunch, so I use the microwave for that. It's handy for heating milk to make yogurt, melting margarine, thawing stock, all sorts of things.
I'm not sure why people are so fearful of them, though; your drive to work is a heck of a lot more dangerous than using the microwave, you know.
I don't own one and I don't want one. Not having one is one of the reasons I read this and other food blogs. I was a slavish follower of convenience and would microwave frozen food/meals often. I got rid of my microwave so that I would cook more. Cooking more is what led me to food blogs.
I don't own a microwave. It may led me to poor cooking habit.
My microwave is indispensable. How else would you reheat rice? Also, it's the BEST for cooking fish.
The microwave is great for certain things, like melting butter and chocolate or reheating rice, beans and soup.
I use the microwave everyday for re-heating leftovers + cups of beverage I forget to drink. It amazes me that my sister is still alive today at 25 years old when my Mother used to re-heat her baby bottles in the microwave.
My question is, in a place with very limited counter space and young children, can the microwave be placed directly on-top of a refrigerator... if one uses a base between the two? Our new fridge is not too high even with adding the microwave height on top.
I use my microwave mostly for re-heating and thawing, sometimes to melt butter or chocolate. I think it would be fairly easy to live without one at home. At work, I use the microwave almost everyday to reheat my lunch.
I use the microwave once a day: for warming my almond milk for coffee.
I wish they made a small microwave with just enough volume for my coffee cup and for the odd bowl of beans that we microwave. A little cube that can go anywhere without taking up much room. Where's Jack Donaghy when you need him?
@Lunawhite: My microwave has resided a top my refrigerator for years without incident, and I am not particularly tall. :)
@hobojabasa - cheers. i am going to put it there after all, we need both microwave and counter space. it's an old kitchen so the depth of the counter can't hold the size of the modern day microwave.
Our broke about three years ago and we never got around to replacing it. I think our next place has a built-in microwave, but I wonder if we'll remember to use it.
Thank you so much for this article! We have run into a lot of people who don't realize how handy the microwave is! We developed a product that will also increase the use of the microwave by using StirMate. StirMate stirs food in the microwave so people can save time in doing other things while they are cooking a decent meal.
This is probably irrational, but I always feel like they're never clean. Perhaps I've opened one too many office microwave where I volunteer that nobody cleans out, but now even clean ones feel blechy to me. Also, my mom's shorts out and just turns on in the summer; which doesn't seem safe at all to me. There are roach droppings in the door of the one in my rental, despite rarely using it and cleaning it periodically. After living in infested apartments, I'm anti-appliance when possible. I might be the only person looking for an apartment without a dishwasher, washer, dryer, microwave and fridge with water dispenser (will probably settle for a washer/dryer rather quickly, as clothes just don't line dry indoors around here in my experience).
Hi,
Would love to make your recipe. What size of chickpea can? Mine is 19oz, but I know it exists smaller & larger ones too.
Thank you,
Mireille