Do You Own a Microwave?? - Whiteland,IN

Oh good lord yes-Every day! It would be nice to cook/reheat everything on the stove. But this F/T working mom just don't have time for all that! All I have access to at work for reheating food is a microwave. I don't use it as much at home, but I would still not ever get rid of it.
I also own a toaster oven which I use quite a bit.

Yes we own one. We use it probably 5 times a week. When we have exercise after work and after dinner, we do "quick" food. Otherwise we cook. I reheat leftovers in it.

If you aren't going to have one, I would suggest a nice toaster oven for reheating things that you would need an oven for. Why heat up the entire stove when you can heat up a small space for small meals. :)

Yes we have a microwave. Over the stove.
I don't believe the horror stories about them, but I think you DO need to be particular about the kinds of dishes, etc you use in them.
My mother does just fine without O., though.
Oh--a toaster oven is WAY faster and more efficient for heating things and making small portions. No need to preheat an oven to reheat a piece of pizza! Quicker too.

I have not had one since August 2012. My husband missed it once when he wanted to reheat leftover Thai food. I showed him how it took a minute longer heating this in a pan on the stove and he stopped complaining. I don't miss it all.

I got rid of it as part of my journey to try and cook real-whole foods, only. Putting this food in microwave just made me feel like I was taking away some of the benefits of what I was trying to accomplish in the first place.

I know two others that don't have them anymore and don't miss them. Their reasons are similar to my own. Most everyone else that knows that I don't have a microwave thinks that I am odd, but they don't cook for me. Whatever they choose to cook with is their business. This works for us.

Yeah, it came with the house. We use it to pretty healthy purposes, though. My thing is to cook a lot more then we'll eat in a single night, and then freeze the rest. I use the microwave to defrost whatever on nights when I've got an evening class or when we've just got too much going on to cook. What I really need is for a magic cleaning elf to sweep in, organize the freezer, and label the contents. That part isn't going quite so well.

Yes, we use it a lot. It is too hot down here most of the year to turn on the oven, so we have learned to use the microwave.

Steam almost all veggies, reheat left overs.. which we do every day in some way. Make rice, melt butter, pop, Popcorn, heat up cups of tea or coffee. I like it boiling hot. We cook old fashioned oats, grits, baked potatoes.

If you do not use yours. Not sure why you are worried about getting rid of it. I have a friend that has never owed one. neither does her parents. They just never needed it for their lifestyle. .

We use our microwave oven every day-can't imagine not having one!!

We went without a microwave for almost two years (before our remodel) and it was no big deal. Sure, warming up leftovers and defrosting meat was a little more effort but other than that we hardly noticed it. We don't really use it for cooking.

We got rid of ours when we moved into our house. Didn't want to give up counter space for it. We realized the only thing we ever really used it for was reheating water, so we just bought a tea kettle. Not a big deal at all.

Yes, I absolutely have a microwave and wouldn't want to go without it. Do we use it daily? No.....but it's a convenience that I feel should be available to me and the family.
My microwave is what, 2 feet wide? So it doesn't take up enough space to concern myself over.
I do cook healthy "real" food for my family, but it is easier for my husband to pop his teacup in the microwave for 20 seconds and then drink out of it, when he very often gets distracted with the kids and can't enjoy his tea the minute he's brewed it, than for him to get out a saucepan, heat it up a 60-90 seconds, then pour it back in his cup, then wash the saucepan and put it back where it belongs. I'm big on using my steamer, grill, broiler, and oven for most things, crockpot and stovetop for some things, but still, sometimes things are ready sooner than others and may need to be popped into the microwave 20 seconds....or on some days because of the children's activities (Awanas, church, or practice) we need to eat earlier, and my husband isn't home yet. Let him heat his food up easily instead of waiting 10-15 minutes to reheat it in the oven (preheat time, etc). Other times, we have soccer practice or games to go to where it's too early to eat (or we don't want to eat before working out), but we're getting home on a school night where time is really being pushed. I prefer to cook a proper, healthy meal for my family early, then heat up and eat right after they get home instead of eating takeout or fastfood like everyone else seems to. So while it can go days without use, it definitely has a place in our home!

Yup.

I live on frozen food & sammies when my son is at his dad's.

3 minutes in the microwav vs
40 minutes in the oven
=
Microwav

I've lived without a microwav for years.
It means not buying frozen meals*
& defrosting in the sink.

* or cooking for hours to reheat
Ahem. Hours is for
- frozen solid soups / meats / ets
- multiple items in a day

I can't imagine not having one! We use ours for reheating left overs, or if I make baked potatoes I use it instead of the oven, takes too long!
Our is above our stove so it doesnt take up space.

I don't own one - I don't like what it does to food texture if you try to actually cook in it, and I do just fine heating leftovers on the stovetop or in the toaster oven.
And I despise microwave popcorn. I like popcorn popped in a pot on the stovetop.

We have one.
I use it all the time, mostly to defrost things.
I can't imagine defrosting things any other way, because it would be a pain and take too long.... and that would impact my timeline for getting dinner/meals made when I want to.

And yep, we warm things up in it. All the time.
We also have a toaster oven.
You can get a microwave oven, that is small... it being the same size as a toaster oven. So, getting a toaster oven, would take up the same amount of space as a microwave oven.

of course.
where else would you keep the bread?
actually, we do use ours fairly frequently. it's a convenience i appreciate, even if i don't actually cook with it.
but seriously. its main function is to hold the bread.
:) khairete
S.

no we do not have one. we moved and there was not a place in the new house, plus i wanted to avoid it (if i really wanted one i could find a place on the counter). Every now and then i have a meal i want to reheat in the microwave or do something quick. Food tastes way better in the real oven, so i just plan a little better.

Things that can go on the stove top are almost as fast (melting butter). I do have way more dishes to clean up now. i used to throw a plastic container in the mirco-wave and eat from it and wash it. now i need to take the left overs out of the container put them in a pan/pot/cookie sheet and then a plate.

I have an over the range microwave/range hood combo. I use it to make my oatmeal in the morning, making popcorn, steaming veggies, heating up canned food and leftovers, melting cheese on crackers or nachos, warming hot dogs, making a single cup of tea, and warming my magic bags for my sore back and hips. Personally, we wouldn't/couldn't do with out it.

FYI-You can make popcorn in the microwave without buying commercially prepared microwave popcorn. You just put popcorn kernels in a paper bag.

Ours is above the stove as well. I wouldn't want to be without one. It's extremely convenient at times. Like most other things with warnings, I don't believe that using it "as directed" is harmful. If someday I find out it was, I'll still look back and be thankful for the time and effort it saved - and the potential tears it prevented. ;-)

Microwaves are bad ! Politics got them on the market. Nobody "believes" the scientists. Same thing w/ GMO's.

My H bought one and I have it hidden in a cabinet. There is nothing healthy about a microwave. I went to see a holistic doctor speak about food and microwaves....Good for you for not using it !

I have a toaster oven, haven't had a microwave in almost 3 years. Originally we didn't have one because our apartment didn't have one when we moved in. We ended up just getting the toaster oven because it is smaller and cheaper than a honkin' microwave.

We got one that is also an convection oven. I use that part regularly. Cook most oven meals in there.

The most I use the microwave part for is re heating my coffee and some steamed veggies.

***ETA, we remodled our kitchen and the Mic is above the stove.. I LOVE IT.

We never cook anything in the microwave. We probaly use it a couple times a day to defrost my son's bagel in the morning, heat up leftovers and melt butter for popcorn. Microwave popcorn is poison!! And I don't throw around that words at all.

The microwave is also useful to reheat tea or coffee.

Not a fan of the toaster oven, if you have an oven what's the point? Uless you live in a dorm or a very small place with no kitchen.

We have a microwave. I just downgraded it's size though so we could have more space. We don't use it everyday, but it's handy to have around when it's needed. There was a point years ago, when we had no stove, and I used it to cook in. I was pretty good at it.

I use it when I am in a hurry and need to cook some frozen veggies for dinner; for defrosting meat that I forgot to thaw in the microwave 24 hrs before; for reheating leftovers; for making instant oatmeal (not very often--I usually do stovetop).

I use it to heat water for instant coffee when I'm too lazy to just brew a pot, I use it to reheat pancakes, tortillas, and make oatmeal, and my husband uses it to reheat leftovers. I don't use it to cook food (besides the oatmeal).

My mother cooks everything from raw chicken to rice in the microwave, and it drives me nuts. ;)

I think if we got rid of it, we wouldn't miss it.

We have one but it's hung over the stove so no room taken up. I could easily live without one for a few months... And you could look at it like a low risk experiment to help you decide if you get another one when you move. I try not to use ours much. My husband says it's bunk my mother swears microwaves are bad for you so I figure I should avoid it when I can. I think food warmed up in the pan tastes way better too. That's all we did when I was a kid and we got along fine. I'm very quick at doing dishes too. It does cause more dishes... So maybe offer to wash the frying pan for him if he agrees to get rid of the microwave. Toaster oven is definitely good for some things.

We use our microwave twice a day: a.m. heating up my veggie breakfast sausages and my husband uses it to sterilize the water in his neti pot. We have strong rules-- no plastics in the microwave, ever-- and we don't do things like microwave popcorn, as that has some weird chemicals in it.

I lived before for years without a microwave and would do without one easily.
Reheating leftovers is simple: preheat the oven to 325, put food in a glass pan (pyrex makes glass bowls with both plastic covers for storing and glass lids for baking), cover if necessary.

Or, baking sheet with parchment for easier cleanup.

Or, use a pan on the stove. Some things do great in a skillet with a little bit of water.

I'd get rid of the microwave in a heartbeat, but it was my husband's grandparents' microwave, so there's some sentimental attachment for him. I have to say, though, I think it's better made than the ones today... It's from the 80s!

We absolutely own and use our microwave. It's built in to the wall above the oven, so it doesn't take up any counter space. We use it several times a week to reheat leftovers and would not get rid of it. The regular oven uses WAY too much electricity to use it for reheating.

I use mine to reheat leftovers, and occasionally to defrost things (I buy meat in bulk and then freeze most of it, and sometimes I'll make a big batch of chili and freeze it in individual portions). Could I live without it? Yeah. But I'd have to plan ahead a little better. ;) I never use it to actually cook anything.

We do have one and it doesn't take extra space, as it's over the stove. But we don't use it all too often and only for heating leftovers. I don't cook anything in it as it changes the molecules of the food. It came with the house. We use our toaster/confection little oven for heating things to and a lot of times it's much better, tastier. Sometimes we heat left overs on stove.

My daughter doesn't have one by choice and heats her left overs in the oven or stove top. She doesn't have one because of the harmful waves although "they" say it's safe, according to her husband who is a environmental professor they are not. And it changes the food in taste and chemical makeup. She doesn't think it is worth having and wants the space too.

Yes. We use it all the time. To heat milk for oatmeal. Water for anything. Chocolate to melt. Leftovers to heat. I can't imagine living without one.

We do own a really old one, but don't use it much. Mostly, my husband uses it to heat oatmeal.

I can't imagine life without a microwave. When I think of the old days when I was young having to wait for leftovers to heat up in the over I know I couldn't do that again. When my microwave stopped working I got a new one the next day. What will you do with your 3rd cup of coffee that you let get cold? I hate cold coffee. Parish the thought of being without a microwave. I can't see the benefit of not having one. I will read the comments to see to try to find the good in not having a microwave.

Yes, we own one. Yes, we use it often. Ours is smallish and off to the side on the backer's rack where I keep DD's lunch stuff. We use it for reheating leftovers, quick meals and beverages and popcorn. We had a problem with the toaster oven and got rid of it (and never replaced) after my SS got hurt. It tried to electrocute him.

We have 2 but we mostly use the one over the oven.
We use it for heating up left overs, thawing out frozen food, heat up canned soup and sometimes to quickly heat up water for tea/coffee.
I also like to microwave fish filllets in a little butter with lemon juice, salt, pepper, garlic powder and it comes out perfect and tastey in a fairly short time.
Not a day goes by when we don't use it.

Our microwave is built in over the oven and Yes, we use it daily for reheating, etc.

I have a Kitchen Aid toaster oven on my counter that we also use daily. It is great because you don't have to heat the entire oven to reheat or cook small portions.

We also have a 2 slice stanless steel toaster as well that is used daily.

Fortunately, I have huge counter space and kitchen or I would not have these things out as I hate a crowded countertop.

We use ours regularly. I don't use it as much now that I have a toaster oven but it's used quite often and I know it's not the best for you but I would never give it up. We don't have enough time together as it is so to make even less time will not happen. And he does not like to cook on the stove unless he's been off the entire day. So his lunches if they are hot must come for the microwave!

we use it daily to heat those veggie steamers in a bag and to reheat food

M.:

own a microwave and use it daily...for reheating...for popcorn...

there are things I reheat on the stove in a pot or pan...but overall? I use the microwave.

Since it is being used once a week or more - sounds like it is being used on a regular basis....Have you thought about the microwave that is above the stove so you have the countertop space?

We use it every day. The kids use it for heating up water or milk for hot cocoa, making popcorn or for melting cheese on nachos. I use it to steam veggies every night for dinner and re-heat leftovers

we have one. I don't think there was ever a time when I didn't have one. We use it almost daily. It doesn't take up any space because it's installed above the stove

i dont kow how we would survive without our microwave lol just kidding... well sort of... weuse it a ton.. the only way i would not own a microwave would be if i had a toaster oven, those things are awesome