With the movement towards slow food, microwaves have become a contentious appliance. We've asked whether you really need one and even given you advice on how to phase them out. However, if you already have one, you might as well put it to better use. Here are some ideas on how to do just that.
1. Sanitizing Sponges and Cutting Boards: We've written about this before, but instead of throwing out a soiled sponge, sanitize it in your microwave (or dishwasher!). As it turns out, this is more effective than soaking a sponge in a bleach/lemon juice/water mixture. You can also disinfect plastic cutting boards.
2. Storage or a Bread Box: Think about it: the microwave is fairly airtight, so baked goods and other things that need to stay fresh but not cold will be protected from the elements. Not only that, but it's pretty sterile. So if you're short on counter-space, you might consider using it as a breadbox or temporary food storage.
3. Cooking Short Cuts: A microwave is great for getting more juice out of lemons and limes, drying herbs, poaching an Egg, and a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/tips-techniques/kitchen-shortcut-how-to-toast-nuts-in-the-microwave-099158">toasing nuts. While it might not be the traditional or slow-food way, it might save you time, allowing you to do other things a bit more sustainably.
4. Make Real Food: Instead of being relegated to heating up leftovers, there are a myriad of ways to create delicious, healthy, and fresh meals in no time at all. Here are a few ideas from The Kitchn on how to use the microwave as a shortcut:
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Since I generally don't plan meals far in advance, I use it to defrost frozen meat before cooking.
Hubby uses the micro to cook his bacon.
Also, cover your food w/a paper towel to prevent cleaning the explosions that happen when the food gets too hot. Sauces and eggs can be *really* messy if you're not careful.
yeah this is a tough one. I've heard the microwave can use a lot less energy than cooking something on the stove - My instinct says there's no way it can be environmentally friendly, but it depends on what perspective is taken. Which one has a bigger carbon footprint? What about gas vs. electric stoves? What is the most environmentally friendly way to heat our food?
It's a much faster way to heat a cup of water for tea.
And, even more importantly, I use it to heat the foot warmer (rice-filled pillow) that keeps my toes toasty on a cold winter night.
My microwave just went kaputz and I'm realllly wondering if I need one. I'm going to see how I do without it for a while.
I don't have one for two reasons: one, they are ugly and take up space physically and visually; two, I have lazy tendencies and enjoy the challenge and pleasure of cooking without a microwave. I have a small convection oven that cooks food quickly and well. My mom uses her old microwave as storage and I cringe over how it makes her otherwise pristine kitchen feel cluttered.
I never had one until college and my mom is getting her first one in 61 years. They don't really make ovens like her old one that just died with a second oven on top.
Microwaves are fantastic for cooking fish and vegetables. Basically anything that would be cooked using water, cooks really well in a microwave. A bed of fresh green vegetables with a slice of white fish on top - what could be easier?
Hi! Microwaves are very unhealthy and change the molecules in food. Also, I'm pretty positive the Nazis invented it. It's,I've heard a way to control the population. I haven't used one for years and never will again. Organic raw foods are the best for you.Veganism too.When you know better than you should do better.