I cook enough dinner to bring to work the next day. A microwave is super helpful because I just love a warm meal!
75% of my microwaving is done to reheat food. Not TV dinners, but food I've cooked every other day since I'm so gosh darn busy.
And potatoes? I do love a quick potato here & there (so cheap, yummy & nutritious!)
Don't even get me started on popcorn!!

Yes, I could eat half my meals cold; And sure, I could spend a whole bunch more time standing over a stove; but I *heart* my microwave!

Queenofthefall.blogspot.com

I freakin' love my Zojirushi water boiler that I bought a month ago. I don't know how I lived without it. It replaces an electric kettle and a lot of microwave use too.

I actually HATE using microwaves. I never use them to defrost (since they always seem to cook my food around the edges), I defrost everything in the sink instead (though you should NEVER defrost meat using HOT water--always defrost in cold water; the meat will still defrost but it won't spoil that way).

However, I will probably buy a small microwave in my next place just to do simple things like melt butter, reheat the leftovers that don't reheat well in my countertop oven (rice, pasta, etc.), and to make popcorn.

Yeah, for melting butter and reheating (certain) leftover and prep-ahead dishes. I also use mine as a breadbox (keeps the bread out of the light but at room temperature).

That's a great idea, Scott, to use it as a breadbox (assuming that you let it cool down completely before storing your bread in it). I might just have to "borrow" that idea, thanks! :)

We've gone without a microwave for the last few months, and have only cheated a handful of times (we threw it into the basement). Water is heated on the stove, as are leftovers. And we've gotten MUCH better at defrosting our meat ahead of time.

The only thing we ever cheat for is baked potatoes - we always forget how long they take in the oven.

I haven't had a microwave in the last 3 years. At first, I thought it was the worst, now I've gotten used to it. I rarely cook more than I need so there's never leftovers. If I do, I can always bring them into the office and use the microwave there or else use the oven in my own place.
I do have a toaster oven which I use for small things though. Not as quick as a microwave, but it works.
Only thing I really miss is microwavable popcorn! Don't remember the last time I had any.

I"m like queenofthefall. I never cook for just my husband and I. I cook every meal doubled or tripled. I then freeze some for later. Instant frozen dinner that's healthy. I don't buy canned soups. I make a giant batch, and freeze most of it.

For that reason alone, the microwave is useful. Otherwise we don't use it for anything else.

I almost only ever use the microwave for the kitchen timer. Rarely I'll heat up leftovers, I prefer to do it on the stove but if I'm really in a pinch I'll do it. But once I move to my own place (the current microwave belongs to my roommate) I probably will not buy one.

I use my microwave primarily to heat drinks, melt things (butter, rock hard ice cream, chocolate), defrost meats quickly, and occasionally reheat leftovers. Most of the time, I prefer to pop my leftovers in the oven though...

For warm lunch I reheat my lunch at home in the morning. I rinse my (metal) lunch container with hot water before putting my hot food in it. I wrap a towel around it and put it in my lunch bag. It stays warm enough for me until lunch time.

I never got around to getting a microwave after I moved out of my parent's house a few years ago. I melt butter on the stovetop in a small ramequin. Popcorn gets done in the hot air popcorn maker. Leftovers get reheated in the oven or on the stovetop (soup on the stovetop, the rest in the oven). And for hot water we use a kettle or the espresso maker.

the only thing i miss about not having a microwave is the much faster and easier way to make fresh mozzarella :-(

so why is the microwave a negative here?

i don't do tv dinners either.

I've lived without a microwave for about 3 years now and I would never go back to owning one. I've also recently bought a hot water dispenser and love, love it. Popcorn is super easy on the stove top and takes less time, it's also easier to add your own flavorings such as real butter.
If you freeze your own food tip your container upside down and run under water for a few seconds, when it pops out of the container you can heat it up slowly and evenly on the stove top.

My roommate fried our old microwave. I've found that most tasks can be replaced by other appliances but one that always gets me is melting butter.

I have owned 2 microwaves and because of limited space I came to the conclusion twice that the space it used did not justify the amount of times I used it- gave it away. don't miss it.

The only reason I have a microwave now is because it was free. I mainly use it for the timer and to occasionally nuke milk for hot cocoa or oatmeal. It is kind of handy, but certainly not necessary for everyday life. I do like the "breadbox" idea!

Sure one can go without a microwave..but if you live in the US why would you? If I take meat out to defrost...inevitably I'll be in to much pain to cook dinner. I've thrown out many pounds of meat for this reason - since it will sit in the fridge for days while I eat easier-to-prepare non-meat dishes...or reheat leftovers without having to watch them closely. However, if I defrost meat on half power in my microwave it defrosts when I AM ready to cook it...ie no waste.

Is it safe to thaw food with hot water? I thought you were supposed to use cold running water?

I was microwaveless when I lived alone. I did have a toaster oven and a small saucepan, which is really all you need for reheating things. However, the person I was dating at the time eventually bought me a microwave because she couldn't stand being without it when she visited-- I grudgingly set it up.

Rachiti, why is it only people in the US have no reason to live without a microwave?

I haven't had a microwave in about 10 years. Funny thing is, I was the first kid I knew to have one in the early 70's as my mom was a demonstrator for them.

Somehow I'm just not willing to trade counter space for one.

I confess, though, that I use the one at work to reheat my leftovers at lunch! :)

Best way I've found to reheat food is the steamer basket above the rice cooker. Put the food in a dish and set that in the basket. The steam just circulates around it. Since most of what I reheat goes over rice or pasta, which I boil in the rice cooker, I only need to plug in one appliance. For the odd occasion that I don't need rice or pasta, I set a half inch of water to boil and before the cooker shuts itself off the food is hot.

Due to a lack of kitchen space I have lived "microwave-free" for 10 years, and other than popcorn, reheating leftovers, and the occasional emergency need to defrost something I saw no use for one.

That was until I heard from food scientist Harold McGee that "It turns out when studies have been done on retaining vitamins in vegetables, for example, microwave ovens do a much better job than boiling or even steaming."

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130697865

teapotrose, you're right - you really shouldn't thaw in hot water. First it can be unsafe, and second, cold water actually does a more thorough job. Cold running water is best, but I find that to be wasteful and just use a cold water bath.

Our microwave died about 6 or 7 months ago, and we've been fine without it. The only things I miss are popcorn and when I have a craving for tea but am too lazy to wait for water to boil on the stove.

^That is why God invented electric kettles. :)

I've always had an electric kettle and a microwave in the house, using the microwave to boil water seems amazing to me!
The microwave in our sharehouse died last week and none of us want to cough up to buy a new one. I'm a little lost without it. I usually cook big meals and freeze them individually to eat on nights when I'm alone, so my boyfriend had to show me how to defrost them on the stove.
Last night I had a bit of a meltdown at 7pm when I was ready to cook dinner but had only frozen meat, my boyfriend had to make a hasty trip to the shops to buy something to cook!
I'll see how long I can manage before I go mad and buy a new one.