Microwaves am I the odd one out ?

Question

When we have friends over, they are always shocked that our house still does not have a microwave ?

My wife and I believe that we have a perfect cooker to do what we need to prepare our food and own pots and pans

I have no complaints, and we are happy, maybe we are not "chuck in meals" people

are we alone, apparently James May ( Top Gear) has the same views ?

Oh, and we are only in our early thirties and been married for ten years

Maybe its just the way we where brought up ?

But my mother has had microwaves since day one, and I have had many meals out of them when I was a nipper.... maybe thats why ?

Love to hear your replies

DING DING

Answer 1

Good for you for daring to be different, cooking your way and not just following the masses.

I wouldn't be without my conventional oven for bread, baking, jams, chutneys and anything that takes a little more care or expertise.

I do have a microwave and it's used a lot for quick everyday cooking (I mean proper cooking, not reheating and ready meals). I wouldn't give house room to the small cheap models used for reheating - I like to cook real food from scratch.

Answer 2

I don't have a microwave oven. I had one a year ago but I threw it out because the turntable was broken. I thought of buying a new one but decided that it was simply taking up bench space that could be used for other things.
I asked myself how much time was really saved in cooking up frozen chips - unfreezing, preparing and fiddling with settlings - against cutting up and boiling a couple of potatoes in a saucepan. Actually, the answer is not much at all, if any. If you plonk beans and carrots in the same saucepan the time is cut way back. And I decided that even if I may not have time to cook up a meal, I'd much rather eat heated up cold leftovers that had been cooked on a conventional stove than heat up take-aways or frozen meals.
It's just as easy to pop tinned things into a small saucepan to heat up. There was one advantage, though, that I found with my microwave and that was that it was very good at making a froth for hot chocolate or cappacinos. I still have my milk frother (rather like a small bodum) but if I want to create a decent froth nowadays I really have to put my back into it with a whisk. (The fewer gadgets - such as an electric coffee machine and a blender - in my tiny kitchen, the better. The only way for me to create the illusion of space in it is to reduce the number of appliances to the bare minimum).
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Gadgets are interesting and you can develop an addiction for them - look at the craze for bread makers ten years ago. But at bottom, I prefer whatever works best rather than a whole lot of extra features that might never be used (it's what I resent about my blender).

Answer 3

When I got married 8 years ago, a family friend asked if she could buy me a microwave as a present. I said i didn't want one but she bought us one anyway. For the next 3 years it was a glorified breadbin. I only ever used it for heating milk in for cocoa. Got rid of it and have never had one since. I think that in years to come they will say that microwaves are not safe and can cause some illnesses so that is the main reason i will not use one. I am really glad that i never used one to heat my babies food and milk in. The only time i wish i had one is when i buy a steamed pudding that takes forever to heat through in a pan of boiling water but i would not put my families health at risk just for that. So no, you are not alone-have you ever tasted a sunday roast done in the microwave - yuk. Going to put my roast in the oven now an cook it properly.

Answer 4

Happy New Year.

I own a microwave, but a very cheap model as it rarely gets used - sometimes for a quick jacket spud or to defrost something in a hurry. I'm 30 something, but still prefer to cook the traditional way. I hate ready meals with a passion.

There is nothing wrong with not having a microwave.

Answer 5

I use mine for steaming veg, it is much much quicker than doing it on the stove top, plus reheating things is really quick. But I could easily manage without it. I can honestly say that we have never had a ready meal or microwave meal cooked in it!! If I can't be bothered to cook we get a take away!

Answer 6

I don't think I could live without a microwave. I make lots of good food in it, but the best part about it is being able to reheat/defrost things. It takes a couple seconds to reheat a piece of pizza that would normally take 5 minutes in an oven.

Answer 7

I'm pretty sure your not the only one who doesn't own or even want a microwave. We have one at our house and though I could never imagine cooking a meal in it, I do use it quite a bit. I soften butter when I'm baking, I use it to defrost things, I am always using it to warm up food for my husbands lunch on the weekends. My son uses it daily to heat up his sandwiches. It gets used here, but like I said, I just can't imagine making a meal in one.

Answer 8

You are not alone! I do not now, nor will I ever, own a microwave. Our friends think the absence of it is odd as well.
My husband and I have had a long standing policy of not running out to buy the newest gadget since we were young and broke. If it costs more than $30, we ask the other their opinion of the item.
He had offered to purchase one for me as a gift many years ago. I went and looked at them (much larger, noisier and not nearly as streamlined as they are now) and just couldn't see what I would actually do with one! I got a marble slab for my candy making instead and have used it to make many, many memories upon.
Of our nine children, two have owned microwaves and of them, one still does. My grandkids use it for popcorn and heating tortillas.

Answer 9

No you're not alone but I think that we may be a minority.

We actually have a microwave, but I've used it 3 times in more than 5 years. The only time i've used it is to heat up my Naan bread and to warm some milk.....

I've eaten meals cooked in them, but much prefer conventional oven cooking.

Answer 10

I have never wanted a microwave. Someone bought one as a gift - can't get rid it was my grandaughter. I occasionally heat something up and always wish I hadn't. Like you cook on/in the cooker.
Pleased to join you and James May.