Or are they becoming obsolete?
Might you be tempted to microwave these frozen dumplings?
The other night, I fell asleep before I had a chance to eat dinner and awoke at midnight with a strong need to fill my stomach's empty void. The options: frozen ratatouille, leftover Indian food, salted peanuts, wasabi peas, or cereal and milk.
I chose the leftover Indian food, which I ate cold, straight from the refrigerator.
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To paraphrase the wise Peter Miller on a recent Food52 podcast: Never buy a microwave. Just tell the world you need one and one will find its way to you. And because I haven't come into a microwave yet, my best 12 A.M. option, lest I risk turning on the stove and waking the roommates or causing a stupor-induced fire, was cold (and a bit congealed) food.
When Kristen suggested the world put eggplant in the microwave, she risked her life (and her job).
I had a microwave at the last apartment I lived in because the people I was subletting from did; I had a microwave in my college dorm because my roommate did. And over all those years, I probably used the microwave twice: Once in college to melt chocolate for truffles; once after college to defrost some vegetable stock.
Even though I've never been a frequent microwaver, there are times—like when I'm eating very cold Indian food in my Paul Frank pajamas—that I wish I had one. Or when it's 8 P.M. and I'm just realizing that all that's edible is frozen.
You can use your microwave to temper chocolate.
Yes, you can reheat food in the oven or on the stove, but it takes more time, it often requires dirtying extra dishes (because a storage container normally can't go directly into an oven or onto a burner), and—in the case of turning on the whole oven—requires a lot more energy. (World/Mom: Consider this my plea for a toaster oven.)
Plus, I'd argue that there are times when the microwave does what other appliances cannot. It will heat your leftover lasagna without creating a strange dry crust; it'll steam vegetables almost too quickly, no contraptions necessary; it will gently melt chocolate (even Amanda and Merrill agree).
Case in point: The other day, my roommate received a package of slightly stale flourless oatmeal cookies from The Cheese Shop in La Jolla, CA (note: if you have this recipe, please share it). I desperately wanted to zap them in the microwave, as I knew that would make them squishier and more tender. I had thoughts of putting them in the oven, but feared it would make them even drier. So stale cookies we ate.
It's easy to make puppy chow when you can melt the chocolate in the microwave.
The number of recipes we feature that call for (or even advocate) the use of a microwave is very small. And, for all of the photographs of other appliances on our site, I had trouble finding even one of a microwave. Why this microwave shaming? Is most of the stigma related to health concerns or to the kind of cooking—frozen to table—the microwave represents? Is it worth it to own one just for reheating food? What if your kitchen is shoebox-sized?
My question: Is there a time and a place for microwaves, or are we moving away from an appliance that, at least for a time, changed the way we cooked and ate?
Written by: Sarah Jampel
Popular on Food52
47 Comments
Judy F.
May 16, 2017
My new GE microwave has many features, example - a button for potatoes. The potatoes come out perfectly baked, unlike the old ovens. Also does microwaving potatoes to mash - perfectly cooked.
bread A.
September 29, 2015
Is this some kind of a food snob article? I love my microwave and use it all of the time, as I am certain many, many people do. Living alone, one is always looking for convenience and a microwave fulfills that purpose. I guess I am a bread snob though, and have no need for a bread machine.
Catherine
September 19, 2015
I use my microwave all the time. I have a very small stove and sink, so saving dishes and burners can help keep the frustration level down.
I boil water, steam veggies, reheat food, melt chocolate and butter, or quickly warm syrup or jam when throwing together my traditional Saturday breakfast. It's good for warming milk or stock if I want to make risotto or a roux-thickened sauce. Since I make a lot of preserves, a few minutes in the microwave can help thicken or thin (if adding a bit of water) the consistency if I didn't get it right before canning. I also proof bread with a cup of warm water in the microwave, and use the space to keep my cats from getting into any frozen desserts that I'm thawing. In fact, if I'm interrupted while prepping for a dish, I will store anything that might tempt a feline in there for a bit while I'm gone. If you are smart and watch carefully, it works wonderfully for defrosting meat. (Just take it out before it's thawed all the way so you don't start cooking it.)
I love reheating a rice dish and turning it into dinner by making a little well and adding a raw egg on top before nuking it.. The egg steam-cooks with the rice, and when I take it out and stir it around, the runny part of the egg makes the rice delicious and saucy.
Finally, I also concur with the reader who suggested Kafka's Microwave Gourmet. With a little fiddling, I've been able to adapt the recipes for my 1100W microwave, and veggies have never been easier.
I could live without my microwave, but that could be said for lots of modern technology that makes my life so much easier.
I boil water, steam veggies, reheat food, melt chocolate and butter, or quickly warm syrup or jam when throwing together my traditional Saturday breakfast. It's good for warming milk or stock if I want to make risotto or a roux-thickened sauce. Since I make a lot of preserves, a few minutes in the microwave can help thicken or thin (if adding a bit of water) the consistency if I didn't get it right before canning. I also proof bread with a cup of warm water in the microwave, and use the space to keep my cats from getting into any frozen desserts that I'm thawing. In fact, if I'm interrupted while prepping for a dish, I will store anything that might tempt a feline in there for a bit while I'm gone. If you are smart and watch carefully, it works wonderfully for defrosting meat. (Just take it out before it's thawed all the way so you don't start cooking it.)
I love reheating a rice dish and turning it into dinner by making a little well and adding a raw egg on top before nuking it.. The egg steam-cooks with the rice, and when I take it out and stir it around, the runny part of the egg makes the rice delicious and saucy.
Finally, I also concur with the reader who suggested Kafka's Microwave Gourmet. With a little fiddling, I've been able to adapt the recipes for my 1100W microwave, and veggies have never been easier.
I could live without my microwave, but that could be said for lots of modern technology that makes my life so much easier.
Lori R.
September 19, 2015
I could live without it, but my husband works odd hours and is starving when he gets home, and by that hour lacks the patience to do an oven reheat.
Emma T.
September 18, 2015
The issue is more that microwaves are good for reheating, but not cooking. It does weird things to textures. Weird, unexpected things.
Margaret L.
September 18, 2015
If a microwave were the size of a wooden spoon and had a similar price tag, I'd probably have one. But it does not earn its place in my kitchen. I could not live without my convection toaster-oven, though. For leftovers I use oval porcelain gratin dishes in the toaster oven, arranging a meal in each one, like a nicely plated frozen dinner ; leftovers are hot in 15-20 minutes. We often eat from the gratin dishes, so no extra pots and pans needed for re-heating. Soup goes into the toaster oven in its own bowl or in a mug. I couldn't do that with a microwave, since many of my dishes have a gold band.
Sarah J.
September 18, 2015
I love the thought exercise: "Imagine if TK appliance were the size of a wooden spoon and with a similar price tag..." I would like a wooden spoon-sized, wooden spoon-priced Vitamix, please!
peg D.
September 18, 2015
I use my microwave daily. I use it to cook corn on the cob with the husk on, to heat my coffee, and to warm leftovers. I would not have a kitchen without a microwave, as the energy the microwave uses is so much less than my oven uses. And, my kitchen has a designated cabinet for it!
Dea H.
September 19, 2015
The microwave is great for fast corn on the cob. I think it's better than boiled corn on the cob. If I have time, I do prefer it grilled or roasted, but when corn is at its peak in summer, there's so much to do that having a quick meal with fast corn on the cob can't be beat.
Judy F.
May 16, 2017
Leave husks on, microwave for 4 minutes for one ear. Husks and silks come off easily, and ear is very clean.
Lynell I.
September 18, 2015
My over the range microwave died 2 years ago and I still haven't replaced it. I found I missed it mostly for the timer, of all things, and the vent over the stove. I DO use a microwave nearly every day at work to heat up lunch leftovers, but at home, we have some old Corelle dishes that we make up our dinner plate on and heat, then it's straight from the oven to the table, on a trivet, so no extra dishes. Takes a few extra minutes but we just became accustomed to it and it doesn't bother us anymore.
ChefJune
September 18, 2015
I wouldn't have a microwave if I had to relinquish any counter space for it. Mine have always hung on the wall.
Jillian B.
September 18, 2015
I think in the last year, I have used a microwave 3 or 4 times. We have a small kitchen and I just do not see the need for one. I recently just bought a bamboo steamer, and was surprised how quick and evenly it defrosted a dinner roll.
GretchinF
September 19, 2015
Completely agree! I've found a bamboo steamer can help in nearly all I-wish-I-had-a-microwave scenarios.
Dea H.
September 18, 2015
I cook. I use the microwave to steam vegetables and cook popcorn. When I make large batches of soups and stews, we reheat individual servings in the the microwave. The same goes for large casseroles. I also use it to soften cream cheese and to melt chocolate and butter. I could live without one if I needed to, but I would miss it.
My partner uses it to reheat exclusively. He would miss it a lot more than me. The stove an oven freak him out (I am trying to get him to cook more, but he won't do it unless I stand next to him.) He would really miss the microwave. When our last microwave broke, he was anxious until we got a new one because the idea of heat up a portion of soup in a pot instead in the serving bowl in the microwave freaks him out.
My partner uses it to reheat exclusively. He would miss it a lot more than me. The stove an oven freak him out (I am trying to get him to cook more, but he won't do it unless I stand next to him.) He would really miss the microwave. When our last microwave broke, he was anxious until we got a new one because the idea of heat up a portion of soup in a pot instead in the serving bowl in the microwave freaks him out.
Dea H.
September 18, 2015
I forgot to add that it is perfect for old-fashioned oatmeal. I make it in a giant cappuccino bowl (it will bubble up). I use the same proportion of oats to liquid, then I nuke it for one minute. Give it a stir, and nuke it for another 30 seconds. It's as fast as instant, and it tastes better. As a bonus, I control exactly how much sugar goes in.
silverspringcat
September 18, 2015
Use it almost every night since I cook on the weekend for the entire week and when I get home I don't want to use a pot or the oven to reheat - takes too long and involves washing pot or plate or etc.
loriann
September 18, 2015
I had to buy cans of Pam spray for a reason other then cooking! Well you can break your Mico habit if you have Pam! I went to EBay and bought a few small vintage French cooking dishes, and have never heated anything in my Mico again! It's a really good excuse to buy some new cooking items!
Ollie
September 18, 2015
I must be older than the rest of you. I still remember when we got our first toaster oven! My in-laws wanted to give us a microwave as a wedding gift and I told my fiancé that I really couldn't see needing one for anything other than heating up my tea! So they gave us a combo microwave/convection oven. We ended up cooking most of our meals in there, for years. I now have an oven with a smaller upper oven, so I use that quite a bit and my new microwave (the old one lasted 25 years) no longer has the convection feature but I still use it every day. Steaming all vegetables (including potatoes, before popping them into the oven to roast them), starting a frozen lasagna then finishing it in the oven, softening butter, warming up soup right in its bowl, all kinds of things. I can't imagine being without it :)
linda
September 19, 2015
I must have the same one! It's huge, really dominates the counter and it works perfectly. A bit of an eyesore at this point, unless you like 1984 style.
it's 31 years old
it's 31 years old
Maria M.
September 18, 2015
At my old apartment I used to keep my microwave on top of the washer because I barely use it and I needed the counter space. Now my laundry is in the basement, I still need the counter space. I barely use the microwave but I still have it. Maybe time to rethink this. I use the microwave at work every day to heat up left overs but at home I hardly ever use it.
Jen
September 18, 2015
We haven't had a microwave since we were in college 20 years ago. I've raised 3 active kids without one and have only wished maybe twice that we had one. The only people who seem to think we need one (other than my teenage boys who don't cook for themselves...) are the people who have them themselves. It's not even a matter of being anti-microwave (although my Grandmother NEVER let us stand in front of hers when she used it), it's just the simple fact that we've never really seen a huge need to have one. Now, my crockpot? THAT I couldn't live without....
maryvelasquez
September 18, 2015
I don't have a microwave anymore because the extra counter space was more valuable. I miss the microwave for its defrosting powers when I take things out of the deep freeze. That's it though.
Judith R.
September 18, 2015
Well, yes, there is a time and place for a microwave, just like there's a place for a blender or food processor. A ways back, Barbara Kafka wrote a book called "The Microwave Gourmet", and while it hasn't been updated to today's higher powered microwaves, there are some very, very fast recipes that are very, very good there. Like really speedy polenta, and brownies that are to die for. That said, mine gets used for all the usual melting jobs, quickly heating single servings of soups and stews. Those who use saucepans for reheating must have more time than I do to get home cooked food on the table, and like to wash pans... and also like coffee that's gone cold in the mug.
Noolie T.
September 18, 2015
I don't have a microwave, since I find that an induction cooktop and a handy selection of enameled cast iron pots cover most of the stuff I'd do in a microwave. Everything heats very fast and is easy to clean up. I also love being able to stir what I'm reheating, adding seasoning, extra liquid or something like that in the process.
My oven also has some kind of "reheat" option, so I don't feel at loss.
My oven also has some kind of "reheat" option, so I don't feel at loss.
bookjunky
September 17, 2015
Seriously? Just take a look at the massive frozen food section in the grocery store. Foodie/cooking sites and books never did advocate microwave use. It's always been about convenience.
And yes, any sane person uses a microwave to reheat leftovers.
And yes, any sane person uses a microwave to reheat leftovers.
ChefJune
September 17, 2015
Environmentally, I would like to say I don't use it, but practically I have to say I sure do! Reheating (especially coffee) - defrosting, for sure - corn on the cob. However in all fairness, my microwave is actually a GE Advantium that also cooks with halogen lights, and I LOVE being able to bake a potato (not steam) in 10 minutes, or roast a chicken with potatoes and carrots in 35.
Jamie
September 17, 2015
It is one of those appliances where I don't need it frequently, but when I do, boy do I want it! I do like to prepare food well, but honestly for my daily eating and drinking as long as its "pretty good" that is fine to me after a long day or a tiring morning before work and the microwave can do a pretty decent job, neatly. Plus its inexpensive.
Oddly enough, I grew up dependent on the microwave. Two working parents and they didn't want me to use the kitchen by myself, so dinners by myself meant reheating meals at least 4 days a week, so it depends on who you are. As a single, extreme-budget person, I don't need a food processor and standing mixer, which would make quick work of food I don't really need to eat regularly.
Oddly enough, I grew up dependent on the microwave. Two working parents and they didn't want me to use the kitchen by myself, so dinners by myself meant reheating meals at least 4 days a week, so it depends on who you are. As a single, extreme-budget person, I don't need a food processor and standing mixer, which would make quick work of food I don't really need to eat regularly.
Jara
September 17, 2015
I'm with Mrs. Larkin. I too use my microwave multiple times a day. For me, it is the best way to have healthy, homemade meals at work, especially in the dead of winter. I often warm up leftovers for lunch. At home, I primarily use the microwave for cooking vegetables- lightly steaming green beans, corn on the cob, perfectly tender artichokes in ten minutes, creamy eggplant.
mrslarkin
September 17, 2015
I use my microwave a lot. Not a lot a lot, but like 3x a day. Comes in handy when I'm bleary eyed frying an egg on the stove in the morning and I can simultaneously steam some green beans, asparagus, celery or whatever, in a couple spoonfuls of Marcella sauce. This is so good do it. For me, I use the microwave a lot in the dead of summer, when I don't want to turn on the oven and crank the AC at the same time.
I LOVE doing corn on the cob in the husk in the microwave. This is my favorite thing ever. I also use the microwave to melt butter, reheat stuff all the time, occasionally defrost things, warming up chubby chewy chocolate chip cookies (OMG).
It's a totally unnecessary appliance that I love and use a lot.
I have a tiny kitchen (and my microwave is in the dining room storage armoir!). I moved my toaster oven to the basement - too big and hardly ever used it. Bought a traditional toaster instead, the kind with the big slots to fit bagels and muffin halves and stuff.
I LOVE doing corn on the cob in the husk in the microwave. This is my favorite thing ever. I also use the microwave to melt butter, reheat stuff all the time, occasionally defrost things, warming up chubby chewy chocolate chip cookies (OMG).
It's a totally unnecessary appliance that I love and use a lot.
I have a tiny kitchen (and my microwave is in the dining room storage armoir!). I moved my toaster oven to the basement - too big and hardly ever used it. Bought a traditional toaster instead, the kind with the big slots to fit bagels and muffin halves and stuff.
Theodora N.
September 17, 2015
Hmm... Good question. I got rid of the microwave oven recently, while I was decluttering the house using the KonMari method. I thought that I need the counter space more than I needed the appliance. The truth is I find my self asking for it sometimes (like when I want to melt chocolate) but I don't think I should actually keep a microwave oven in the house just because I am tired to wash an extra bowl every now and then.
charliebarlie
September 17, 2015
I'm so happy I came across this article as I've never been a fan of microwaves but no one around me seems to understand me (I live in Western Europe). Case in point, I recently remodeled an appartment and my contractor was shocked to find out I didn't want a built-in one. I don't want a regular one, let alone a 1000€ built-in one. I just find I don't have any use for one and I feel it fails at the the things it's supposed to be good at like reheating. The food always comes out half cold, half dried-out or your bowl is warm but the soup in it isn't, etc.. It also feels like a very fake way of cooking to me and I think this is what bothers me most about them. Loved the article!
AdeleK
September 16, 2015
I guess I had my first microwave in the late seventies when it became a rage. use it less frequently now than I used to but I have used it for so many things that I would normally have made on the stove, like braising meats as in roast beef. I also at one time had a smallish kitchen and had lots of guests coming from out of town and actually roast a turkey in one. Amazingly it was wonderful and freed up my oven for other dishes or pies. I am not certain if they ever proved it as unhealthy or not and would love to know for a fact if it is, but I still used it a lot for cooking corn on the cob, melting butter or chocolate, bacon, reheating leftovers for Saturday lunch and such. I guess it is just habit and not sure I would ever be without one. I also dry my herbs in the microwave and toast nuts.
Sarah
September 16, 2015
I love having a microwave, because I live where it gets hot in the summer and don't have air conditioning. It's great for cooking food without heating my apartment. Sure my stove can do it, but who wants to turn the stove on when it's 95-105F in the kitchen?
KTFoley
September 16, 2015
Activities for a microwave is very useful:
reheat leftovers
melt chocolate
melt butter for popcorn
make bacon
steam up to four ears of corn in their husks in three minutes
bring butter to room temperature quickly
prep eggplant a la Cooks Illustrated
proof bread
reheat leftovers
melt chocolate
melt butter for popcorn
make bacon
steam up to four ears of corn in their husks in three minutes
bring butter to room temperature quickly
prep eggplant a la Cooks Illustrated
proof bread
witloof
September 16, 2015
Microwave ovens make me nervous. I've never owned one. I do own a very good convection toaster oven and use it quite frequently.
Leslie S.
September 16, 2015
My mom used to always make me stand in another room when she used the microwave because she said it would "Cook my eggs" as in make me infertile... TMI? (Yes.) Any truth in it? No idea, but they still freak me out a little.
That being said, I use mine all the time to heat up leftovers, though I know it's probably unhealthy, because the thought of pulling out more pots and pans for something I know I can zap in 30 seconds is even less appealing to me.
That being said, I use mine all the time to heat up leftovers, though I know it's probably unhealthy, because the thought of pulling out more pots and pans for something I know I can zap in 30 seconds is even less appealing to me.
702551
September 16, 2015
It can't be considered essential since the majority of this planet's inhabitants and pretty much anyone outside the last two decades of human existence have never had one.
Convenient or efficient? In some cases, yes. Essential? Absolutely not.
That said, modern society is clearly on the road in the pursuit of quickness. Frozen/instant foods are far more sophisticated than they were two or three decades ago, and people are spending less time at the table. The growth of fast food/quick serve restaurants is another indication of this phenomenon.
Heck, thirty years ago, you didn't drive to Starbucks for your coffee in a paper cup. If you wanted coffee out, you went to a coffee shop where they'd serve it to you in a ceramic cup at a table, the way they still do in Europe.
Based on this modern pursuit of efficiency, my guess is that microwave ovens will proliferate in the upcoming years, as they have the last few decades.
For sure, I find a microwave oven very convenient at work, to reheat the leftovers that I bring in for my lunch. It gives me the luxury of having warm lunch items. Growing up, kids didn't have access to a microwave at school.
Here in America, if there's a microwave in a company breakroom, there's probably a bag of microwave popcorn within yards.
I'd be very surprised if there aren't at least a half dozen microwave popcorn bags somewhere in the Food52 office.
Convenient or efficient? In some cases, yes. Essential? Absolutely not.
That said, modern society is clearly on the road in the pursuit of quickness. Frozen/instant foods are far more sophisticated than they were two or three decades ago, and people are spending less time at the table. The growth of fast food/quick serve restaurants is another indication of this phenomenon.
Heck, thirty years ago, you didn't drive to Starbucks for your coffee in a paper cup. If you wanted coffee out, you went to a coffee shop where they'd serve it to you in a ceramic cup at a table, the way they still do in Europe.
Based on this modern pursuit of efficiency, my guess is that microwave ovens will proliferate in the upcoming years, as they have the last few decades.
For sure, I find a microwave oven very convenient at work, to reheat the leftovers that I bring in for my lunch. It gives me the luxury of having warm lunch items. Growing up, kids didn't have access to a microwave at school.
Here in America, if there's a microwave in a company breakroom, there's probably a bag of microwave popcorn within yards.
I'd be very surprised if there aren't at least a half dozen microwave popcorn bags somewhere in the Food52 office.
Leslie S.
September 16, 2015
I just checked and was exceedingly disappointed to find that there are not
Niknud
September 16, 2015
Well.....I kind of disagree. Respectfully of course. I conceed that there isn't anything that can't be done on the stove or oven, but I still find the microwave super convenient. At least with the kids running around. Warming up hot dogs to shove in buns right before soccer practice, zapping an egg for breakfast (I personally think it doesn't taste good but the kiddos love them), and I really appreciate the convenience of doing spaghetti squash that way. I mean, I don't really want to turn on the oven in the middle of summer to have spaghetti squash. However, that being said, if it were just me (or just me and my husband) we could get by without it I'm sure. But....since I have three large males to feed, I'm all about it right now.
Emily
September 16, 2015
There's not much a microwave can do that a stove can't, but it often does it more efficiently and with less dirty dishes. That said, it's not exactly essential.
I moved into a place with a microwave and I probably use it max 4 times a month. Usually I am reheating rice, fresh or frozen.
I moved into a place with a microwave and I probably use it max 4 times a month. Usually I am reheating rice, fresh or frozen.
ncindc
September 16, 2015
I haven't had a microwave in at least 5 or 6 years, and I don't miss it. My main complaint about the microwave is that when you heat things up, they don't stay as warm as they do when you heat them on the stove or in the oven. I do have a toaster oven though, and it gets quite the workout.
Then again, I came from a non-microwave mother. My grandparents finally bought one for us growing up, because they wanted one when they came to visit. To this day, my mother only uses it to make popcorn.
Then again, I came from a non-microwave mother. My grandparents finally bought one for us growing up, because they wanted one when they came to visit. To this day, my mother only uses it to make popcorn.
Tereza
September 16, 2015
Growing up in a microwave-less household, and still never having owned a microwave, I can say that there is no need to "zap" your food, heating up food on the stove is just as simple and making air-popped popcorn is always a healthier alternative to the chemical-filled bagged stuff.
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