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this post was submitted on 30 Nov 2023
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Do people actually use microwaves for cooking or is that just a meme?
I like how instead of imagining there might be something you don't know about microwaves, you just kind of assumed everyone bought a dust and popcorn machine for no reason. It's such an "am I so out of touch?" moment.
What do you use it for?!
Collecting dust. Popcorn.
Literally nothing is cookable in a microwave without it being disgusting
Maybe you're just doing it wrong. It's a poor craftsman that blames their tools. I don't get mad at the toaster for being bad at boiling water.
I've been trying to think of things that a microwave is better for, and could only think of melting butter. Though a small saucepan does that too.
A fan oven or a frying pan or a grill all cook stuff 10x better than a microwave
A craftsman wouldn't use the worst tool for the job, after all
Microwaves are fantastic cooking tools, and I'm pretty confident you're not using yours to its potential. Defrosting, reheating, steaming, boiling. Does it all in half the time with half the mess. All those settings on the keypad do something good. Most people just wack a few numbers in and let the microwave literally cremate the food on full power. Those reheat and defrost settings apply microwave then switch to low or no power, leaving the applied heat to radiate internally before repeating. Different densities and starting temperatures are accounted for.
Obviously you wouldn't cook a stir fry or a steak in a microwave. Potatoes before roasting though? Dumplings? Frozens? Yes please Mike.
Mashed potatoes :
Dice small, 10-15min
Rice:
1,5dl water to 1dl rice, 10-12min
I could go on. It's a big water heater
Why have I not been microwaving rice? Does this affect the texture at all?
Only if you don't turn down the power, you want full effect to get in to temp and then turn it down to keep temperature steady
So, not what you said, then
I don't think I specified, but much like cooking rice on a stove top you won't run it at the same temperature. The microwave will use less energy than a traditional stove top, not sure about induction ones. And after learning to boil things with it, I do it all the time.
Just get it to boiling then 450 then if needed 300
I've never seen someone use Deciliters before! Love it. Disclaimer: I live in either the USA, Myanmar, or Liberia.
It does passable baked potatoes too, but if you microwave it for about half the time and then toss it in some oil, kosher salt, and pepper and put it in a hot oven, you get great baked potatoes in far less time than in the oven alone. You're basically boiling the middle and baking the outside. Great combo.
frozen peas
it strikes me as weird that somebody operating on your level of elitism considers microwave popcorn acceptable
Disgusting how?
I mostly use mine for reheating stuff, but cook the occasional two minute noodles or frozen pie. Never had it be disgusting, at worst it can be cold if not done long enough. Cutting the food up and stiring it around halfway through helps.
Yup, also primarily use it for reheating food. Sometimes, when I'm lazy and just want sth to eat, I'll make myself microwave potatoes. And I also use it to defrost frozen vegetables or fruit sometimes.
However, when I was living in a one bedroom apartment, which didn't have an oven in the kitchen-corner, I had a microwave with integrated oven and with that I was able to bake myself anything that fits into a pizza sized round baking tray. Still love that thing. It's a 30 y/o hand me down Siemens from my uncle that still works perfectly. It's also rather large (about twice the size of a normal microwave) and sadly doesn't fit into my current kitchen…
What do you think is happening to the popcorn when you put it in the microwave?
Anyway, microwave popcorn is disgusting.
How do you recommend cooking popcorn, Mr Blumenthal?
In a popcorn popper ... or a pot.
Right tools for the job, eh
Op uses it for music
Reheating, generally.
Yes, microwaves are a poor substitute for an oven but they work fine for vegetables that you might otherwise use a steamer to cook. Stuff like broccoli, beans, carrot pieces etc. Corn on the cob works well too, just give it a few minutes in the microwave with the husk still on.
Anything that's ok mushy, really. You can also use it to start cooking something that you finish somewhere else.
Great for reheating leftovers, if it has a good humidity sensor.