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microwave oven
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We are debating whether or not to buy a microwave.I have alwasy said we do not need one but could you please give us the pros and cons
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Think of it more like a hob than an oven. Things you could heat in a pan, such as soup, can be heated in the microwave in the serving bowl, so saving washing up. They're very useful for heating forgotten cups of coffee, too!
It is a different style of cooking from that on an ordinary cooker, but microwaves can save considerable time & energy.
My Gas oven was broke for quite a while, and I have had to cook everything in the microwave, having said that it has a convection bit as well, which I have found really useful. My microwave has some great pre set cooking settings for casseroles, baked potatoes, Frozen Pizza. It cooks great dumplings in 10 minutes, scrambled eggs are so quick & fluffy. Heats up beans etc with less washing up than a pan. You can microwave cheese and spread it on toast for a quick cheese on toast , and all the fat separates so you can leave that in the dish (not as nice as grilled, but Ok) anyway, basically I think they are really handy, can't boil an egg in one though.
I got one as a Christmas pressie, having lived without one for over a year. Agree with Scarlett and Solarjunkie on all the things they said (cooking veg, soup and reheating cold cups of tea being the majority of uses for mine!), but the microwave is also great for defrosting when you've forgotten to take something out the freezer for tea.
(2-part post):
Just as some foods are best grilled and others are best fried, roasted or whatever, there are some foods which, in my opinion, are best microwaved.
While that statement will probably have some chefs throwing up their arms in horror, I stand by my opinion that, for example, firm-textured fish (such as salmon or, especially, trout) cooks at least as well (and possibly better) in a microwave oven as it does with any other form of cooking. That alone, might be a good enough reason for getting a microwave oven. Here are a few more:
Most people who own a microwave oven only ever use two settings. One is 'full power', which is used, for example, to heat up shop-bought 'ready meals'. The other is 'defrost' (to quickly defrost something from the freezer). There's nothing wrong with this. If I'm honest, most of the time my microwave oven is used for one of these two purposes. However, if you read the instruction book and the sample recipes that usually come with the oven, there's a great deal more that can be done. (Be prepared to experiment. Just as with conventional ovens, you need to adjust recipe recommendations to your personal preferences).
Just as some foods are best grilled and others are best fried, roasted or whatever, there are some foods which, in my opinion, are best microwaved.
While that statement will probably have some chefs throwing up their arms in horror, I stand by my opinion that, for example, firm-textured fish (such as salmon or, especially, trout) cooks at least as well (and possibly better) in a microwave oven as it does with any other form of cooking. That alone, might be a good enough reason for getting a microwave oven. Here are a few more:
Most people who own a microwave oven only ever use two settings. One is 'full power', which is used, for example, to heat up shop-bought 'ready meals'. The other is 'defrost' (to quickly defrost something from the freezer). There's nothing wrong with this. If I'm honest, most of the time my microwave oven is used for one of these two purposes. However, if you read the instruction book and the sample recipes that usually come with the oven, there's a great deal more that can be done. (Be prepared to experiment. Just as with conventional ovens, you need to adjust recipe recommendations to your personal preferences).
A basic microwave oven now costs about �25 (from Asda or Tesco). At that price, it won't be too much of a waste if you buy one and find that you don't use it. (Actually, I'd recommend that you spend a little bit more. The most basic models have a manual timer. Ovens with digital timers only cost a little more).
Go out and buy a cheap microwave oven. (You can invest in one of the expensive models later, if you so choose). Also buy 1small (cleaned) trout. Cut slits in either side of the trout, put it on a microwaveable plate in the oven and cook it, on full power, for about 3 minutes. Just taste the trout (preferably served with a little lemon, simply accompanied by brown bread and butter) and you'll instantly fall in love with microwave cooking.
Chris
Go out and buy a cheap microwave oven. (You can invest in one of the expensive models later, if you so choose). Also buy 1small (cleaned) trout. Cut slits in either side of the trout, put it on a microwaveable plate in the oven and cook it, on full power, for about 3 minutes. Just taste the trout (preferably served with a little lemon, simply accompanied by brown bread and butter) and you'll instantly fall in love with microwave cooking.
Chris
Here are some microwave facts for you:-
1. Microwaves warm up food by making the molecules in the food vibrate at incredible speed (this is why you must let microwave food 'stand' for 2 minutes before eating). Sometimes the food is vibrated so fast that the food molecules tear and rip. Microwaves are absorbed by food, but the microwaves do not make the food radioactive because they turn into heat the minute they are absorbed by food.
2. Microwaved foods retain more vitamins and minerals than foods cooked by other methods because they can cook more quickly and without adding water according to FDA. The nutritional value of foods is only reduced when foods are �overheated� in a microwave oven.
3. Scientists found that microwave cooked food causes changes in the chemical structure of food, making it carcinogenic.
4. In 1998, Mary Abgrall and Scottie Misner from the
College of Agriculture, at the University of Arizona published their " Tips of Safety", stating that microwaves are safe for defrosting, reheating and cooking food;
5. She also stated that if food is not thoroughly cooked, bacteria will stay on food causing food borne sicknesses.
6. In 1992, Drs. Blanc and Hertel of Switzerland experimented with microwaves. They came out with results that microwaved cooked food is cancer-causing and published an article about it. They were convicted, being charged for "interfering with commerce". In 1998, the European Court of Human Rights ordered their release, free of all charges and that they be paid compensation.
7. The result of all the negative effects microwave ovens have on food and humans led to a ban on their use in the Soviet Union in 1976.
p.s. I don't own a microwave oven. ;o)
Here you go estie, a cuppla sites for you:-
http://www.jrussellshealth.com/microwaves.html
http://www.cancersalves.com/articles/Microwave.html
I haven't read any of the books mentioned. It does make me think twice about owning a microwave though. I've never been an advocate of them and I certainly won't be rushing out to buy one.
Once again thank you all for your input.I have to say that I have decided against buying a microwave.At the back of my mind I have always had this nagging doubt that I don't think food is properly cooked unless I can see it - maybe I am just old fashioned !!!
Anyway,it made very interesting reading - thank you.
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