Wow, it’s been awhile since I wrote on my personal blog. I guess this is just a rare period when I don’t have much to say!:) But I did want to vent about microwaves today.
I remember when our family got our first microwave. It was sometime in the early 80s and it was the size of a large television. With it came a hardcover cookbook of microwave recipes with scrumptious formulations for everything from steaks and chops to casseroles and desserts. As a teenager I regaled my family on more than one occasion with creative items like microwaved twice-baked potatoes and nuked soups. Once the novelty wore off the microwave became more of a “zapper” than a cooker, I’ve used the microwave to heat frozen meals and reheat leftovers ever since. But our microwave went on the blink over the weekend so I’ve been forced to make do with the toaster oven. And, you know what? The toaster oven food tastes a ton better! I heated a veggie corn dog (basically the same as a corn dog, just a veggie dog in the middle) in the toaster oven this morning and the breading was so crisp and flavorful compared to the dully, soggy version in the microwave. I’ve found the same result with other foods. Now when we do get a replacement microwave, it’s going to be weighing sheer speed versus flavor, but it really didn’t take that much longer to cook in the toaster oven. Of course I could use the regular oven for these same things also and I am sure the result would be the same the toaster oven. Is there anyone else who has sort of sworn off the microwave? How is life without it?
Not So Simple 
Jul 30, 2012 @ 13:35:50
We haven’t had a microwave ( except for a brief period of a few months when our oldest left his here) in almost 5 years. I have not missed it at all. The only thing that my husband complains about is that it takes longer to get breakfast on mornings where he needs to leave early. He says it would be handy to have sometimes. I have found that I can do everything just fine without it though. Of course, I never had one until I was grown and my Mom didn’t get one until 1999 and she never did really use it much. I gave it up because I read about the possible health risks and I decided if people had been and still are doing without one, then I could too.
Jul 30, 2012 @ 13:51:16
My microwave went out on Mothers Day. It smelled electrically dangerous so
we threw the breaker at the electric service and have never missed it.
I am seriously considering a toaster oven.
Jul 30, 2012 @ 16:38:22
I never thought I used my microwave until it broke and I seriously had to think about how to heat up a can of green beans. I know, stupid. Once it dawned on me, I realized what a goofy thought that was. I’ve never had or used a toaster oven but thought they’d be fun and convenient to have. I know this won’t mean anything to most people, but I know one of the Real Housewives of New York is coming out with her own Toaster Oven cookbook so they may be making a comeback…if they ever left, that is.
Jul 30, 2012 @ 17:39:40
It is just another appliance put I don’t know how to live without it! Heat dogs food, heat leftovers, cook all fresh vegatables in small amt. water, defrost meat at the last minute!
But, I just bought my first toaster oven, got it at a church bizarre and I love that too!
Jul 30, 2012 @ 19:59:02
We have both and I often forget that for small things I can use the toaster oven. Though we did just find individual pizza crusts/sauce at Dollar General that cook nicely in the toaster oven. I’ll have to consider using it more often.
Jul 31, 2012 @ 00:12:35
I can’t live without my microwave or my toaster oven. My family and I use both all the time. I have cooked entrées in my microwave that the toaster oven is too small to handle. It’s especially useful in the summer time when we don’t want to heat up the kitchen by using the big oven. My kids heat up nachos, hot dogs and other things in the microwave, and the only popcorn we use is the kind you cook in the microwave. We use the toaster oven for grilled sandwiches, heating up leftover fried chicken tenders or french fries. Heating them up in the microwave makes them soggy. I think a toaster oven would work very well for you, Kevin, since it’s just you and your wife. There are a lot of meals you could cook for the two of you. However, we have five people in our family so it’s either nuke the food or turn on that big, ol’ oven.
Jul 31, 2012 @ 01:27:26
We don’t have space for both, but we do have a microwave. (Don’t really have space for that either.) It’s used mostly for defrosting, and reheating leftovers. I don’t like veggies cooked in the microwave, but hubby does.
I read recently that eggs pick up an excessive amount of radiation when cooked in a microwave, so I’ve been trying to avoid using it for my morning eggs. Even so, when I’m in a hurry, I still use it.
I think if I had the space, also having a toaster oven would be handy, but I wouldn’t want to give up my microwave.
Jul 31, 2012 @ 01:33:06
have both in my teensy tiny kitchen. i would rather give up my stove and oven than give up either of them.
Jul 31, 2012 @ 12:14:48
I have given up my microwave. If I want to heat food I heat a plate of food in the oven. I put it in a cold oven set it to 350 and when the preheat signals that’s it’s 350 the food is ready. I use Pfaltzgraff dishes since they are ovenproof. I did this for health reasons. I am a Certified Health Professional and learned at my health seminars that microwaving foods changes the molecular structure of the foods thus causes damage to your body.
Aug 01, 2012 @ 18:18:02
Like Kevin, I had my Microwave go out, ( or rather, I went on Vacay and came home to a broken microwave from the house sitter). However I had also bought a small toaster oven about a week before it went out and I loved the Toaster oven. I used it cook a roast, roasted potatoes quickly, cook garlic bread, roasted veggies. The only thing I was at a loss for was how to heat up my leftovers. ( Im a big leftovers gal). Duh- If i take it out the plastic and put it in a small casserole dish- It works the same. I really use it to broil items, or melt something quickly also. But after about a month, and my gf telling me she couldnt heat up her coffee when it got cold. I bought one when I saw it at a yard sale across the street for 10 bucks. It was nice and newer. And I like having both around for versdatility. We use the toaster oven to cook, and the microwave to thaw or reheat.
Aug 03, 2012 @ 12:50:08
A toaster oven is ideal for 2 people and a great savings on heating up a large oven for smaller items – BUT – a microwave steams veggies great, defrosts in a hurry, melts butter in the measuring cup (saving washing a pot), etc. They both have their place if you have room for both.