aem wrote:
> I was surprised to see microwave ovens listed by several people in the
> 'outlandish/useless...kitchen gadget' thread. In the past several
> days I used the microwave in the following beneficial ways:
>
> * partially cooked bacon slices -- makes the bacon lie flat in the
> pan
> * reheated coffee -- better to let it go cold and reheat than to
> keep it (insufficiently) warm for hours
> * defrosted frozen berries before blending them for a sauce for
> ice cream
> * cooked frozen peas, cooked fresh broccoli, pre-cooked potatoes
> before baking
> * reheated a variety of leftovers
> * poured chicken stock into a pot for heating, then briefly zapped
> the jar to liquefy the gelatinous stock still clinging to the insides -
> no wastage
> * zapped refrigerated tortillas soft/flexible for making burritos
> * zapped a large lime for 10 seconds to maximize squeezing juice
> from it
> * heated milk/butter mixture before mashing potatoes
> * zapped frozen peas to defrost/warm before adding to fried rice
> * defrosted various meats for supper -- didn't have to decide
> which hours in advance
>
> Could I have accomplished these things without the microwave?
> Absolutely. Would the alternatives have been as effective, as fast, as
> easy? No way. What else do people do with theirs? -aem
>

I was a long time hold out on getting a microwave. These days I don't
know where I'd be many a night without it.

Most typical uses are defrosting meats, reheating leftovers, melting
butter, softening tortillas, cooking frozen peas and green beans,
heating water for cocoa, warming coffee, popcorn.

Jessica