Does any one actually use their microwave to cook in?

[PurpleHeather]

Most of us have them and they are great for heating up the odd tin of baked beans and the ready meals (I know no one here would dream of buying such  things because every one here makes everything from fresh)

I have used them for the odd jacket spud, jam and once I did a whole chicken in 20 minutes in a roasting bag. I think fish with a thingy of butter and a drop of milk steams well  too. Great for warming plates in a hurry.

But does any one use the microwave for more than that. I feel sure that we under use them. Perhaps we could even cut our fuel bills by sharing ideas.

Please don't be negative and say they ruin pastry.  Every one knows that.

[PurpleHeather]

[Hector]

We have a combi micro-oven and our pastry is lovely :) We cook just about every main meal in it.

[BarriedaleNick]

Other than making my porridge in the morning - no.

[1066]

Just got to join in on this thread as about all I use our s for is reheating coffee!! How ridiculous a waste of space is that, besides its much better fresh  ::)

[mat]

I only ever use my microwave to make custard and scrambled egg now... They cook far better in a MW than a saucepan.  

Scrambled egg - 1 minute for 2 eggs, with it forked every 15-20 seconds or so, and it's perfect :-)  Never over cooks like this.  

I have never had a dud custard in a MW, but it would often go lumpy in a saucepan!

Otherwise; its mostly to heat things up!!!

mat

[goodlife]

I haven't use micro for food for years now...I like my food cooked conventional way...I still do have one thoug...great for sterilizing small amounts of soil or compost... ;D ;)

[Squash64]

I always make porridge in the microwave, and also custard and sauces.  It's great for cooking rice too.  I start off baked potatoes in it but finish them in the real oven because I like crispy skins.

[lorna]

Thanks Sam. Always do scrambled egg in saucepan and it is sometimes a pain, must try the microwave method. Other than that, porridge, now and again a ready meal and frozen peas.

[OllieC]

Perfect poached eggs in 50 seconds! Beetroot in 4 or 5 minutes... Combi for jacket spuds... Home made ready meals - spag bol, lasagne, macaroni cheese, soup.

Oh, perfect rice every time - same volume boiling water as rice, 9 mins, done... defrosting home made dough balls or rolls, Melting butter for batter...

Ours does a fairly high mileage!

[Kea]

Heating things like  sponge puddings, Christmas pudding, baked beans, soup. Making porridge, custard, rum sauce. precooking baked potatoes before baking, softening butter, defrosting things when I've forgotten to get something out of freezer, heating cheese scones, heating the very occasional ready meal.

[lillian]

I've cooked bacon, cakes, soups, stews, pasta dishes, porridge and sauces in the microwave when I didn't own a conventional cooker.

[rosebud]

 NO, only cook scrambled eggs , cook porridge warm beans.
Ours is on the wall to save space, not used enough to warrant worktop space. ::)

[BarriedaleNick]

Perfect poached eggs in 50 seconds!

Ollie - Do you have to prick the yolk to stop it bursting?

[realfood]

I have a combination micro and use it all the time from porridge to baking( the combi setting very good for cakes and puddings and much faster). In fact, it is easier to say what I still use the gas cooker for! Pressure cooking, some veg steaming as the texture is better, sauces, jam making, and the frying pan.

[PurpleHeather]

Brilliant response

Lets have at least ONE recipe even if it is only for porridge.

[Duke Ellington]

Porrige
Rice
White sauce/Cheese sauce
Onions with balsamic vinegar and a little cayenne or tabasco  for topping burgers (its like fried onions but faster)
Fast gravy( cornflour, chicken stock, finely chopped onions first cooked in the microwave.

Thats all :)

Duke

[Paulines7]

I have some microwave bags and use them for cooking new potatoes and other vegetables.  They are re-usable and last a long time.  It beats having to wash saucepans but are only really suitable if cooking for one or two.

I also use the microwave for pre-cooking jacket potatoes prior to putting them in the oven to go crispy and for Oat So Simple porridge with apple and blueberry.  Recipe for the latter:  Empty sachet into breakfast bowl, add milk, put in microwave for two minutes, take out, stir and eat.  Simples!

It is also used for defrosting and heating up coffee.

My microwave has a grill which has never ever been used!   ::)

[OllieC]

Perfect poached eggs in 50 seconds!

Ollie - Do you have to prick the yolk to stop it bursting?

No - just cover well with boiling water (it can rise & pop if you don't - even more fun!). Works best in a bowl that continues to be concave right to the bottom if you see what I mean, so it's nicely concentrated in the middle. The smallish pyrex bowls (about a pint and a half?) are perfect. Just to be clear:
Boil kettle, Pour into bowl, Break egg into boiled water, full power about 50 secs.
Start yer toast first!

[Lady of the Land]

I cook a curry in it from scratch. Use it for scambled egg, baked potatoes heating butter to add to things, porridge have made some sponge puddings, hot chocolate and custard. I do have a microwave book where curry recipe comes from.

[flowerofshona2007]

I do rice in mine, can't cook it any other way !
Porridge, and carrots are brilliant !! slice carrots into bowl add tbs water cover with cling film, pierce, cook 4 mins and they taste like carrots !!