Rethinking Necessities: Refusing to Replace a Microwave
It was November 2007, and I was making an afternoon snack. I pop some veggie Buffalo wings into the microwave. I’m hungry and impatient, and I stare at my food as though doing that will make it cook faster. I see sparks of blue flash, or at least I think I do, and then there’s an awful burning smell. I stop the microwave, and it looked as though a laser burned a few spots on my veggie wings.
Blue flashes, laser-like burns in my food: these things are too sci-fi for me to handle, so I arranged to get rid of the microwave. I was pissed because the warranty expired; Zac and I had to host a dinner party later that evening; and I don’t like anyone or anything messing with my veggie wings.
We haven’t replaced that microwave since then. At first it was because I learned that many people had a similar experience with this cheapo GE microwave found at Wal-Mart. I figured this is the punishment you deserve for shopping at Wal-Mart, so if we ever wanted a reliable microwave, we’d have to spend upwards of $150, which neither of us felt like doing.
A few days without a microwave hardly made an impact on our lives. We had a recipe that called for melted butter. Usually we’d turn to the microwave, but we used a sauté pan instead, and it worked just fine.
One night while making dinner, I started putting frozen veggies in tupperware, as I often did when I’d cook them in the microwave. I steamed the veggies in a pot instead, and they actually came out better.
Days without a microwave turned into weeks, and we hardly noticed its absence. A couple of times we groaned about wanting to heat up our coffee, but then we learned to keep coffee hot longer by heating our mugs with warm water before pouring coffee.
Heating leftovers in a pan or oven took some extra time, but eventually we got used to it. Sometimes there were extra dishes to clean; sometimes it was the same amount of work as getting microwave-safe dishes dirty.
I even got accustomed to heating my veggie wings in the toaster oven.
As I type this, I’m looking at the counter space where the microwave used to sit. Part of me thinks a microwave belongs there, but there’s another part that doesn’t see the point. Why buy something you really don’t need?
I’m not anti-microwave at all. I think they’re great for the office, or a dorm. But at home, I think there’s truth to the saying that a microwave is just an over-priced popcorn popper.
But what about you, dear readers? Is the microwave another necessity we need to rethink?
I spent the first 19 years of my life without a microwave. Then I bought one as part of a rooming arrangement (you bring the microwave, I bring the minifridge, etc). It’s much easier sometimes to heat things up quickly in a microwave, but the other is quite survivable. They scared my mom…she had a fear of microwaving her hand. Quite impossible but it scared her anyway. Ovens, pans, it’s not that hard.
But for now we’re going to use our since we’ve got it. Resale value would be pretty pathetic at this point.
Totally! I have only used microwaves when various roommates over the years have had them. Right now I am going on several years without one and I rarely miss it. I think one day we’re going to find out that frequent microwave users have chromosomal damage or something.
John: Ever since we considered redoing our kitchen, we have talked about bagging the microwave… then someone pointed out that we might not use it now, but just wait until we have kids. I could live without one, but our toddler will probably benefit from our ability to reheat his mac & cheese.
Microwaves are handy, especially when I’m not feeling well, but when I didn’t have one for a year I made do pretty well with my teakettle and my gas range.
I never have had a toaster oven, though. I don’t know what I’d do with one, but I imagine that with a teakettle AND a toaster oven, one would miss the microwave even less.
I was surprised about the same thing. When I got my first place I figured I’d save up for one and use the stove in the meantime. About five years later, a guest asked me where my microwave was, and I realized I’d never gotten one. The toaster oven, in my opinion, is the best gimmick you can have for energy saving, convenient tasty meals. Get a good one and it does nearly everything a regular oven will do and doesn’t take that much longer than a nuker, esp. if you’re only cooking for one or two people. Yes, you do waste a bit more energy heating up water on a stove versus a microwave, but I think it evens out in the end, bc you tend to buy more ‘real’ food, which is cheaper than microwaveable meals. And I bet putting all that radiation out there is not really good for the environment or our bodies.