Are you neurotic like me with the microwave?

[Stuey1515]

I'm not neurotic, I just refuse to have a device spawned by the devil in my kitchen.
I hate the bloody things, only good for defrosting and heating water imo

[dubob]

HEY - its also good for reheating that cup of coffee left over from last night! 😁

[Joey877]

I'm not neurotic, I just refuse to have a device spawned by the devil in my kitchen.
I hate the bloody things, only good for defrosting and heating water imo

Too true. It has been proven to cause cancer and dehydrate everything it "cooks". Except for ribs. It's the best method for ribs.

[RonB]

To clarify a bit with examples:

Microwaves are great for softening butter. When I take a full stick of cold butter out, I nuke it for 66 sec at 20% power to get it soft enough to spread. Every MW is different, so you will have to experiment to get the time correct for your MW. BTW - mine is 900 watts.

It's also great for softening that rock hard tub of ice cream to make it scoopable. I start with 20 sec or so at 20% and go from there.

[barelfly]

Yes on the paper towel. Gonna get in trouble if there isn’t one over the food! Especially spaghetti sauce!!!!

[scottranda]

Don’t need a paper towel (ever) if you appropriately use power levels!! 😃

[WillTravelForFood]

Some microwaves have a "reheat" button that does timing based on steam coming off the food. It's generally 100% until (something), then it backs down to 50% for another 40 secs or so. Seems to work for us.

I also like the preprogrammed Fresh Veggie/Frozen Veggie buttons; usually come out better than 2m on high.

[Dewesq55]

We have a 1300 watt microwave and I heat nearly EVERYTHING at power level 5. I gauge how much time It will take to heat at level 5 and try to undershoot it a little and then creep up on it. From experience, I am pretty good at getting the time spot on for the usual things I reheat, like rice, pasta, etc. Pretty much the only things I do at full power are defrosting my homemade stock, melting butter or boiling a small amount of water.

[Dewesq55]

Oh, and I do cover bread, rolls and tortillas with a paper towel when I nuke them.

[scottranda]

YES!

[Bbqmikeg]

"Heat me up a bear claw on the radar range." Tom Waits.

[Troutman]

Dude, did anyone ever tell you your avatar looks like a pile of black poop ??

[DavidNorcross]

Troutman I just laughed so hard I cried

[Panhead John]

😂😂😂

[Troutman]

Any questions as to my methodology.....

[surfdog]

Well…seeing as I generally refer to microwave ovens as ‘$200 hot dog cookers”…I’m in the bash it at full power ‘til it’s done camp kinda guy.

I’m certain the "science oven" is capable of nuanced cooking…but I’ve never felt the need to explore it. I use it as an aforementioned hot dog cooker (when I’m editing photos/video and can’t take the time to fire up a grill) or to simply re-heat something…quickly. (For much the same reasons, or out of laziness.)

[Mr. Bones]

If'n I didn't likeys me some explosions, an such...

I'd'a never even ponied me up th money fer no microwave

[Bkhuna]

I'm too lazy too take all the baked goods our of the microwave to actual cook with it. It may be broken, I don't remember.

[ilooklikeelvis]

I'm not particularly old fashioned (unless it has bourbon in it) but the only thing I ever microwave is my kids' frozen food. I never use it when cooking for myself/other adults.

[scottranda]

TAKE YOUR MICROWAVE POWER LEVELS TO THE NEXT LEVEL!!!

I JUST LEARNED YOU CAN POWER LEVEL FOR MULTIPLE SESSIONS!!!

For example: 60 seconds, power level 7, AND THEN YOU CAN HIT 45 seconds, power level 5 (AGAIN) 🤯

Y’all are so welcome! Have fun with MULTIPLE times and MULTIPLE power levels ALL IN ONE! Go crazy neurotic heating up your food!!

[realdocBBQ]

Power levels? What is this thing you speak of? I know of "COOK" and "OFF".

[scottranda]

realdocBBQ please just try it. Like you’d be amazed at what 1:20 @ 70% does!

[WayneT]

I suppose the section of the user manual regarding multiple power levels and times in a single session comes with a disclaimer reading, “Using this feature repeatedly may cause neuroses.” along with a support line number. Gotta cover your posterior when the device is so sophisticated.

[Mosca]

There are two settings.

Full blast is for microwaving things. 30% is for defrosting things. All the other buttons are decoration.

[scottranda]

I never cover. Never need to clean. Thanks to power levels!

[Mosca]

Covering holds the steam in, which does most of the cooking in a microwave.

[scottranda]

Steam/moisture… valid argument!

[GolfGeezer]

I've been using multiple power levels for years to reheat/heat foods. My bride nukes everything she does on High, which of course screws up any dish that has butter or dairy in it, or a plate with different foods (meat, especially with sauce & veggies for example). I use 40% for 6-12 minutes and then 1 minute on High for most reheats. I always use a cover to contain any potential splatter and aide in containing moisture. I think the only I ever do on High all the way is microwave popcorn.