What do you use your microwave for?

[RonB]

I don't think I have seen a specific topic on using a microwave, so I thought I'd start one.

I do the usual stuff - reheating leftovers, but I do very little cooking with it. I do cook corn on the cob as well as popcorn, and I occasionally steam veggies too.

Here's a list of other stuff:

Softening butter, cream cheese, and ice cream. I use a low power setting and, for ice cream, I go in short bursts just until it scoops easier.

"Precooking" potatoes if I'm short on time - just until barely soft. A short time in a hot oven helps crisp up the skin for those who eat the skin. I also precook potatoes for smashed potatoes and for hash browns. All I need to do is slice or smash and brown them when they come out of the MW. I would suggest slicing through the potato skins to prevent exploding potatoes. This seems to be more of a problem with smaller potatoes, but I have had it happen.

Reducing the moisture in mushrooms makes them easier to brown. I put the 'rooms in a microwave safe colander and put that in a bowl to collect the liquid.

Please add to the list if you can.

[au4stree]

Mostly what you do, but I’ll add. I heat up my coffee sometimes. I really don’t like to cook in there.

[RonB]

I forgot that. I do heat the water for coffee and iced tea in the MW.

[au4stree]

Back in my single days and before I discovered the joys of cooking I wore out microwave nachos. Chips, sprinkle cheese and diced jalapeños. Life was good, or something like that.

[Mosca]

Reheating, of course. I also microwave-steam vegetables. I heat omelet fillings if I don’t feel like getting out another pan. Mrs Mosca makes her instant oatmeal in there. Melting cheese on crackers. And heating canned vegetables. Boiling water quickly, in the measuring cup. Defrosting frozen cooked foods, like chili.

There’s probably more. When I make bacon, I make the whole pack and take it off at about 90% done. Then when I use it, I pop it in the microwave for about a minute/2 slices.

[RonB]

And I forgot melting cheese on stuff.

[Duanessmokedmeats]

I don't have one.
We use our air fryer or sous vide to reheat.

[Ace]

Reheating coffee and most leftovers. Cooking baked potatoes.

[MarkN]

Mostly stuff you mentioned for the reasons you mentioned and because a lot of America Test Kitchen recipes mention those things (potatoes for example) to get a head start.

I would add making rice. I have a Sistema brand (made in New Zealand) plastic rice maker and with the Rice setting on my microwave it comes out perfect (for me) every time.

I also do bacon in a Sur La Table microwave bacon cooker that uses the Bacon setting and has a ribbed bottom that allows me to pour out the grease for later/other use.

[Donw]

We have a 25 year old GE Monogram microwave with multi cooking methods, however while all the buttons still work, the display stopped working and they don’t make a replacement. So we are down to using the 30 second cook button. I use it just for reheating things. Kathy however uses it for all sorts of things and dishes. She has figured out how many button presses of the 30 second button to use and records that in her recipes.
We could replace it but it has been faithfully working for 25 years now with just the little display hiccup so I can’t justify putting it to pasture when whatever I buy to replace it would probably end up a problem child, die in a few years, and need replacing in a few years anyway.

[captainlee]

Occasionally reheat meal and instant coffee once in a while. Other than that it is resting.

[dubob]

My MW is used daily to either cook or warm something. It is an indispensable kitchen appliance.

[jstrause]

In winter, I use mine for bulk fermentation and proofing sourdough. It's always just too cold in our house so I've found this works well for me. We have our microwave over the oven so I turn the light on to "low" which heats up the inside of the microwave to just about the perfect temp.

[gcdmd]

Nice tip.

[OC Sandy]

Primarily for reheating, steaming frozen veggies, oatmeal if I don't feel like stovetop-ing it, popcorn (but not bags of microwave popcorn. I have a silicone popcorn popper specifically for the microwave), occasionally to thaw frozen food, whole potatoes either to partially cook them or sometimes to make "baked potatoes".

[DavidNorcross]

Mainly for reheating, melting butter, heating water. Thats about it.

[Sweaty Paul]

And my wife makes hot chocolate too!

[acorgihouse]

I rarely use mine. Like DavidNorcross, I primarily melt butter or heat water, and sometimes reheat (mostly soups and sauces.) I could live without it.

[58limited]

Reheating and water for coffee

[Jerod Broussard]

Mac and cheese, instant mash potatoes, reheating ribs, pulled pork, etc......