Comments on: The kitchen appliance you might be better off without.

By: Joy

Joy — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 16:00:59 +0000

We got rid of ours over a year ago…..I love my counterspace! I also love not being able to zap my food in dangerous containers not knowing what toxins will be released into our leftovers. I’ve gotten used to washing pans to reheat my sons Mac n cheese, using a bottle warmer (oh my), and did I mention counterspace?

We love not having a microwave!

By: Kesha

Kesha — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 03:32:04 +0000

You know what Michelle, my mom says the exact same thing and for some reason I still continue to be the ‘lazy, don’t wanna cook, rather be working or online researching, wish someone would cook for me’ type of chick but it’s getting me nowhere and I know it. I don’t think I’d eat much if it wasn’t for the microwave! But because you also confirmed what I knew inherently to be true, a group of friends and I are pledging to do a week challenge of not using the microwave. And don’t tell my mom…she’ll think I listened to a stranger instead of her

By: Susan Keeley

Susan Keeley — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:08:21 +0000

We’re without a microwave at the moment but it’s not due to choice. I MISS IT!!!! Desperately. Being someone who doesn’t function well in the high heat/humidity we’ve had lately, I’m longing for it. All the things I use it for:
1. Softening butter – like lots of other posters.
2. Popcorn – not that nasty packaged junk from the supermarket. REAL popcorn, REAL olive oil, paper bag, 2 staples, 2 minutes, 10 seconds. No stinky oily pot to clean up. Thanks Alton Brown.
3. Emergency defrosting. Sometimes the fridge just ain’t convenient or thorough.
4. My daughter’s microwave mac & cheese. Yah, yah, i know… insert Healthy Food Lecture here. When you’ve an EXTREMELY picky eater, you get calories how & where you can. Just talk to Michael Pollen about this one! You can make a healthier “packaged” mac & cheese using whole grain pasta & the powdered Vermont cheddar from King Arthur Flour on the stovetop but sometimes carving the 15 minutes from your evening schedule for even that is unrealistic. Trader’s Micro Mac & Cheese + 3 minutes = dinner. That’s 21st Century Family Life.
5. The chicken that hubby “cooks” on the grill. You know the stuff: burned on the outside, sashimi in the middle. Ew.
6. Reheating leftovers. Honestly, there are too many things that don’t reheat well on stovetop or in oven. Then there’s that whole turning the oven on or standing over a burner in July thing. Ugh.
7. I miss the clock! Stupid, I know, but I do. Yes, I have a watch. Still miss the clock.
8. The gorgeous recipe for Lemon Butter Cabbage from my Mother-in-law, made mostly in the winter when all 4 burners on the stovetop are otherwise occupied.

So, I’m one who’s living without a microwave and not loving it. Can I do it? Yes. Am I happy about it? No way.

By: Kevin Kermes

Kevin Kermes — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:24:29 +0000

Excellent post! I ditched mine almost ten eyars ago and have never looked back. It makes me think a bit more about what I eat and has improved my relationship with the food I eat (seems like an odd word choice, but fitting nonetheless). Like Maria, it’s an area that I wouldn’t be willing to compromise on if I met a woman who was too attached to hers.

Kevin

P.S. I shared “Lemonade” with my list (aimed at helping job seekers) last week. Thanks so much for sharing your story in it!

By: Maria

Maria — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:00:25 +0000

Great post! Nobody seems to understand how toxic microwaves really are…and I’m not just talking about how they deplete foods of their nutrients. There are many articles written about the dangers of microwaves and I think it is no coincidence that people are getting sicker and sicker. But I won’t use this post to hop on my soap box…just do the research and you will see what I mean.
Gail – I feel your pain and good for you for making changes in your family – hang in there, don’t give up – one day it will click for someone else in your family and soon they will all follow you on your healthy lifestyle. My brother and his family thought I was the crazy health nut aunt, but my nephew started feeling rather sick, they watched “Supersize Me” and now they are coming to me for advice. It may take a while but I assure you it will happen. Just keep teaching by example.
I have not had a microwave in my house since I was able to afford living alone. Recently I was dating someone and I was still trying to decide if it would work out between us, he came over for dinner and was shocked that I would not have a microwave and wondered how on earth I could live without one. I explained that it has been more than 9 years and I don’t miss it and gave examples of how I hapily live without it. He said that when we move in together someday I would have to compromise and get one in my kitchen…that was what I needed to make my decision. My health and the health of others is not something that I’m willing to compromise on. Great guy, but I’m not moving in with him

By: Angie's Recipes

Angie's Recipes — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 07:42:02 +0000

I am still using microwave from time to time to warm up some leftover, esp. in those steaming hot days. I have been thinking to replace the microwave with a minioven, or a steamer.

By: luis

luis — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 03:58:45 +0000

haven’t had one in years. all of your reasons are excellent.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:47:55 +0000

I should mention that I don’t have any hard evidence of health issues related to microwaves. I really just have a gut instinct that it’s not good for us on a few different levels. Kudos to everyone who at least takes a moment to *think* and *decide* rather than accepting the status quo without question! You guys inspire me!

By: Juliana

Juliana — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:44:38 +0000

I only use microwave oven sporadically…fortunately my does not take any counter space

By: Gail

Gail — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:39:17 +0000

Interesting thoughts…My family of 8 uses it a lot. Personally, I make a cup of tea, microwave popcorn in an Orville Redenbacher popper, which uses no oil, reheat leftovers, (convenient for my husband’s dinner, since he gets home late and I fix a plate for him), and sometimes I bake potatoes or cook veggies- just barely hot. Do we weigh the cost of these vs. conventional methods, plus clean-up time for extra pots, against what: are there health reasons not to use a microwave? I’ve heard some noise about plastics in the microwave, (and in water bottles). Early on (I’m kinda old, too) there were concerns about the safety of microwaves, and perhaps leakage. (Stand back while it’s going.) I must admit there are some things I’ve just been unwilling to investigate because I don’t want to make the change. But I know that I have to make some changes because I have a daughter with some autism-spectrum disorders and diet is huge in her recovery. I’m fairly convinced that our environment has a lot to do with the increased incidence of these disorders- the assault on our bodies by pesticides, preservatives, processing of food, pollution of everything, plus the sedentary, brain- stifling influences of TV and computers. I have tried, with limited success, to promote a healthier lifestyle in my family, but there are too many influences going at break-neck speed, especially as they get older. Not much of which has to do with microwaves, except that any attempt to do away with it would be met with more groans about their crazy health-nut mom whose only goal in life is to ruin their lives and make them miserable. Lighten up, Mom! My goal: lead ‘em to the water, and hope someday they’ll drink. My personal goal: grow old as gracefully and as healthily as I can.