In my opinion, the microwave is the most useless tool in my kitchen. If I use it twice a year, I’m surprised. I probably don’t use it once every two years. Vince is the king of leftovers and he microwaves his coffee. When we moved into this house seven years ago, the microwave was over the stove – same place it was in Missouri and that was not good for me. So, the first thing we did here was take that microwave out, put up a vent hood, and buy an inexpensive little microwave to put on a shelf in the laundry room. Recently Vince has been saying the microwave seemed to be not working so well. He said the light inside had gotten dim and it didn’t seem to have much heating power.
Last week, he spilled something in the microwave and he took the glass turntable thing out and, instead of washing it and putting it back inside the microwave, he stuck it in the sink. When I went to pick it up, I didn’t realize how greasy it was and it slipped right out of my hand and broke! I felt bad that I ruined his microwave but he assured me it was going out anyway.
That gave Vince an opportunity to go shopping.
Microwave
I think he got it on sale for $49 or $59. For what we do, it’s just fine.
It made me remember my first microwave. When they first came out, a friend worked in an appliance store and they could each get a Meal-in-One by Litton at the special price of about $600 if I recall correctly. If they didn’t want it, they could pass the opportunity along to a friend. She didn’t want one, asked me if I did so I got it. It was HUGE and I thought I had the best cooking tool ever. I was so proud of that big thing. All my friends were amazed by it and I think I cooked or, at least, re-heated things in that microwave every day. Who would have thought you could get one some day for less than 10% of what that one cost. Of course, the one we have now is very basic – it heats coffee and the occasional leftovers and that’s about all we use it for and it’s just fine for that.
Erin says
Haha that’s funny! Ours went yesterday morning right in front of hubby’s eyes! Poof just died, power failure! So he had to purchase one immediately for same reasons. I hate it taking up space. Vince got a great deal! Go Vince! We paid a little more for 1.1 cubic same wattage hubby got a discount because of who he works for.
montanaclarks says
I use mine to melt butter and warm leftovers–that’s it. I had one of the original huge microwaves and tried using it for cooking–ugh!
Darla Marion Hunt says
So many of the frozen veggies are sold in microwave steam able bags…so much better than boiling all the nutrients out by cooking in water.
That’s one of the best uses for a microwave. That, and popcorn popped in a special corn popping bowl.
We use ours daily…reheating coffee and leftovers. Husband has a microwave egg cooker he uses pretty often too.
Judy Laquidara says
I understand that some people love them but I’m just not that person. I’m not sure I’ve bought frozen veggies, other than corn, in the last 10 years except maybe to go into some kind of soup. For corn, I just put about 1/4 cup water, a little butter and seasoning and heat it on the stove.
Vince does use it every day for coffee so it serves a purpose.
Deb says
My mother had one of the first residential microwaves – of not the first – an Amana. Huge! And takes 2 strong men to lift it. She died at age 92 last year and it is still sitting on the kitchen counter. Maybe someone with a retro kitchen will buy it? I have my longterm in that house and i still heat things in it when I’m quilting.
Judy Laquidara says
That is amazing. You should contact Amana. They may want it for some kind of museum . . seriously!
Deb says
Auto correct is not smarter than me – I did mean longarm!!
Dottie says
Back in the 70’s, DH thought we should get a microwave. We ended up getting a used one – BIG Amana Radarange (used) for $250.00. So VERY, VERY expensive for a young Navy family. I truly didn’t want it but, got used to it for heating leftovers. It didn’t last very long – maybe a year and a half and by that time, we bought a NEW one for about the price we paid for that used one. We had it for probably 7 years and the day after Thanksgiving, DH called me at work telling me it had died and HOW could he heat up the leftovers. I truly couldn’t remember how we heated up leftovers except to put them in the oven in an oven-proof dish. Needless to say, when I got off work, we went to buy a NEW one.
I do use it every day – re-heating leftovers or cooking frozen vegetables, heating beverages, etc.
Judy Laquidara says
I don’t often serve leftovers as “leftovers” but will take leftover chicken and incorporate it into another dish. If I make a broccoli/rice/chicken casserole, I’ll usually divide it up before baking and cook only enough for us to eat at one meal and freeze the rest in “servings for 2” sized portions. When we go out to eat, I rarely eat all that’s served to me and Vince will microwave that and have later. I’m the one who will hardly eat leftovers unless I can turn it into a new dish.
Swooze says
Was that in the budget?? Hehehe ????
Judy Laquidara says
Budget? Not sure I understand that word! 🙂
Terri Schanz says
Our first microwave was an Amana Radar Range in the mid 70’s. It was huge and if I recall, it cost about $800. We’ve had several since then. We use it a lot, but don’t really cook in it. I use it to warm up soup, boil water, soften butter, defrost meat when I forget to take something out of the freezer, and heat up leftovers. It gets used every day, several times a day. I don’t use it to heat up coffee though because microwaved coffee is just nasty!! I could live quite easily without it, but I’m glad I don’t have to.
pandrpeele says
In about 1973, I really wanted an aquarium for Christmas. There appeared a large rectangular wrapped box under the tree. I was so excited! It was a little bit of a let down to get a very expensive , very large microwave. It was so heavy. We finally got rid of it over 35 years later and it was still working. We have one now that cost about $100 and I rarely use it.
Michelle says
My parents owned an appliance store and I grew up in the era of “You can cook ANYTHING in a microwave” I vividly remember the first one we got, because Mom called dad at work and told him to get that thing out of her kitchen. Forty years later, my own microwave is mostly a bread box. We use it, but I can pretty much take it or leave it.
Nelle Coursey says
My first microwave was around that price as well! Pat couldn’t decide whether to get me a diamond ring or the microwave! Now he wishes he had bought the ring! LOL I use mine every day to cook bacon, melt cheese on enchiladas, etc. I also use it to reheat things. I warm things in it and I use it to defrost if I am running behind in cooking. So I guess I am getting my money’s worth in it! The last one I bought was for use at work and I think I paid around $50 to $60 for it. I still have it in the pantry in case the one I have now goes out. No use throwing it away because I will eventually need to replace the one I have. They don’t make things like they used to We live in a throw away society now.
dezertsuz says
I didn’t have the Litton, but I had an early one because *someone* in the house insisted. You are right, they were huge!
Barbara says
I use my microwave almost daily. I work full-time plus, and for me the easiest way to make oatmeal is to cook it for 5 minutes on low power in the microwave. My microwave is also a convection oven, and when I entertain large crowds it is especially helpful to have another oven. My microwave also has a fast bake feature that acts just about like an air fryer.