[daisymommy]

I am considering trying to stop using my microwave altogether. But I'm not sure of how to get around a few issues. Obviously our grandmothers and everyone before that didn't have them, and they did just fine. But I've grown so use to just being able to quickly heat/reheat/melt something, that I can't think of alternate solutions right now.<br><br>
I think my biggest obsticle right now is reheating food. How do I reheat my husbands dinner plate of food when he comes home late? (I usually microwave it 1 minute). Also, many times I'll reheat dinner leftovers for lunch the next day. or heat up a brownie and add ice-cream on the side <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/winky.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Wink"><br><br>
Help with ideas!?!<br><br>
Also, I feel like I'm a little crazy for even thinking that my microwave isn't safe, since we have all been told that it's harmless. Still, something in the back of my head nags at me, and says "ummm, it is radiation!" Are there any links or articles out there I should read?

 

[NatureMama3]

yesssssss? somebody called? <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br><br><div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">How do I reheat my husbands dinner plate of food when he comes home late?</td>
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In the oven. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/winky.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Wink"> though it can be easier to just put it in there to begin with so it doesn't get "cold". <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/thumb.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="thumbs up"><br><br>
We use the oven for most heating needs, though things that are more saucy, etc we'll heat in a pan on the stove.<br><br>
You know how they discovered microwaves right? (not the black box with buttons, the actual waves) A scientist was standing next to a machine and the chocolate in his pocket melted.<br><br>
mmmmm.. just makes you hungry for some microwaved foods. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/yikes.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="EEK!"><br><br>
You can read all day and night on the subject. There is at least as much conflicting info on it as there is vaccines (to put it in perspective). What it boiled down to ultimately for us was, food just doesn't taste the same cooked in there. If it doesn't taste the same, something IS happening to its makeup.

 

[Mrshawwk]

I find it quite easy to reheat things in the frying pan. Also a toaster oven works pretty good. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[summerlilies]

We are microwave free - I used to wonder the same thing about how to re-heat. We just moved our microwave to the basement and then figured if we HAD to use it, we would do it down there. We've never had to use it once.<br><br>
I reheat on the stove, toaster oven and regular oven. You'll figure it out. Just do it.

 

[macimom]

Yep, I have a couple of small saucepans that I use just for reheating things on the stove. I find that it's almost as fast as the microwave anyway.

 

[FrannieP]

In my experience a microwave is one of those things that you use if it's there, but once it's gone, you adapt quickly and don't really miss it.<br><br>
In my opinion they are dangerous.<br><br>
You can read more about that <a href="http://www.mercola.com/article/microwave/hazards.htm" target="_blank">here</a>.

 

[anthasam]

How do you heat water quickly?<br><br>
This seems to be DH's only hangup <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/eyesroll.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="roll"> He thinks the microwave is the fastest way to heat water for tea or instant oatmeal.<br><br>
I was considering an electric kettle for heating water.<br><br>
Hope I'm not hijacking...

 

[NatureMama3]

Well, a small coffee pot works well. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> as does a small amount of water (just what you need) in a tea kettle or small sauce pan. It truly doesn't take any longer than the microwave and gets it hotter IMO.<br><br>
Usually if I set the hot water on then get my cup/etc ready the water is ready by the time I need it.

 

[celestialdreamer]

We recently got rid of our microwave after it getting little use for the past year. People have acted like we are nuts because we are about to have a new baby and won't be able to "nuke" foods quickly. I don't see it being a problem at all though!<br><br>
We make popcorn in our big cast iron skillet, heat up leftovers in on the stove or in our toaster oven, heat up liquids in a small saucepan, etc. I don't miss the microwave at all actually, I'm glad that it is gone!

 

[kittyhead]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>daisymommy</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/10322605"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">How do I reheat my husbands dinner plate of food when he comes home late?</div>
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i make my husband a plate of dinner in a glass pie pan, cover it with foil, and stick it in the fridge. when he is on his way home i pop it in the oven and it is hot when he gets here.

 

[grisandole]

We're microwave free and don't really miss it. We heat up water on the stove in a small saucepan, though I want to look into those electric kettles, too. I usually fry up leftovers in a pan or use the toaster oven.<br><br>
Frozen dinners taste WAY better cooked in the oven than in the micro. We don't do them often, but I keep a stash of GFCF Amy's for when I'm lazy or pressed for time, and the taste difference is amazing. Stovetop popcorn also tastes much more yummy than microwave popcorn.<br><br>
The only downside is that I do have to clean extra pans, lol.

 

[Pinky Tuscadero]

Yeah that to what everyone says. We haven't used ours in at least a year. I reheat things in some way close to the way I cooked them. Also, it's helpful to have a metal splatter screen. You can put it over a pan of whatever you're heating and put other foods on the screen with a lid over them. Meats heat up nicely this way without sticking to any pan.<br>
Popcorn popped in coconut oil on the stove is the best! I don't think I could stomach microwave popcorn now. Even the smell is gross!<br>
I stoped using my micro when I read here that someone stopped having migraines after she quit nuking her food. I rarely get headaches anymore. Big bonus!!

 

[emma_goldman]

I just have to say that while my DS was in my womb, anytime the microwave was on, he would IMMEDIATELY start jumping around like crazy. every time.

 

[Pinky Tuscadero]

Eeww! Scary! Back when we did use the microwave, my DH didn't want me to stand in front of it when I was pregnant. Funny, 'cause he gives me a hard time about not using it now even though I think secretly he's glad. He just likes to tease me about being so non-mainstream.

 

[Gumby]

Sometimes I use our little 6cup rice cooker to reheat meals quickly and w/o turning on the oven. Works GREAT.

 

[Meg_s]

We've been microwave free for 7 years now, don't miss it <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/wink1.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="wink1"><br><br>
I just heat everything on the stove! Sometimes I keep things warm in the oven, we used to have a toaster oven but haven't for 3 years. Having good appliances helps, I love our convection oven and water cooker - an electric plug in thing which boils water within a few seconds.

 

[pjabslenz]

We're microwave free, for 3.5 years now, & we don't miss it either!<br><br>
To reheat foods we use the oven, the broiler, or the stove top. I've found that a slice of pizza reheats nicely in a skillet on the stove. The crust stays crisp and the cheese is melted.<br><br>
We have a small tea kettle to heat water for tea, oatmeal, etc. Once the water is poured on the oatmeal we cover it for about 2 minutes and it's done.<br><br>
We make popcorn in a pan on the stove....dh and the kids swear it's the best tasting popcorn ever.<br><br>
When we make pancakes or french toast, we'll normally make a larger batch so the kids can have a quick breakfast during the week. We reheat them in the toaster(just like the ones that are sold in the frozen food section, except the ingredients in mine are much healthier than the store bought). I had considered getting a toaster oven but our toaster, oven & broiler have worked fine.<br><br>
I have to agree that when our family members & friends learn we don't have a microwave, they think we're nuts too. Dr. Mercola has some articles on microwaves. I remember reading one article about the effects of microwaves on water and food. They recommended trying this experiment...plant seeds in two different cups, pour two glasses of water and microwave one of them. Water the seeds....one with microwaved water and the other with the unmicrowaved water. Apparently, you'll know what one is microwaved because the seeds don't grow. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/yikes2.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="yikes">: I've never tried this myself because we were microwave free when I read this but I'm interested to know if others have the same results. I'll see if I can find the article.

 

[4lilfarmers]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Mrshawwk</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/10323323"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I find it quite easy to reheat things in the frying pan. Also a toaster oven works pretty good. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"></div>
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same here... i'll reheat many things in a frypan or in a sauce pan (with a teeny bit of water in the bottom). we also <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/stillheart.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Stillheart">: our toaster oven for reheating. you'll be able to do it! a friend of mine got rid of her microwave a while back (unsure of how it'd go) and doesn't miss it at all! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[cfiddlinmama]

I've been microwave free most of my life and all of my marriage. We do just what other posters have said. One thing I do is cook enough for leftovers. I put them in a casserole pan, cover with wax paper and foil (wax paper first to protect the food) and stick in fridge. Supper takes 20 min. to heat up in the oven. It's very handy!<br><br>
My brother did the plant experiment for a science fair. Same containers, soil, location, etc. The plants watered with well water grew beautifully. The ones watered with microwaved water were tiny, pale and extremely stunted. Apparently, the microwave alters things on a cellular level. Pretty scary. They say never to cook or defrost vegetables or meat as it seriously alters the proteins and enzymes.....<br><br>
Something I'd rather just avoid. Good luck with giving it up. Before you know it, you won't miss it at all.

 

[nathansmom]

We've been microwave free since the summer when ours broke. I didn't use it much before it broke and I haven't missed it at all. I never did like the way food tasted when it was reheated or cooked in the microwave. I keep things warm in the oven and reheat either on the stove or the oven. I'd say the first three days were hardest but I don't miss the microwave at all now.