Nervous to become a microwave free cook? These tips will guide you in becoming a successful cook without the use of a microwave!
Getting rid of a microwave is a personal choice that can be made for a variety of reasons. If you’re like me, your kitchen is just too tiny to house a clunky microwave. Being a cook in a microwave free household has its challenges, and as a microwave free cook myself, I am providing you with the top tips for the microwave free cook.
You will be taught how to handle different cooking scenarios without a microwave, along with different microwave free thought processes.
After reading this post, you will become an efficient cook without the use of a microwave.
This post is all about the top tips for being a microwave free cook.
Tips For The Microwave Free Cook
How To Handle Different Cooking Scenarios
Making A Soup Base:
In my house, I use concentrated soup base weekly. This requires the use of boiling water. Years ago when I had a microwave, I could boil the water in there. As that was a quick option, boiling water on the stove is just as easy, and does not require a lot more time than using the microwave.
Popping Popcorn:
My husband loves popcorn, but since not having a microwave, we have had to find different alternatives! The one that I find myself doing the most is buying bags of pre-popped popcorn at the grocery store. You have a choice of brands and flavors with this option, and it is ready immediately when you want it! Two other options include stovetop popcorn, or buying a popcorn maker. These two options may be a little cheaper than buying pre-popped bags, and provides you with that fresh and warm popcorn flavor!
Heating Leftovers:
When I had a microwave, I always used it to heat leftovers. I never thought of doing it any other way. When I didn’t have that option anymore, I began using the oven or stovetop. Let me tell you… this is a GAME CHANGER!! Everything comes out so much juicier and tastier! The only drawback is these methods do take more time than a microwave, but the end result is so much better! When I used a microwave, I never looked forward to eating leftovers for dinner. Now that I use the oven/stovetop, I look forward to eating leftovers, and sometimes they even taste better than the first time we ate it! Using the stove top/oven also allows you to add some extra ingredients the second time around, such as melting cheese on top.
Melting Butter:
In some baking and cooking recipes, melted butter is required. Melting butter in a pan on the stovetop is very easy, BUT you must be SUPER watchful, because it can burn very quickly! Keeping an eye on it and stirring it will provide you with the most perfect melted butter. Just be sure to clean excess butter out of the pan with paper towel before washing it in your sink to avoid grease in your pipes!
Frozen Foods:
Frozen foods without a microwave can be tricky, but if you buy the right ones, they actually come out a lot better in the oven or on the stove top. Certain microwavable veggies (especially those with sauces mixed in) can be heated on the stove top, on a very low heat. Many frozen foods also have directions for using the oven, but it is more time-consuming, so be sure to think ahead! Even if a certain frozen food product does not have oven instructions, you can judge what temp and time it should need, and can adjust from there. Just because you don’t have a microwave does not mean you can’t indulge in frozen goodies!
Bacon:
When I had access to a microwave, my husband and I would eat microwavable bacon quite often. Now, we eat fresh bacon, which we cook in the oven. Again, it is much more time consuming than microwavable bacon, but we have found that it makes it more special! We eat it a lot more rarely than we did microwavable bacon, so it feels more like a treat! Not to mention how much more tastier fresh bacon is than microwavable bacon…
Microwave Free Thought Processes
Thinking Ahead:
Being microwave free is not impossible, but it does require you to think ahead in most cooking scenarios! Looking at your recipe beforehand will allow you to prep ingredients in the oven or on the stove top with ease. Being more aware of your recipe is key to being a successful, microwave-free cook! Not having a microwave does require a little more intention when cooking, but for me, it just makes cooking all the more special. Training your brain to think ahead when it comes to cooking will give you a smooth microwave free experience!
Convenience:
A lot of people think that a microwave is a must for convenience. As I used to agree with this, my thoughts have shifted ever since I have gone microwave free. As a microwave is fast and easy, so are many stove top and oven methods. And in many cases, using the stove top or oven produces much better food! All it requires is a little more intention, which I have found is not a bad thing at all.
Space Saver:
The reason we have a microwave free household is because of our lack of counter space. Having a microwave would take up precious prepping space that I just couldn’t justify giving up. And honestly, I always found a microwave to be an eye sore, and find my counters look a lot less cluttered without one!
Health:
Although this is not the reason why I have a microwave free household, it is a factor that a lot of people take into consideration, and not using a microwave does have many health benefits!
If you’re on the fence about becoming a microwave free cook, these tips will help you become more comfortable with the idea! Not having a microwave only enhances the cooking experience.
This post was all about top tips for the microwave free cook.