We're remodeling our kitchen, thanks to a leaking roof and water damage. My husband would love to reduce the number of appliances we have on our counter. We currently have a microwave (used solely for defrosting/reheating), a toaster oven (for baking/roasting of small items; love the faster preheating), and a regular oven (for baking/roasting large things). I've seen conflicting reports about speed ovens, steam ovens, combi ovens, etc. that seem to be able to combine some of these features. Has anyone had experience with those? Can I truly say goodbye to one of my counter top ovens? If so, what's the most useful combination for someone who mostly needs to reheat and roast, with minimal preheating time?
Bonus points for specific brand recommendations.
posted by snickerdoodle
on Feb 26, 2013 -
10 answers
There is a sticky residue on the glass plate for my microwave. It's orange and kinda greasy, but the common sense ways of cleaning it (soap, rough sponge, all-purpose cleaner) are not working. Anyone have any ideas on what to use to get it off?
posted by Enchanting Grasshopper
on Feb 13, 2013 -
20 answers
What determines the frequency of the arc current when an arc occurs inside a microwave oven?
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posted by Juffo-Wup
on Oct 26, 2012 -
7 answers
I really like microwave popcorn. I make it by hand too, and sometimes via this
paper bag method, but I sort of really like factory processed microwave popcorn.
Especially kettlecorn! I love fresh fairground kettlecorn, but I also really like microwave "kettlecorn," which is a different beast altogether.
...and I'd like your recommendations!
posted by sawdustbear
on Apr 5, 2012 -
7 answers
I've heard all the cautions about microwave popcorn and bad chemicals - but do companies that make store-bought popcorn in bags also use a noxious process for popping their popcorn? I realized I might be making a "bagged popcorn is healthier" assumption when I have no idea if companies use giant microwaves and bags to pop their corn...
posted by agregoli
on Dec 6, 2011 -
15 answers
Left the metal pop-top on the soup can when I microwaved it for lunch. I think the microwave is ok, but the really important question is: Can I eat the soup?
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posted by Sweetie Darling
on Nov 17, 2011 -
12 answers
I'm considering renting a small apartment with a super-tiny kitchen. So tiny that it doesn't have an oven! Would a convection/microwave oven suit my needs? Also, do you have experience with induction cooktops?
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posted by lunasol
on Sep 26, 2011 -
27 answers
MythFilter: I get these chain emails every once in a while about how dangerous it is to heat water in the microwave. I can't seem to get a straight answer from anybody! Is microwaving water really that dangerous?
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posted by JMB1138
on Mar 21, 2011 -
18 answers
I like to nuke my orange juice, grapefruit juice, etc. Vitamin C is easily destroyed by heat. Am I drinking less Vitamin C when I nuke my OJ?
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posted by jyorraku
on Mar 1, 2011 -
7 answers
I need help finding the most eco-friendly and ethical small appliances (or at least, the least non-ethical and non-eco-friendly) that I can. The web resources are seriously lacking! Hope me?
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posted by sabotagerabbit
on Nov 24, 2010 -
9 answers
This is likely a dumb question. :) But I have this little microwave. Both the glass turntable and the plastic wheel thing are broken. The microwave itself works fine and heats things up. Short of dripping stuff down into the motor enclosure where the wheel+turntable would normally sit, can I use this microwave normally long-term with no worries? I'm assuming that the only difference is the food would be unevenly heated (I could manually turn), but I just wanted to make sure the turntable motor business wasn't connected to anything else. Replacements would cost more than the microwave at this point.
posted by Ky
on Mar 30, 2010 -
7 answers
This is a should I eat it?
* question of sorts. Exactly how is my Chinese take-out place attempting to kill me?
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posted by emelenjr
on Dec 11, 2009 -
14 answers
My wife and I were recently given a set of '70s-era plates, bowls, etc. named Mikasa Checkmates (the "Butternut" line, as pictured
here). I'm wondering if anyone could tell me if a) they're microwave-safe (on the bottom it reads "Oven To Table To Dishwasher") and b) if they're full of lead (as
this site claims).
posted by The Card Cheat
on Jun 8, 2009 -
4 answers
Why did my microwave oven stop heating after I tried to use it to heat water in a clear pyrex measuring cup? And how can I get it to work again? I've had the not-heating problem before, and it has gone away. I can't remember whether I did something to make it work again. This time, I tried unplugging the oven and plugging it in again -- no dice. Everything works except for the heating up part.
posted by Sia Stewart
on Apr 11, 2009 -
5 answers
If I cook an egg in the microwave it explodes, often with spectacular and messy force. If I microwave one fully immersed in water, will the same thing happen, or will the water absorb all the microwaves, so that the egg will effectively be boiled?
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posted by Coventry
on Nov 13, 2008 -
22 answers
Is cooking (or re-heating) my food with a microwave destroying the food, sucking out nutrients that would not be removed by heating on the stove top in a stainless pan? I've heard this here and there, dated an Earth Mother South Austin Woman who was/likely is certain that I may as well put nuclear waste products AND rat poison in my food, pretty much heard the same about twenty minutes ago from a woman working in the vitamin/supplements department at Whole Foods, yet another Austin Earth Mother type; just the fact that I said the word 'microwave' caused her to get a big frowny face, looked like she had gas or something. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I like to toss broccoli with just a shade of water into the microwave for a couple of minutes, or re-heat my rice and beans or soup or whatever. Related: Does cooking vegetables in a pressure cooker rob them of needed nutrients?
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posted by dancestoblue
on Aug 7, 2008 -
26 answers
I bought some microwave popcorn that pops fine at work (a newer microwave with a popcorn button), but at home, with popcorn from the same box, I end up with a shriveled bag. The microwave at home isn't so new as to have a popcorn button, but it's not totally ancient either. I'm guessing there's some trick to it that involves NOT following the instructions provided on the bag, but I have no idea what they might be. Any ideas?
posted by hootch
on Feb 25, 2004 -
7 answers
