Microwave Oven Uses 3462Probably an urban legend, but there's a story one sees here and there about some one trying to dry out a wet cat in one. But more on topic, perhaps...
I was surprised to see microwave ovens listed by several people in the 'outlandish-useless...kitchen gadget' thread. In the past several days I used the microwave in the following beneficial ways:
* partially cooked bacon slices -- makes the bacon lie flat in the pan * reheated coffee -- better to let it go cold and reheat than to keep it (insufficiently) warm for hours * defrosted frozen berries before blending them for a sauce for ice cream * cooked frozen peas, cooked fresh broccoli, pre-cooked potatoes before baking * reheated a variety of leftovers * poured chicken stock into a pot for heating, then briefly zapped the jar to liquefy the gelatinous stock still clinging to the insides - no wastage * zapped refrigerated tortillas soft-flexible for making burritos * zapped a large lime for 10 seconds to maximize squeezing juice from it * heated milk-butter mixture before mashing potatoes * zapped frozen peas to defrost-warm before adding to fried rice * defrosted various meats for supper -- didn't have to decide which hours in advance
Could I have accomplished these things without the microwave? Absolutely. Would the alternatives have been as effective, as fast, as easy? No way. What else do people do with theirs? -aem
