General Chat

I used to have a combi microwave but never really made full use of it and it took up a lot of room, it was so big.

Ann
glos

I have had a combi microwave for years, absolutely fantastic as I can cook with microwave seperately, convection oven or grill on their own or duel cook. I can do a 2kilo chicken on duel conv/ micro in under an hour and it tastes just like a convenntional roast chicken. I do baked potatoes on auto cook 2 fair size ones take about j20 mins and taste just like oven baked ones. Sprouts done in a little water in a dish a superb when a little pepper and butter are added at the end.Elaine.

thanks for all the microwave tips,


Karen x

didn`t know that , someone told me to put plates in on their own -oops !

Shouldn't put crockery in without food though Ros. If you want to heat a plate up I think I am right in saying you should put a cup with a small amount of water in there too.

Ann
Glos

heat up your dinner plate in microwave-couple of minutes for 2 plates

When microwaves first became popular in early 80s? I never wanted one,even though most of my pals used one.
I was 'converted' eventually and now must say they are great for certain cooking and so quick,with less pots etc.I prefer to use pyrex dishes too.
They're very good for making sauces, sponge puddings and chutney. If you like jams/lemon curd they're excellent made in a microwave.
Mau

Think I'll try making meringues,haven't in microwave before,should be fun ..lol

Just never overheat a Christmas pud. Chritmas 1981, daughter and son in law (of the moment) with us for christmas. put the Christmas pudding in the microwave to heat and did it too long, pudding on fire inside, opened patio doors and threw it out into the snow!!! everyone thought it was hilarious!

also if you overcook poached eggs they explode and you never find the yolk!! well except for little bits of it stuck all over the oven!

Just a quick tip about Defrosting.
Add a spot of cold water to what you need to defrost. cos a micro cant defrost Ice! (beleive it or not!) and its quicker.

When given a microwave many years ago, I thought I'd never use it... How wrong I was !
I don't cook whole meals much, but some things in particular seem to cook better in one.
Cauliflower was always rock-hard or mushy when I used the gas cooker. Now we can enjoy it how we like it and what's more I don't have to hover waiting for the right moment to 'rescue' it.
The defrost setting is useful too. I seem to use that more in the winter, when I've taken something out of the freezer in readiness to cook and it still seems a bit frozen in the centre.

Karen
I'd say don't necessarily buy lots of new dishes to cook in. I use Pyrex mostly. I'm limited for storage space, so items have to be multi functional.

Gwyn

Now I am sitting here fancying scrambled eggs on jacket spuds lol

I use the microwave loads, it's great just to heat a mug of milk for coffee or hot chocolate, or to make porridge, start my jacket spuds, heat or cook veg quickly and easily, all sorts of things. I wouldn't be without it for anything! So much easier, quicker and usually cleaner unless you forget to cover things and have to wipe the oven out lol

Lizx

Must admit I still prefer scrambled eggs done the old fashioned way.

Butter melted till slightly sizzling in saucepan.

3 lightly beaten eggs seasoned then a little double cream added to the mixture.

I stir gently while it cooks and remove it as soon as cooked but while still soft.

I have never managed to make it as creamy in a microwave.
Yum on buttered toast

Sue

Scrambled egg is the best done in the microwave. Mix it up in a bowl and cook it on full power, stopping every so often to stir it and mix it up until it is ready. Light and fluffy, doesn't stick to dish and you have no yucky pan to wash :-)

Brilliant! Something to do with the grandkids tomorrow! thanks.

thanks both of you. Must try that.

Microwave Meringues (I make them too)

1 egg white
10-11 ounces of icing sugar (MUST be icing sugar)

Gradually add the sugar to lightly beaten egg white.

Roll into 32 little balls.

Cook on greaseproof paper in 4 batches of 8 at a time (I arrange them in a circle).

Cook each batch for one and half minutes on high (if a very high power microwave it may be a little less).

Easy and they keep well in a tin.

Sue

mrs BE can you give a sort of very rough time estimate??? 10 seconds, 2 minutes, five minutes, 10 minutes????

great for cokking rice too - cup of rice and three cups of water - salt to taste and just cok till all water gone

three times water to rice

the kids use mine more than me,
iim a typical oldfashioned welsh girl,
use cooker, gas,
even when i make porriage i make it on the stove,

i do warm up babes bottles in the microwave,
had to they thougth saucepan and boiled water was too much like cave work

Oh sorry, half a brain here tonight

Icing sugar,
one egg white,

really simple mix icing sugar into egg white, keep on mixing until you can add no more, you end up with a stiff lump, roll it into marble sized pieces place them on kitchen roll and nuke em on full power.
I can't remember how long for, (not long) but watch them as they do their thing, (I won't tell you what, it would spoil the fun) they are ready when you peel them off the kitchen roll and they are dry underneath.

BEWARE you are heating sugar and it gets frelling hot, also if you overheat them they burn in the middle and they stink..

Do have a go they are really simple, quick and such fun.

Hope that helps