If you secretly polled friends and family, you might be surprised at how frequently they use their microwave oven. So, as each household is different, so too are the uses for this long-standing appliance guru. But make no mistake: microwave ovens are ideal for a variety of people, including families with children, empty nesters, millennials, and savvy seniors, to name a few. With so many families still residing at home, the microwave has become the go-to kitchen appliance for cooking convenience.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Statistics, more than 90% of American households own a microwave. That’s a lot of cooking power! But what do most people do with their microwaves, and are their capabilities undervalued?
If your house is like most, you press the start button first before even reading the manual or looking at the selection keypad to see what fantastic features to make everyday life a little easier.
Today’s innovative models can do far more than simply reheat or pop popcorn. By taking the time to “check the features,” for your model, you’ll be amazed at how much these high-efficiency appliances can do.
How to Dream Up Microwave Magic?
The magic power of a microwave is that it’s always available when you need it. Whether you are preparing ingredients (i.e., melting butter, heating broth, or warming milk) for cooking, it is the perfect in-home helper that you can count on.
But did you know that there are also some amazing uses for your microwave? Some of these may surprise you, according to WebMD, and include:
- Drying herbs
- Baking apples
- Baked potatoes
- Scrambled eggs
- Steaming veggies
- Cook homemade chicken soup
- Bacon*
*Microwaving your bacon is the fastest and most convenient way to cook it, with less grease to clean up and no messy frying pan splatters. Be sure to check your microwave manual first for the proper way to cook and handle hot items like bacon.
What’s Cooking?
There are so many delicious recipes and frozen meal options for microwave cooking that you’ll never run out of meal planning ideas. The Internet is brimming full of suggestions and recipes for trying something new. Check out just a couple from Make it and Manual for a wide variety of healthy, great tasting, and filling foods that are perfect for popping in the microwave.
How Safe is a Microwave?
Some have been wary about using a microwave, fearful about possible health risks or losing nutritional value of microwave-cooked food. It's time to take the elephant out of the room with regards to the microwave and give it due diligence in terms of being a reliable food-preparation method of cooking.
The FDA sets and enforces the standards for the performance of electronic products. This means, that, as a regulatory agency, they monitor manufacturing safety. And as a result, they offer consumers important safety tips for use.
According to the website Healthline, microwaves are a safe, effective, and highly convenient cooking method. Askinglot.com notes, there is no evidence that they could cause harm—and some evidence that they are even better than other cooking methods at preserving nutrients and preventing the formation of harmful compounds.
Healthline also reminds us that you shouldn’t over- or under-heat your food. Don’t heat anything in a plastic container unless it is labeled safe for use.
How Can We Help?
If you are ready to upgrade or replace your old microwave, come see us at Garner Appliance and Mattress. Our dedicated team of experts is happy to show you the amazing models from the brands you trust. Remember, as your hometown appliance and mattress dealer, we are here for you.