The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: darkbrowneggs on January 03, 2014, 05:38:03 pm
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Having had an aga for years I never felt the need for a microwave, on the basis I wont be getting an aga installed in Thebus I think I will need to learn to use his microwave. Do I need special cookware. I bought a little plastic saucepan and lid and an egg poacher, but can I use my tupperware type containers. What about rewarming coffee. Can I put in porcelain cups or should I buy a microwave mug.
Havent a clue so any help would be appreciated.
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we put most porcelain in it, so long as it doesn't have a metal rim (best china in our house is a no no)
all pyrex
plastic jugs etc are all fine
most plastic tubs are ok as well...
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If you want indoor fireworks, plates with gold rim are ummm....entertaining! :innocent:
The thinnest plastic containers can deform with the heat, but pretty much most plastics and glass is all ok as said above.
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So I have got a whole lot of plastic jugs of various sizes , could I say, cook a beef casserole in a large one?
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Sue, I would cook something like that in a ceramic/china/pyrex rather than plastic. I use my plasticky things for reheating rather than cooking.
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same as bionic here!!!
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I always reheat coffee in my coffee mug in the microwave. No need for a special microwave mug.
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some plastic doesnt cope and some cheap mugs get really hot handles but in general if its reasonable quality it should be ok.
youl soon know - it will either melt or conduct too much heat - or if it has a metal trim - catch fire.
remember not to turn on the microwave if its empty - ours was only on for 20 seconds and it blew up.
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some plastic doesnt cope and some cheap mugs get really hot handles but in general if its reasonable quality it should be ok.
youl soon know - it will either melt or conduct too much heat - or if it has a metal trim - catch fire.
remember not to turn on the microwave if its empty - ours was only on for 20 seconds and it blew up.
Thanks - I never knew that, but there is so much I dont know about microwaves :eyelashes:
As a trial I tried defrosting 2kilo mince for the dog and used one of the big jugs. Which didnt melt, but was that because defrost is lower power than cooking. Also I left the meat in the vacuum packed bag - is that ok?
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yes and yes
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Don't try and cook an egg in it's shell , they go off like hand grenades.
http://youtu.be/1U33UW-8XGI (http://youtu.be/1U33UW-8XGI)
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microwaves are best for heating things up, rather than defrosting things as it can tend to cook the edges whilst the middle is still frozen.
you can get fancy ones that do grilling etc but iv never used them.
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yes and yes
I would say yes and no... Wouldn't recommend cooking in a plastic bag which hasn't been pierced to allow steam out - it would explode surely?????
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she did say on defrost and we often defrost sealed stuff so we don't get leaks in the microwave...
wouldn't cook without piercing though fair point!!!
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Thanks for all the tips and keep them coming.
It was ok without piercing, but I didnt bother to go for the full defrost and as you say the edges were warm and beginning to cook whilst the centre was completely frozen, but it will be useful if I have forgotten to take the dogs food out of the freezer. Yes Thebus has a freezer though only a little one
What about something like this
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=281172874739 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=281172874739)
I hear what you say about pyrex, but I am trying to save on weight
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What about something like this
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=281172874739 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=281172874739)
I hear what you say about pyrex, but I am trying to save on weight
I've not used one of these as I have plenty of Pyrex but if it does what it says on the label it sounds good. Definitely worth a try I think.
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I deliberately buy microwaves with stainless steel interiors because they don't rust inside and stainless steel bowls can be used inside them. I( cook a lot of rice in my microwave using a st/steel bowl with perfect fluffy results.
In the past, steam used to get under the paint where the wheels on the little ring that the glass plate sits on contacted the base. The paint would peel and then the steel would rust.
The one we have at the moment is made by Beaumatic and can be used as a conventional oven, grill or microwave or combinations of these things.. very versatile beastie.
Does anyone else remember the Tupperware plastic range that was suitable for the conventional oven and came with freezer lids? I have a couple of those and they are so useful, you could definitely cook a casserole in one of those. No idea if they still make them......
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the conventional oven tupperware was the ultra 21 range...
my mum was a senior manager for so long when it was popular and we all became experts on the whole range.
I know mum still uses some of hers...
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Hi Julie - do you have a link for that one please
The gas cooker in Thebus doesnt seem to have a grill as far as I can see and I might have to get a toaster. If the microwave you have could be used to do all three I might consider changing it, if not now at a later date.
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A slow cooker would be a useful addition to your kitchen. I know it's nothing to do with microwaves but you could leave something on all day (or night) in one and cook cheaper cuts of meat.
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And don't forget about pressure cookers too, lots of one pot meals that cook in a fraction of the time.
Look what I just found, it's the same model as ours but a good buy at that price.
http://www.appliancesdirect.co.uk/p/77150648%2f1%2fbtm25.5ss/baumatic-771506481btm25.5ss-freestanding-microwave-oven (http://www.appliancesdirect.co.uk/p/77150648%2f1%2fbtm25.5ss/baumatic-771506481btm25.5ss-freestanding-microwave-oven)
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I still have one of the microwavable Tupperware dishes that I still use.....is well worn now but still useful and I'm struggling to replace it. I thought we'd already done the slow cooker/pressure cooker debate....did you change your mind Sue ? :sunshine:
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Thanks all It looks as though for the present I will be very tied as to weight. If I enjoy this new life I will do the equivalent of the hgv which will allow me to drive up to 21 tons I think. As Thebus was built to carry 8.2 that will release another 700 kls which will be more than sufficient as each bit of extra weight needs petrol/gas each day to move.
I like the microwave, though I have only used it a couple of times so far and think it may suit my lifestyle. I have bought some throwaway bags to cook in. Dont forget washing up will be a problem for me. First I need to get the water on board, then it must be disposed of after, so the least washing up the better.
As to slow cooking and pressure cooking again I need to consider both the weight of the utensil and where I will store it. I have some insulated pots which I have already tried out in the house. They are plastic so light and if food is heated well it continues to cook though the insulated bag I put them in needs beefing up
This is all such a sea change that it needs thinking through and I probably need to live my new life a bit before I know which way to go. I have already taken all my saucepans back in the house and bought some light cheap non stick but my brother says I will get hot spots on them as they are so thin and I am cooking on gas
I will make lots of mistakes I am sure but it will be interesting to say the least
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At a show last August I saw a bag like thing that you put your preheated pot into and it continued to cook throughout the day/night/whenever....it was a strange but impressive innovation only I cannot for the life of me remember what it was called :-\...that would have been lightweight and probably relieved the hotspot problem i'll have a look at work and see if I kept any of the info or if I have the original show bulletin details
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something like this.....http://thermalcooker.wordpress.com/category/wonder-box/ (http://thermalcooker.wordpress.com/category/wonder-box/)
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That looks good. They sell similar things commercially but as silly prices. I got an insulated carrying bag and the plastic pots, which if I wrap a towel round them will do rice, but I cant imagine them doing a casserole.
That looks the business and would be light and easy to store, squeezing in amongst other things and stopping them rattling
I have started boiling water for my coffee in the microwave, much easier and quicker than faffing with the kettle and the gas stove, which must have a noisy extractor fan put on before lighting.