[darkbrowneggs]

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.

[bloomer]

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...

[Greenerlife]

If you want indoor fireworks, plates with gold rim are ummm....entertaining!   


The thinnest plastic containers can deform with the heat, but pretty much most plastics and glass is all ok as said above.

[darkbrowneggs]

So I have got a whole lot of plastic jugs of various sizes , could I say, cook a beef casserole in a large one?

[Bionic]

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.
 

[bloomer]

same as bionic here!!!

[suziequeue]

I always reheat coffee in my coffee mug in the microwave. No need for a special microwave mug.

[Humblepie]

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.

[darkbrowneggs]

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


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?

[bloomer]

yes and yes

[tizaala]

Don't try and cook an egg in it's shell , they go off like hand grenades.


http://youtu.be/1U33UW-8XGI

[Humblepie]

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.

[Greenerlife]

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??

[bloomer]

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!!!

[darkbrowneggs]

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


I hear what you say about pyrex, but I am trying to save on weight