Single Guy’s Kitchen

Everyone thinks of the microwave as the bachelor’s best friend but is it just prolonging the myth of the lazy, kitchen-challenged bachelor? Take your typical frozen pizza, there are usually two ways to cook it, the microwave or the oven. The microwave is always faster but the instructions usually include a statement like “For Best Results Use Conventional Oven”. It’s true too. The oven does produce a much better tasting product, so why do we continue to use the microwave? It’s faster.

I’ve been without a microwave since I moved in June of 2007 and it has created some challenges but I think it has helped improve my cooking and meal planning strategies. Unlike the typical bachelor I tend to steer clear of frozen dinners, pizzas, and that type of meal. Frozen meals are typically lacking in the health department and without a microwave they require more effort than they’re worth. The result is I’m forced to prepare meals more or less from scratch on a regular basis.

Microwaves are not totally useless and that’s not what I’m trying to say. They are great for reheating left overs or thawing out frozen items in a hurry. I use the microwave at work to reheat my lunches on a regular basis. Too much microwave dependence can lead to a lazy bachelor and that’s not the goal of this site. Besides, more often than not the microwave will produce dry, chewy, and generally unappetizing dishes. Good luck trying to form a crisp crust on anything in microwave either.

Here are some tips to free yourself from microwave dependence:

• Plan, Plan, Plan! People get stuck when there’s no plan for supper and there’s no time for anything but a quick meal nuked in the microwave. Plan your meals so you can work the cooking around your schedule.
• Don’t buy frozen dinners! Sure they are convienent and sometimes unavoidable but it’s best not to make a habit of them. Save them for the days when you’re working late and just want something to quell your hunger pains, regardless of taste or nutritional value.
• Use raw, fresh ingredients. This is a good for cooking in general but also helps lessen microwave use. Fresh meats don’t require thawing and fresh veggies just don’t lend themselves to microwave use. They are much better steamed or roasted.

There are a lot of other things you can do to avoid using the microwave but planning is really the key. Try to plan meals for the week so when you grocery shop you are buying items for specific meals and not just stocking the pantry with things you might use. Yes, the oven does require more time but the results are well worth it. Forget frozen pizzas and make your own using ready made crusts and fresh ingredients. It takes less time than heating a frozen pizza in the oven. Don’t like the idea of using your full size oven for small meals? Look into getting a counter top toaster oven. They work just like your conventional oven. Is your time that limited? Consider purchasing a slow cooker and have supper ready the moment you get home from work or school.

Remember the goal is not to eliminate the microwave entirely. I still plan to purchase one for myself some day. The goal is to be able to prepare more satisfying meals. A microwave is a useful kitchen appliance but give it a break once in awhile and remember what a real meal tastes like.