Ugh Microwave died!

**hollyhill** · 04-25-2010, 09:15 PM

Ok. So it doesn't owe me anything it is over 10 years old. But I just don't want to but one just now... Not after paying nearly $800 to have the brakes done on my car (not an optional thing). So I have no free cash to speak of.

So I am trying to live without one... but it is so hard. I can't believe how much I use it.
-heating coffee
-heating leftovers
- heating one cup of water
-melting things, like cheese, butter etc...
- heating a cup of milk
- defrosting when I am in a super rush for dinner and have to make something NOW (and not what I had planned...)

Anyways there are many more...

So I am finding I have to rethink so many steps of my cooking, and I am starting to think a microwave is an essential appliance...

Ode to a Microwave, Oh how I miss thou.....

**Michelle68** · 04-25-2010, 09:31 PM

I know exactly what you mean! When ours went out, we also tried to go without for a few days. You just don't realize how much you use them until they're gone.

**Debbie-cat** · 04-25-2010, 11:04 PM

Oh no! What a change. I use mine all day long. I hope you can find a free one on craigslist or freecycle. If you lived closer, I would give you our spare one!

**frugalwarrior2** · 04-25-2010, 11:05 PM

My kids would DIE!!! They don't use the stove top much. You can reheat in a toaster oven if you have one. Defrosting in hot water in a pan in the sink. Stove top pan or kettle. But personally I would hit K-Mart. For about $60. i would walk away happy.

**Neeley** · 04-25-2010, 11:27 PM

Ours died a couple of years ago and I do not miss it one bit. At first it took some getting use to, but after a few weeks it was no big deal.

Anything we used the microwave for, we can do on the stove top.

It is one item we will not replace, ever.

**jantana** · 04-25-2010, 11:43 PM

Ours died a few years ago, right after Hurricane Rital. I wasn't going to go buy a new one, other things we needed. Everytime hubby went into the kitchen I could hear d***. I still didn't say I was going to go buy one. He finally had had enough of being without one and said please go buy another. It's so much better when it is their idea.

**frugalfranny** · 04-26-2010, 01:21 AM

Originally Posted by hollyhill

So I am finding I have to rethink so many steps of my cooking, and I am starting to think a microwave is an essential appliance...

Ode to a Microwave, Oh how I miss thou.....

I know how you must feel. A lot of people have posted on here that they don't have one.........no sir, not me---won't happen.

I use mine a LOT and since it is so much faster I would think that it saves power but have never sat down to figure it out. I truly could probably live without the 'burners' on my stove before I could my micro----use my oven quite a bit but will use a burner on the stove maybe once or twice a week.

Hope you are able to get one soon...........

**hollyhill** · 04-26-2010, 02:05 AM

I am going to save to get one as fast as I can...
Thanks for the offer Debbie.. LOL

But so far I have found two things
1) I need more butter or oil because I need to heat a child's serving of leftover noodles or rice or potatoes "in" something, because I can't can't heat them dry.
2) I am washing WAY more pots..

So I will be getting another one and hopefully with-in a few weeks!

**Nana2two** · 04-26-2010, 02:22 AM

Check the FUSE. what people to know is that microwaves have fuses. If you can have hubby tak the back off ,make sure its unplugged. Ours was right in plain site. That was 6 years ago and stll going.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2074899_chan...wave-fuse.html

**ladytoysdream** · 04-26-2010, 06:22 AM

Originally Posted by hollyhill

But so far I have found two things
1) I need more butter or oil because I need to heat a child's serving of leftover noodles or rice or potatoes "in" something, because I can't can't heat them dry.
2) I am washing WAY more pots.

I have a electric steamer that has a solid bowl that sets inside the top part. Works great for something like reheating mashed pototoes.

Or a metal pot on your stove that has a steamer section. Put a smaller bowl in the center of it with again, something like mashed pototoes and it should heat it fine. Oven would be fine if it was a bigger quanity of something.

A double boiler on top of your stove will work good.

Toaster oven should work. I don't have one as it takes up too much counter space.

After making coffee during the week, I usually put some in a thermos for me later in the morning. It would be rare for me to warm it in the microwave. So use a thermos when you can.

We use our microwave often. Hubby more than me, for heating coffee and then his popcorn in the evenings. I am sure if our's quit, I would have to replace it within a day or two.

**frugal is fun** · 04-26-2010, 02:17 PM

don't forget to check out your local Goodwill.

**shoiji** · 04-26-2010, 03:38 PM

I am constantly using the microwave. So much that I cook with it and barely use the stovetop or oven. During the summer it really helps to keep the place cool. I know I make due without one just easier to have one.

**buffy871** · 05-23-2010, 10:50 AM

Mine just died too. I've been eating the low-sodium Campbell's soup, sandwiches, and ramen. I'm fortunate and we get to eat for free at work, so I try to take advantage of that.