# I will never cook these foods in anything but a microwave again! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 14, 2015, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-never-cook-these-foods-in-anything-but-a-microwave-again/727864 "2015-08-14T19:42:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2015, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-never-cook-these-foods-in-anything-but-a-microwave-again/727864/21 "2015-08-14T23:56:15Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > As mentioned, corn on the cob does exceptionally well in the MW. Wrap it husk and all in plastic wrap or put it in a plastic food bag, nuke it for about 2 minutes, turn and do it for another minute. Cut off the fat end and squeeze the ear out of the husk, leaving the silk behind. This may make sense for a guy from Oregon, but for a guy who can drive 30 minutes or less and not be able to see anything but corn fields. The options are as follows: 1. Grilled in husk 2. Grilled out of husk 3. Boiled or Steamed 4. No thanks… I’ll have the beans instead. ---
**Author:** ![birdbrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dfb087/32.png) [@birdbrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/birdbrain)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-never-cook-these-foods-in-anything-but-a-microwave-again/727864/22 "2015-08-15T00:23:54Z")
Pop Secret Home Style popcorn comes so close to actual stove popped popcorn that I can’t bother with shaking that pan on the stove the way my mom used to do. It’s close enough for me and takes 2:30. If somebody else wants to do the work I prefer the real deal. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-never-cook-these-foods-in-anything-but-a-microwave-again/727864/23 "2015-08-15T00:29:59Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > This may make sense for a guy from Oregon, but for a guy who can drive 30 minutes or less and not be able to see anything but corn fields. Then why isn’t your _nom de plume_ maize? ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-never-cook-these-foods-in-anything-but-a-microwave-again/727864/24 "2015-08-15T00:42:45Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > Then why isn’t your _nom de plume_ maize? Have you seen Forest Gump where the guy is going on about the ways to fix shrimp… don’t get me started on potatoes. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-never-cook-these-foods-in-anything-but-a-microwave-again/727864/25 "2015-08-15T01:54:12Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > This may make sense for a guy from Oregon, but for a guy who can drive 30 minutes or less and not be able to see anything but corn fields. The options are as follows: > > 1. Grilled in husk > > 2. Grilled out of husk > > 3. Boiled or Steamed > > 4. No thanks… I’ll have the beans instead. According to Nero Wolfe (_ **Murder Is Corny** _), the only way to do justice to corn is to roast it. ---
**Author:** ![Buttercup\_Smith](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buttercup_smith/32/473_2.png) [@Buttercup\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buttercup_Smith)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-never-cook-these-foods-in-anything-but-a-microwave-again/727864/26 "2015-08-15T02:20:10Z")
Lobster (Florida Spiney) is better cooked in the microwave. ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-never-cook-these-foods-in-anything-but-a-microwave-again/727864/27 "2015-08-15T02:25:37Z")
I only use my microwave to reheat food or coffee and made popcorn once in a blue moon. Cook foods doesn’t look cooked in a microwave , I like my food to have a ‘tan’ . ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-never-cook-these-foods-in-anything-but-a-microwave-again/727864/28 "2015-08-15T02:38:08Z")
> [@zombywoof](#): > > Bacon, wrapped in paper towels - fast, comes out nice and flat and evenly cooked, minimal odor, easy cleanup. 1 min per slice, a little more for thicker cuts. Yes sir. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-never-cook-these-foods-in-anything-but-a-microwave-again/727864/29 "2015-08-15T03:30:10Z")
I discovered by accident that mushrooms do really well in the microwave. I forgot to include them in a dish I had made and didn’t realize until I was serving.I put them in the microwave in a cup and cooked them for a short while. As soon as you can smell what you are heating in a microwave I reckon it is done. They came out looking sauteed and there was a tiny little puddle of concentrated essence of mushroom in the bottom of the cup. You end up with lots more pure undiluted mushroom flavor than you can achieve by any other method. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-never-cook-these-foods-in-anything-but-a-microwave-again/727864/30 "2015-08-15T03:32:45Z")
One of the best uses for the microwave is rice. Theres a recipe on the side of the uncle bens bag. I make 1 1/2 cups rice in a glass container with a plastic top. It comes out great and I get 4 servings out of it. Plus I never have to change the vessel from cooking to storage in the fridge!!! ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-never-cook-these-foods-in-anything-but-a-microwave-again/727864/31 "2015-08-15T05:53:50Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > I prefer oven bacon - still ridiculously easy and a quick clean-up ( if you use foil ). Also the odor is half the appeal :D. Anecdote that has nothing to do with the OP- My brother came home for Christmas & for breakfast, Mom cooked bacon in the oven instead of frying it in the skillet as usual. As she left the room for something, this conversation happened- Brother: What’s this? Me: Bacon that Mom cooked in the oven. Brother: And you allowed her to do that? Me (pause): Evidently, you are greatly overestimating the authority I have in this household… Mom! You wouldn’t believe what Brother just said! She was greatly amused. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-never-cook-these-foods-in-anything-but-a-microwave-again/727864/32 "2015-08-15T13:56:36Z")
Pudding. As I remember from way back when I tried it, cooking it on the stove is a PITA, and there’s a real danger of burning the milk and messing up the pan. (And instant pudding just isn’t as good, and doesn’t form that skin I like.) But doing it in the microwave is easy and works great. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-never-cook-these-foods-in-anything-but-a-microwave-again/727864/33 "2015-08-15T14:18:51Z")
I can cook a hot dog in the microwave in 20 seconds and it’s delicious (or at least as delicious as a hot dog gets). Why would I waste my time cooking it any other way? ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-never-cook-these-foods-in-anything-but-a-microwave-again/727864/34 "2015-08-15T14:23:55Z")
> [@Buttercup\_Smith](#): > > Lobster (Florida Spiney) is better cooked in the microwave. Do you put it in alive? On a plate or in a container of water? ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-never-cook-these-foods-in-anything-but-a-microwave-again/727864/35 "2015-08-15T14:29:29Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > I can cook a hot dog in the microwave in 20 seconds and it’s delicious (or at least as delicious as a hot dog gets). Why would I waste my time cooking it any other way? The very best hot dogs are done over an open fire where you get some smoke flavor and some char. Next best is on a grill… with a gas grill it doesn’t take long, but I will admit it is longer than 20 seconds. Yes, I will nuke one for one of my kids if they are running out for something and need something to eat first, but it is not my preferred method. I guess I’m just not in as big of a hurry as others here. It is about 10:30 am here and I’m already thinking about what I’ll make for dinner at around 7:30 pm tonight… not what I’ll make at 10:31. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-never-cook-these-foods-in-anything-but-a-microwave-again/727864/36 "2015-08-15T15:18:40Z")
I can’t imagine eating a dish of nice poached liver right out of the microwave! 😛 Eww, sounds like cooking for the dog or cat! Half the charm of liver is a browned crispy crust, not a steamed pile of innards. The trick is a hot pan, and watch it, and turn as needed. And what about the onions and bacon, cook them in a microwave, too??? No, pan frying for liver, for me! I’ve learned to simmer little salt potatoes in a big plastic container in the microwave, 15 minutes to start, it frees up the stove. Most vegetables do well in the microwave. Those microwave mug cakes come out kind of rubbery, but enough ice cream neutralizes that. I know a poor soul who lives in a group home and heats up canned hash and sometimes cooks hamburger in the microwave in his room. I guess it’s better than nothing. He buys frozen fish, shrimp, and pizza and I can only hope the place lets him use the oven in the kitchen area. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-never-cook-these-foods-in-anything-but-a-microwave-again/727864/37 "2015-08-15T15:43:16Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > I can cook a hot dog in the microwave in 20 seconds and it’s delicious (or at least as delicious as a hot dog gets). Why would I waste my time cooking it any other way? To repeat myself repeating other chefs, brown food tastes better. A boiled or microwaved dog just isn’t worth eating. ---
**Author:** ![FeAudrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7feea3/32.png) [@FeAudrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FeAudrey)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-never-cook-these-foods-in-anything-but-a-microwave-again/727864/38 "2015-08-15T18:17:40Z")
> [@grude](#): > > … One thing I have noticed is online guides for cooking meat in the microwave seem CRAZY, some I saw for liver advised 20 minutes combined for a pound?! I agree that most stated cooking times seem 'way too long. My best guess is that the cooking times were established when microwave ovens were new and less powerful, and just copied from cookbook to cookbook through the decades. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-never-cook-these-foods-in-anything-but-a-microwave-again/727864/39 "2015-08-15T18:44:56Z")
Microwave corn still in the husk. 4 mins per ear I will never waste a big pot of water again cooking corn. I will never again splatter my stove top cooking bacon in a skillet. Microwave is better. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-never-cook-these-foods-in-anything-but-a-microwave-again/727864/40 "2015-08-15T19:48:20Z")
Microwaved bacon isn’t better, it’s the same. But then one can’t use the bacon fat to flavor anything else. I use a splatter screen from the dollar store. Works great and it’s dishwasher safe. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-never-cook-these-foods-in-anything-but-a-microwave-again/727864.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-never-cook-these-foods-in-anything-but-a-microwave-again/727864.md?page=3)