Cookaholics Bulletin Board

Also:

I recommend taking apart a microwave next time you're bored and have a bunch of tools around. It's actually quite interesting, and way simpler than you'd think it is.

Do make sure to properly discharge the capacitor first, though. They're not kidding about "high voltage".

Oh, and how do folks feel about Kenmore microwaves?

Hair standing on end Fuzzy?
I'd call your city waste line for disposal. There's likely a electronic recycling depot. Here the high schools do one weekend a year where you can drop it off as they get cash for the waste.

If you're anything like me you've found that there are an amazing number of things you do with your m/w without thinking about them.
I've had one since the 70s when I got a RadarRange.
So when mine died a couple months ago I was lost without it. I kept going for it only to remember that it didn't work. Had to remember how to do things the old-fashioned way!

Linda,

Well ... we probably didn't notice the microwave was dead for a week after it stopped working. Pretty much we use it for melting butter, heating up small amounts of water, and warming up leftovers. Otherwise it doesn't do much.

Which makes the breakdown extra-irritating.

Fun with magnetrons:

http://darwinawards.com/stupid/stupid2014-03.html

Pete,

Now I'm really glad I didn't try to power it on.

Fuzzy,
I'm glad you didn't harm yourself; have you replaced it yet?

I'm stunned than there's anyone who doesn't use their m/w multiple times every day. Of course, part of my need for it is because I have pets and I use it to heat water (twice a day) to mix in with their dehydrated dogfood.
Also, I boil water every morning to preheat my coffee maker's carafe as well as my thermal mug (can't stand tepid coffee).
And I frequently use it to prepare a frozen item for lunch.
I don't like m/w'd potatoes, however, it leaves them too moist.

My wife heats milk for cereal with it (once a week or less)
We heat stuff for the toddler with it sometimes, but less now since she is insulted if she does not get our food.
Occasionally reheat something with it, but we often use toaster oven for that.
Par-cook potatoes with it when pan frying or grilling

That is about it. To be honest, I kinda feel we could do without, but when you need a quick meal of warmed leftovers, it is awfully handy.

Yeah, this is pretty much our complete use of the microwave:

• Melting butter
• Heating small quantities of water
• Reheating leftovers
• Helping with quick-thaw of frozen items
• Par-cooking vegetables, sometimes
• Cooking brocollini as a side dish

The only times I've missed it in the last 3 weeks have been when I realized I hadn't taken something out of the freezer to thaw it. The uses above are reason to buy an new one, but not to spend more than $200 on it.

Pretty much all microwave ovens are made by a handful of companies and then branded for the reseller. If you aren't using it much, there's no need to buy anything other than the cheapest one you can get. We used a $25 Family Dollar microwave at my hubby's business and it was used pretty frequently to heat up frozen meals/leftovers without any problems.