Flavorful Roast Beef: It's Made With WHAT?!

[lordkenmore]

>I'm certainly old enough to remember life pre-microwave. I began using one freshman year in college, which would have been 1977-78.

It's strange, because I'm sure they were becoming quite common when I was growing up, but I never used one until I was in my 20s in the 1990s.

At some point after my mother started working again, one of her friends suggested we should get a microwave so that I could fend for myself more easily in the kitchen. I said: why bother? Or something like that. In a cynical moment when I was at school in high school, I said microwaves allow you to burn your dinner in five minutes.

Although I do have a microwave now, but I'm not sure how attached I am. I like it for the moment for fast reheating in the serving bowl, thus saving me the trouble of washing an extra pan. But...if I had a dishwasher, I'd probably not care about reheating via pan.

 

[frigilux]

The time/convenience factors keep me hooked. I make low-carb soups and casseroles, freeze them in portions (ZipLock containers with the blue lids), pull one out when I get home and in three minutes I'm good-to-go. I also prefer it to a double boiler for melting chocolate, softening/melting butter, softening cream cheese or refrigerated frosting.

That first microwave was purchased used (RadarRange) from our guitarist's brother's appliance store in Fargo, ND. My roommate and I were scared to death of the thing! We put it in our dorm room to get off the college meal plan. It made a loud solenoid 'BANG' and then a low-pitched hum. For the first couple of weeks we'd press start and leap back to the other end of the room. We were amazed at how quickly we could heat leftovers/beverages and bake potatoes. We'd make a baked potato for everyone who came to our room to see the new wonder oven.

 

[chachp]

Seldom use the Microwave

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">I don't like the way it heats food meaning the food just doesn't stay hot.  My other half uses it all the time or I would boot it out the door.  As a matter of fact about 10 years ago I moved it to a shelf in the Utility (just off the kitchen) room because I never used it in the kitchen and thought I'd make better use of the cabinet that was built for it.  It's an old Amana RR-10.  It's a great microwave but it's a tank and takes a lot of room.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">When my parents built a house in 1969 the builder was putting in a microwave in the wall in lieu of a regular oven.  Don't ask me why.  I guess he thought it was the future.  My Mom didn't last a week with that thing and she had the cooktop removed and a slide in Terrace top range installed.  They were the Harvest Gold color.  At that time the microwave was more of a novelty because it was so new.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">I don't even use it to melt butter.  I have a little pan I use on the stove.  I am like Eddie.  I warm up everything on the stove and do other things while I'm waiting.  Drives my partner nuts that he has to wait.  I tell him to take a jog around the yard and pic up a few twigs while he's at it.  LOL.  He's a bit of a gym rat so if I can relate everything I want him to do to something athletic he's all about it.  HaHa.  We do what we need to, to get things done.  Right boys?</span>

 

[foraloysius]

Reheat coffee...

 

[norgeway]

Im with you!

I HAVE a old Radarange but very seldom use it, never for cooking, it just takes up space,if im in a hurry I don't cook, it just invites disaster.

 

[toploader55]

WHOA WHOA !!!

 

Didn't want to get off topic here.

 

Just a spin off on Pot Roast and how to heat it.

 

Eugene,  I am not a scientist by any means and when I talk about MW ovens it's just my findings and preferences. BUT, I have heard and read when microwaving in Plastic, certain plastics leach out Carcinogens.  Just be careful is all I'm saying.

 

My deal with MWs is I'm never in that much of a "Hurry up and Eat" situation.  I used to have them. My first was a Sharp Half Pint from the 1980s. My next was a Kenmore. I had it on the top of my Fridge and really only used it for the clock. A friend of mine's crapped out, so I sold her mine.  I owned it for 3 years and I think used it twice.

 

[miele_ge]

I am with you Louis!!!

Blech to reheated coffee....

 

[appnut]

I use my microwave.  It's used to steam/cook frozen and fresh vegetables.  I only have one large burner and I'm been fumimg about that since my huge Panasonic microwave died.  I'm saddled with a like 1.1 or 1.2 cu. ft. microwave.  I no longer can simmer sauces and soups to free up my large burner for pasta and other things.  I've been known to cook a chuck pot roast in microwave.  Just use low simmer power and fork tender and flavorful.  When I was visiting a friend, I used the microwave--he knew I knew how to really use one.  I went to use something more than full power (which I don't use much just like I don't use high heat on my dryer).  He turned to his dog and said "Bob is using buttons I have never used."  It has power adjustments and they're there to be used and give good results.  He visited at Thanksgiving and I make a squash casserole from a GE microwave cookbook.  He said he would have never  believed it had been cooked in a microwave if he hadn't seen it.  He thought it was absolutely wohnderful and asked me to make it for himj again sometime.  (I also used the mw to make the base for chocolate mousse)  In fact that day I had all 3 ovens and 3 of 4 burners going at once.  I cannot wait until this microwave dies so I can get a big one again and put my large (especially tall Visions with handles) and use it again as I really know how to have it be used as a tool that I can work with successfully.  Even when I get an induction stove, they only come with one large burner. 

 

[frigilux]

Louis and Alan-- I know, I know. Reheating coffee is reprehensible, but occasionally I brew a cup, then get distracted by something for 15 minutes. I never let it sit for hours before reheating; nor do I overheat it. Consider me The Responsible Coffee Reheater, LOL.
️

 

[xraytech]

Chachp,

My mother always makes barbecue beef very similar to yours, and I make it a lot too.
We cook ours in a 225 degree oven overnight. I always make mine in a we seasoned Club Dutch oven.

 

[DADoES]

 
I use my microwave for bacon, scrambled eggs, cream of wheat and oatmeal, frozen vegetables, baked potatoes, frozen "TV" dinners & casseroles, box pasta salad and potato flakes and rice, and of course reheating.  Once in a while fish, sausage, and "frying" ham slices.  Years ago I had a recipe for an apple spice cake, cream cheese brownies, and a few other desserts.

 

[tolivac]

I use my microwave every day-cook vegetables(steam them in a corning pan)or for heating butter and syrup.The microwave is part of my new GE Advantium oven.This one replaced a 15 yr old one.Most used cooking machine I have.Broils steaks in the speed cook function perfectly!Haven't tried the convection bake feature yet.This new machine has that-the old one didn't.The instructions tout it for baking bread,rolls,cookies,and such.

 

[chachp]

BBQ Recipe

<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">Sam, my Mom has lived in Youngstown, OH for about 40 years which sounds like it's not all that far from you.  I wonder if this was some kind of regional recipe that she picked up in that area.  I know when we were kids we spent a lot of time in Pittsburgh shopping because she couldn't find anyplace she liked in Youngstown.  I also know she had a lot of friends in Pittsburgh.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">That was back in the days of Joseph Horne's and their big store in Pittsburgh.  I remember all the chandeliers on the first floor as you go in.</span>