How many use more than one microwave?

[sudsmaster]

I find that having two microwave ovens often comes in handy in my kitchen.

For example, one can be heating up a hot dog in a plastic tray of water, while the other can be used to warm the bun.

I also find that different brands of microwaves operate differently, and each has its best applications. The Panasonic Genius excels at even defrosting and partial power settings, so I like to use the defrost setting for short times for things like warming buns, bread, pizza slices, etc. But at full power the Panasonic seems to heat the bottom of food items more than the top, which can result in uneven results. The Kenmore Elite does a better job of evenly heating things at full power, but its partial power mode is the typical on-off-on cycling, which isn't as precise as the Panasonic inverter defrost function.

Each oven is on its own 20 amp circuit so there's no danger of having both running at the same time tripping a circuit breaker.

Anyway, I'm wondering if others find more than one microwave in the kitchen to be helpful.

 

[super32]

I use to have 2 but that was a few years ago. It was handy for re-heating leftovers especially if your trying to re-heat for more than one person. Otherwise you have a line waiting to use the micro. If you have 3-4 or more people, it always seems like person #1 was back in line because their plate got cold waiting for everyone else.

Im currently using a Panasonic built micro/convection oven. Not the fastest micro but does a decent job.

 

[arbilab]

I had a house before and a standard 'wave. This apt came with an over-range 'wave. Yes I do use both at the same time but mostly the over-range. It's newer, more power, has a carousel. But I don't wave hotdogs, I broil them. I also seldom wave frozen dinners. Might be my imagination but oven heat tastes better and of course browns and doesn't overcook corners. I always wave vegetables. Except rice. Might be possible but I know how with a pan and not everybody can do that.

 

[circlew]

I agree with arbilab that a regular oven produces better tasting food than a MW. I had a microwave until a couple years ago when mine blew up. I missed it at first, but soon decided it wasn't any more trouble to use the regular oven. Just takes proper planning. I'm sure I'll get another one sometime, but not in any hurry.

As for hot dogs, I don't eat them often, but never MW them. I only like them on the grill or broiler.

 

[lordkenmore]

I also can live without a microwave. Until the 90s, I never lived anyplace with a microwave. And there have been at least 2 good sized "no microwave" periods. Most recently: the last five years.

That may be changing. I just got a small microwave at Goodwill. I had to use up store credit--it was about to expire. It works, and I'm currently playing with it to see if it stays, or goes back to reset my store credit. I can see where a microwave can be handy, but for what I do, the stove is good enough. The one area I see a microwave possibly quite useful is if I started freezing my own dinners to thaw at times when I'm too rushed to cook.

 

[lordkenmore]

Despite my feelings about microwaves, I can see where some would have 2 or more in service. A lot of people do find them indispensable, and do use them for actual cooking. Under the right circumstances, having 2 available at all times might even be essential for some cooks.

 

[arbilab]

Even when the older 'wave isn't cooking I'm using its timer.

 

[washer111]

Our 9 year-old Panasonic Inverter died just last weekend. We only used it for heating sausage rolls, pies, milk for coffee and refrigerated leftovers.

Otherwise, it was just taking up lots of bench space, and we are happy without it.

For the last few years, running it on high seems to produce a distinct light buzzing sound (not on/off), but on lower power settings, that used to go away.

 

[appnut]

I have consistently had two since I built my house in 1985 before transferring here in 1986. Soon after moving here, I acquired one that was an extra my parents had. My dad & I both leared to do some actual cooking in them. (Hmm, reminds me, I just boutght some zucchini & yellow squash and have a favorite casserole recipe from a GE microwave cookbook, I think I"m gonna make). When Rubbermaid came out with their very nice line of microwave cookware, there was a guy on cable (Jonathan Dan Fandre??? who had 4 to 6 in the kitchen he was using to demonstrate. My dad and I loved watching him lol). My Panasonic Inverter started doing something similar to washer111's and finally got rid of it a couple of weeks ago due to fear of fire hazzard. It hadn't been used in almost a year. I currently have a Panasonic from the early 1990s that was my "backup[". It begins to make a knocking sound after about 10 minutes of use. I found that I used the 2nd microwave less and less once I obtained the Breville Smart Oven a few years ago.

 

[DADoES]

 
I have five but I use only one ... thus far.

 

[gus]

I have a Samsung Grill Selection with some 10 years. It's working exactly as the first day. It's rather biggish but I installed it over a rack and it doesn't take any counter space. I cook potatoes, hamburgers, sausages, some simple cakes, and reheat all sort of foods, either refriged or frozen. Every morning I heat milk for the instant coffee, if I don't feel like brewing. I think one is enough for my needs. Gus

 

[launderess]

Never Really Would Have Bothered

But was given/took a vintage Sharp microwave (dail controled timer, only two heats full and defrost), that was supposed to be moved on. That never happened as am that happy with having two microwaves so can heat different items at once and have things on the table sooner. It also means one food will not cool waiting for the other or others to be ready.

 

[alsaroy]

I use a 2nd micro

We have a vintage? GE microwave,toaster,oven,broiler. It is a unique animal called Omni 5 and we got it around 1984. We thought it would replace the toaster oven, but it is too small as a microwave, performs too slowly as a toaster. But it is great to use as a small oven for heating pizza, bread, etc. and in a pinch while our big OTR micro is in use, this small unit can microwave a dish or food or a cup of coffee etc.. The flexibility of having two microwaves can be a good thing!

plus it has a feature where you can combo bake and microwave a t the same time, theoretically cooking thhe food faster, but we seldom use this feature.