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Jkid Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Mar-26-10 08:44 PM
Original message
Food you can cook in a Microwave.
I'm a college student and I have a meal plan that allows me to buy food at their own convenience store just a minute walk from my dorm. So here's the challenge , what food you can cook in a microwave?

But here's the catch, it can't be ramen and it can't be food that can be easily microwaveable (no pre-cooked ready to microwave foods).
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MadHound Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Mar-26-10 09:08 PM
Response to Original message
1. None,
Microwave is useless if you're trying to fix a real meal. It is good for snacks, pre-cooked stuff only. Seriously, microwaves have such uneven heating, attempting to prep something real, especially meat, etc. is impossible, not to mention a hazard to your health.

If you're living in a dorm and want to prep real meals, get yourself a hot plate, crock pot or something like that.
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Jkid Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Mar-26-10 10:17 PM
Response to Reply #1
6. Sorry but the University of Maryland prohibits it.
Prohibited Items include toaster ovens, toasters, microwaves, candles, crock pot, popcorn maker, grills of any kind or any other items with which one cooks are considered fire hazards.

Note in the dorm where I'm at in South Campus, they allow microwaves.
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madinmaryland Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Mar-26-10 09:22 PM
Response to Original message
2. BAKED POTATOES!!!
There is even a button for them! Then put the topping of your choice on them!!

Mmmmmm!!!
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Forkboy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-27-10 12:50 AM
Response to Reply #2
9. Yup...the wise meal of choice for those almost starving!
I still eat the fuckers! :D
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Sultana Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-27-10 08:28 PM
Response to Reply #2
27. REally?
Edited on Sat Mar-27-10 08:28 PM by Sultana
:o

I've always used the oven and it took forever. :/
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ScreamingMeemie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Mar-26-10 09:27 PM
Response to Original message
3. Eggs and rice. Both are easily cooked in the microwave.
I love making a cup of scrambled (sometimes poached) egg in the morning.
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quakerboy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Mar-26-10 10:01 PM
Response to Original message
4. Cheese
Cheese melts, and is tasty, it can be done on bread, tortilla, apples, and so many other things. Or just eaten as a molten melty bowl of melted cheesy goodness.

Also, despite addendum, I must say that precooked bacon does amazingly well in a microwave. Uncooked bacon is possible, but trickier, and does not tend do do as well.

Frozen corn does well, with a little water.
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canoeist52 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Mar-26-10 10:13 PM
Response to Original message
5. Oatmeal, Fresh fruits and veggies, macaroni (keep a close eye and stir often)
And of course, hot dogs.
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noamnety Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Mar-28-10 02:08 PM
Response to Reply #5
37. I gave up on microwaving oatmeal
It seems to always have a wild party in there and no matter the size of the bowl it explodes all over before it's done. I'm back to stovetop only for that, which is sad because I'd love to microwave it for a meal at work occasionally.
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canoeist52 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Mar-28-10 07:19 PM
Response to Reply #37
38. Taught my son to do the oatmeal so anyone can
Big enough bowl,(we use the big soup mugs) half power and less water- it's worth a try again.
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noamnety Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Mar-28-10 07:33 PM
Response to Reply #38
39. I don't know, I'm like the anti-savant when it comes to microwaves.
I don't do half power or anything fancy.

I do the beverage button. If I'm baking a potato I just hit the beverage button enough times that it feels right. The running joke in my house is that if someone asks what I'm making, the answer might be potato-beverage, broccoli-beverage, or tortilla with melted cheese beverage, because I figure if I'm hitting that button it must be making it into a beverage of some sort.
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cynannmarie Donating Member (27 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-27-10 12:42 AM
Response to Original message
7. broccoli, carrots, quesadillas and burritos and more
I use the mw to steam broccoli, carrots-- and to cook quesadillas, burritos, eggs with lots of stuff in the mix.

For the veggies: clean, peel, and cut up. Put in glass bowl with about 1/4 cup water at bottom, add a little olive oil, salt, pepper (I add lemon juice to broccoli. Put a plate or lid over bowl and cook for about 4 minutes (depending on how cooked you like it and quantity). Remove and let steam a little while longer until they are at desired degree of doneness.

For quick quesadillas in microwave- tortillas don't get crisp or golden brown like making them on stovetop, but they're OK and can be a meal in minutes. Take one tortilla and spread around cheese, salsa, and anything else you like--chicken, cooked veggies, meat.
Add another tortilla on top and cook for about a minute. Burritos can be made almost the same way, by putting refried or black beans onto the center of a single tortilla topped with cheese, salsa, and anything else you want. Cook for about a minute and remove, then wrap up.

I make eggs with lots of stuff in the mix and it can be a meal. First, cook a small potato in skin for a minute or so til cooked through. Cut up into small chunks. Take deep cereal type bowl and stir up 2 or 3 eggs, add dash of milk, salt. pepper, and the potatoes, maybe a little cheese, ham, precooked spinach or veggies, mushrooms, salsa, anything you like. Cook for about a minute, take out and stir again, and then cook for maybe another minute. It comes out a bit like a souffle. With toast, can be a meal anytime of the day.
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Skittles Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-27-10 12:47 AM
Response to Original message
8. Google "Microwave recipes for college students"
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Forkboy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-27-10 12:53 AM
Response to Reply #8
10. That's no fun.
Recipes are supposed to be handed down by some wizened old crone hovering over a cauldron of soup or something. And you don't fucking qualify! :P
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tango-tee Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-27-10 01:07 AM
Response to Original message
11. Ever since a kielbasa sausage exploded
when I tried to heat the damned thing, I'm staying away from microwaves. Sorry for being of absolutely no help here, Jkid.
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elocs Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-27-10 07:44 AM
Response to Original message
12. Rice is easy to nuke: 1 cup wholegrain brown rice, 2 cups water, some olive oil,
nuke for 20 minutes, done and fluff. Add some Cheese Whiz type cheese to it and stir it up. You can make some fresh broccoli to add to it as well as mix in some ham. Top with some grated cheese and it is good.

I will also make a baked potato in the microwave and put the above over it. It's a good and hearty meal.

You can also make a good and nutritious breakfast by making old fashioned oatmeal in the microwave. Put a handful of raisins into the bottom of the bowl, add some oatmeal, then a handful of walnuts and almonds. Add water to cover (I use apple juice to accomplish the same thing and to naturally sweeten it and I also top mine with frozen fruits) and nuke it for about 3.5 minutes. Add your milk (I don't use milk because I use a lot of the apple juice) and some brown sugar or maple syrup or whatever you like to sweeten it.

(In a less healthy, but yummy version of oatmeal, I would do the raisins, oatmeal, nuts, and water, and then when it was finished I would top with a handful of chocolate chips and stir them in, topping with milk. Like a giant, oatmeal-raisin-nut-chocolate chip cookie.)
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Orrex Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-27-10 08:09 AM
Response to Original message
13. Foil-wrapped ketchup packets
Try it!
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XemaSab Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-27-10 10:45 PM
Response to Reply #13
32. That sounds like an unforgettable recipe!
:o
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surrealAmerican Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-27-10 08:38 AM
Response to Original message
14. Most vegetables cook up quite well, ...
... and rice, oatmeal, eggs. Meats generally don't do well, and I've only ever found one cake recipe that was acceptable.
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betharina Donating Member (313 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-27-10 09:00 AM
Response to Original message
15. never made it before but stumbled on the recipe,
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blogslut Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-27-10 11:14 AM
Response to Original message
16. Here's one tip - Hard-Boiled Egg
Coat a small microwave-safe dish with a thin layer of oil.

Crack open and drop egg(s) into dish without breaking the yolk

Microwave on high for approximately 45 seconds per egg
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rcrush Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-27-10 11:17 AM
Response to Original message
17. Lean Cuisines?
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GoCubsGo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-27-10 11:26 AM
Response to Original message
18. Indian Papadams
Give them a very light spray of oil and then microwave for about 30 seconds. They puff up the way they would if you dropped them in oil. The instructions are on the box.

I do all of my vegetable steaming in the microwave. It's quicker and much more energy-efficient than using the stove. I also make baked apples/apple sauce in it.
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hunter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-27-10 11:32 AM
Response to Original message
19. Eggs explode if you don't do it right.
That's one of the reasons I like microwaved eggs...

My wife bought a "microwave egg poacher" that contains the explosions. The instructions tell you to scramble the egg a tiny bit and not to use the high setting of high power ovens, but I think it's a lot more fun to hear the eggs go "BANG!"
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JanMichael Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-27-10 11:40 AM
Response to Original message
20. Do not follow internet microwave tips on turnips!
I tried that a few months ago and the turnip turned to red hot coals before the idiot web recommended cycle was finished!

2 more minutes and I'd have made a diamond or set the place on fire.
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Jade Fox Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-27-10 12:16 PM
Response to Reply #20
21. You're a cook after my own heart! n/t
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alphafemale Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-27-10 12:59 PM
Response to Original message
22. We have a microwave rice steamer. link included
Edited on Sat Mar-27-10 01:02 PM by alphafemale
It cooks rice in ten minutes. Here's a link. Looks like you can cook lots of other things in it and it's only about ten bucks.

http://www.kidsmartliving.com/nw-rice-cooker.html?productid=nw-rice-cooker&channelid=NEXTA
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alphafemale Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-27-10 01:00 PM
Response to Original message
23. delete. dbl post
Edited on Sat Mar-27-10 01:01 PM by alphafemale

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alphafemale Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-27-10 01:05 PM
Response to Original message
24. And you grill a sandwich with an iron. nt
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csziggy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-27-10 10:56 PM
Response to Reply #24
33. The old, big really heavy irons make the best grilled sandwiches, too
I lived for an entire summer cooking with an iron, toaster oven, popcorn popper and electric frying pan. That was in the years before microwaves for the home were less than a thousand dollars. I cooked some fine meals with those appliances!

The iron was for grilled sandwiches, popcorn popper for popcorn (a staple for me), toaster oven for small casseroles and potatoes, and the frying pan (do they still make electric ones?) for stir fry, rice and pasta. I even roasted game hens in the toaster oven for Thanksgiving that fall.
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alphafemale Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Mar-28-10 01:32 PM
Response to Reply #33
34. You were panini before your time
:hi:
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davsand Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-27-10 01:36 PM
Response to Original message
25. You CAN cook most things in a microwave as long as you remember certain things.
Edited on Sat Mar-27-10 01:37 PM by davsand
Food does not brown in a microwave, and you will not always get an evenly cooked surface--however plastic wrap or lids can help with that.

I can cook just about anything in the microwave except meats that are not already browned or tenderized. Chicken and fish are fine to do with a microwave (best method to cook a non-fried or non-browned fish I've ever found) but you do need to make sure the heat distributes evenly while cooking (to avoid hard spots.)

I'd seriously suggest you look for a good microwave cookbook that has recipes for basic dishes that don't require a huge amount of ingredients or preparation steps.

By way of suggestion, take nice piece of raw salmon and put it skin side down in a microwave safe dish or plate. Sprinkle the top with lemon pepper seasoning and maybe a bit of fresh lemon juice. Cover with plastic wrap and nuke at high for a couple of minutes. Check how fish is cooking, turn plate a half turn (unless you have a microwave with the turntable already in it) and then nuke for a couple more minutes if needed. This is not gonna take too long to cook and with fish you really want to make sure and use short cooking times so you avoid over cooking it.


Good luck!


Laura
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applegrove Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-27-10 08:27 PM
Response to Original message
26. Put a frozen hot dog in a frozen hot dog bun. Wrap it all in a paper towel. Microwave for
a minute or two. Enjoy.
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TreasonousBastard Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-27-10 10:03 PM
Response to Original message
28. Just about all frozen vegetables nuke up just fine. But, why can't...
it be ramen or pre-cooked, like frozen dinners and pot pies? Is this a rule or you just don't like that stuff?



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nuxvomica Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-27-10 10:15 PM
Response to Original message
29. I used to cook fish a lot in the microwave
Back before I became allergic to seafood, I would take a boneless fish filet, cover it with salt and nuke it. Always came out flaky and tender but you have to scrape off the salt afterward. Nuked fish without a lot of salt came out rubbery.
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unpossibles Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-27-10 10:36 PM
Response to Original message
30. I've made quesadillas with a clothes iron and some aluminum foil....
they were tasty too, but... that's probably a fire hazard, so be careful.
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XemaSab Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-27-10 10:44 PM
Response to Original message
31. Veggies
Most veggies are very readily microwaved.
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Liberal Veteran Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Mar-28-10 01:38 PM
Response to Original message
35. Not chicken.
Unless of course you are planning on using the chicken to pave a sidewalk.
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caitxrawks Donating Member (431 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Mar-28-10 01:38 PM
Response to Original message
36. you can steam any veggies.
Broccoli, green beans, carrots, potatoes...
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Inchworm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Mar-28-10 07:48 PM
Response to Original message
40. Popcorn!!!
Edited on Sun Mar-28-10 07:48 PM by Inchworm
Buy the regular kernels. You get hells of popcorn that way for cheap.

Put about 1/4 cup of kernels in a brown paper bag, fold top shut, microwave on high until popping slows. You can add all kinds of whack spices to popcorn. White seems to do better than yellow.

I mean it about the actual bags of kernels rather than pre-packaged microwave popcorn. For half the price of a 6-pack of MPopcorn you get 5-6 times more product.

:hi:
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