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Carol M Creasey.

                                            Cooking in My Microwave.

A friend of mine recently grumbled that her microwave had given up the ghost, but then went on to explain that she only used it for heating meals and defrosting bread. She then added that she might not buy another yet, as she had only bought it because everyone else had one.

I had a microwave when they first came out in the 1980s. They were much bigger then, and very expensive, now they are a fraction of the price, but I find mine so useful, I couldn’t imagine my life without it. I also think the time it saves me in my very busy life is amazing.

I used to cook my scrambled eggs on the cooker, and then after I used to put the saucepan in soak, so it was easier to clean. Then I discovered that I could cook them in the microwave without adding any butter or margarine, so that meant they were healthier, and the microwave saucepan is so easy to clean, and can even go in the dishwasher. They come up fluffy and tasty with very little effort, and it doesn’t matter if I have to answer the door or the ‘phone, they won’t burn.

Years ago, Christmas Pudding had to be steamed for about an hour to eat, but now it’s about five minutes in the microwave .My other half loves fruit sponges, with the sponge on the top, and this takes over an hour in the oven, but in the microwave it is just eight minutes. Fish such as salmon, or any other without batter also cooks quickly in the microwave, and heating soup, which is another thing I am likely to foget about and burn, is so easy too.

Frozen vegetables can be cooked within about three minutes, and you can buy special microwave dishes to poach eggs, and also to make a low fat omelette, which is great if you are on a diet. Last but by no means least, many ready meals, which everyone uses at some time for convenience, can often be cooked in a few minutes, but may take up to an hour in the oven.

Whoever invented the microwave has saved me a lot of time and hassle, and I wouldn’t be without it.