The DARNED thing Broke!!!
Jun 14 '02 (Updated Jun 27 '04)
The Bottom Line Look around for the best price and buy what you can afford to buy. Get what your needs are and not others.
You have gotten up one morning decided you wanted to eat a donut for breakfast. You think that warming it up in the microwave would make it taste better so you open your microwave, put the paper towel with donut on it inside. Set the timer and hit start. But wait! It won’t come on! And there you are looking over the buttons, making sure that you have enter everything in correctly, checking the plug and seeing that it is plugged in. You see that the clock is still working, but you can’t figure out what has happened! So you try it all again, only to find that your microwave is still not working. It just won’t come on and your warm donut breakfast is flying fast out the window.
You realize that you have to go and look at new ones and this just really upsets you because you hate to shop! But, slowly and surely you get dressed, you get in your car and you head to your local Wal Mart to purchase a new microwave. Along the way you are considering the cost and how you are going to really afford it and is buying a new one really necessary. You realize that you had done without a microwave years ago and you could do it again. NOT IN THIS LIFETIME! You tell yourself. No microwave means no ease of living in household. Means hearing everyone complain and THAT in it's self gives you headache. So you continue on to the store.
Once you get there you are confident that you will not have a problem choosing a microwave, surely they have not changed that much over the years. Boy, were you wrong!
You get to the section where the microwaves are at and you stop in your tracks! There are so many of them! What in the world has happen to society that you must be made to make this kind of choice? You thought life was going to be easy, you thought that making this choice was going to be simple, but yet you find yourself looking in awe at all the microwaves.
There are all sorts of sizes, colors, and styles, not to mention brands. You find yourself looking at cost first, then when you see one you can afford you look at it. You find yourself thinking “Well it don’t look to bad” “But this other one looks better” so you start to look at the next one. It cost a little more than the one that you were just looking, and the brand name is a little better known to you and you like the design a little better, the color is basic black and brown and that would do in the kitchen, there is no dial and you like that.
You find yourself starting to look at “watts” and “dials” and “ability” and all of the other things that you see are available now days for microwaves. You see the different sizes and you have to consider the family and the bowl you cook the rice in. “Will that bowl fit in there?” you say to yourself? “What will your 16-year-old daughter say to you?” you think. Will she complain, will she be satisfied with it, do you really care! You are buying it and she’s not. You think that you will tell her to get a job and buy her own microwave if she doesn’t like it. And besides she or anyone else in the home doesn’t have to use it much! But you do! So who cares what they think.
What it really comes down to for you is cost. You realize that is one of the most important things in your soon to be purchase. So you find yourself out of sheer curiosity looking at all the microwaves because you are wondering what makes the more expensive ones so special. The size of course is one thing, the watts, cooking ability, cooking time, the nice buttons and just the overall ease of usage so the boxes say. Just so much to consider, and you realize that time’s have surely changed! “It’ hasn’t been that long ago since I bought a microwave?” you ask yourself. “Just five years or so, and your first one lasted over 15, why couldn’t the one that broke been made that well?” you say. And then you realize, products are just not made as well as they use to be and you just have to live with it.
But as you are standing there you realize that the less expensive is the same as the most expensive and the only difference is brand name. What the heck you think, you don’t have to buy brand name. You have used many products made by this knock off brand and you know they make great products, so why not try their microwave. There is a 90-day warranty stated on the box and you can always bring it back.
But then you realize that would be another trip to the store and since you hate to shop you have to weigh this into your purchase decision. But then you have a brainstorm! You have had to bring things back before and you do have to go grocery shopping at least once a week, so you could bring the microwave of choice back on that day should you need to. No specials trip needed. But wait! You realize that if it doesn’t work you would have to come back sooner or you could just get over it and be without a microwave for a few days. You simply just get a headache with all this thinking! And you are considering a trip over to the medicine section of the store!
And then you realize that buying a microwave should not be this hard and you set your mind back on your task deciding that if it doesn’t work you bring it back and be done with it. If you don’t like it then you can live with it or bring it back, no matter the day because you have decided you are not going to do without one of life’s best-made inventions.
Then suddenly there is another person standing beside you. “Sucker!” you say to yourself. You glance their way, realizing that they are wondering which one to buy as well. And they say to you “Didn’t realize there were so many to choose from” and you respond by saying “I hear you, neither did I”. And you share a laugh over it, a bond that you didn’t expect. You find yourself telling this person what you think since you are now an expert on the matter, because you have been there least 10 minutes before them and you feel that you have seniority over them. So your advice should be very helpful to them.
And you both decide to get the less expensive one, sharing a laugh just between the two of you and knowing that the money will be okay after all, and knowing that the spouse will not be too upset either. And so, your new friend and you say your good byes and wish one another well with the new microwave.
Making your way to the counter, you are wondering if you have made the right choice. And then you see it. The special microwave, sitting in the center of the isle with a big “sale” sign. The one with the “Wal Mart Smiley Face” and the words “Falling Prices”! What do you know, there is the bigger one, the name brand one on sale for the same price! The one you really wanted!
Well you have no other choice now but to buy that one! That was the one you wanted after all but chose to save a little money and hey if you can get better for the same, that is what you do. And you find yourself calling out to your new friend, and she comes to see what’s up! “Well that’s the one for me!” she says. “I agree, for me as well” you say back to her. And once again, that bond that you didn’t count on is there. You both exchange your microwave of 2nd choice and opt for 1st choice, with smiles and bubbly feelings inside.
Now you are all happy and you seem to have a bounce in your step as you continue on towards the checkout. You feel good about your new soon to be purchase, you realize that everyone in the home will be pleased as well and all is right in the world. And if they are not happy with it at home, well they can just get over it can’t they! This microwave is yours, you chose it, you tortured yourself with the decision, the money, if it was what you needed and could afford. All of that and then some! You did it! They, the family had nothing to do with it at all! And they could just keep it to themselves or you could kick them out into the yard and go on strike and tell them to cook their own food. That would put them in their places and you know it. You are confident with your new toy and you go home!
Mostly folks you have to look at cost. If you can’t afford then don’t buy it. Life is sometimes all about settling for something less on a temporary basis and trusting that when you need a new one again you can afford a better one. And sometimes you get lucky and get a bargain.
The watts, cooking ability and if you want dial or buttons are things to consider as well! The higher the watts the better the usage of the microwave, so they say. I have seen microwaves with fewer watts and they have done just as well. don’t get something you have to have a degree to use either, microwaves should not be that complicated. So what if it cost your neighbor a 1000.00 and they think they got a bargain, a microwave of “the world”, big deal. My new one will do circles on theirs any day of the week and I can actually use it. I don’t have to keep referring to the manual. “Ha, ha, ha!!!” you say to yourself privately, when your neighbor keeps complaining. “Take it back and get one like mine” you suggest. If looks could kill!!! Lol!!!
You have to look at style and colors as well. You can get microwaves in various colors in today’s market, but mostly in black and white, the basic colors.
I don’t like a dial on my microwave and I do like the popcorn option, the 1-minute option, the defrost button on the unit, the clock, and the timer. I use all of these often on my microwave. I have to say that my defrost button is set for 15 or 8 minutes, this is good for me. But you have to be careful when using defrost, because your food may start to cook around the edges, so watch it carefully.!
You also have to consider size: Will it fit in the cut out hole of your kitchen for the microwave? Will it take up to much space on the counter? Do you want a unit that will mount underneath the cabinet? These are things to consider. Mine is small enough to fit in the cut out hole in my kitchen, yet durable enough to suit my family’s needs. It’s black so it goes with everything.
Some microwaves like mine will offer buttons for quick heating or cooking for things like, dinner rolls, dinner plates, potatoes and muffins. Each button is pre-set for a specific time that is suppose to give you an evenly heat up or cooked of the item of choice. And keep in mind when heating any kind of bread, that 8 to 11 seconds is plenty of time. And cake icing is good for 8 to 10 seconds only. It will get to runny if you go longer than that.
I mostly use the 1-minute plus button. This way I can just hit it a few times for desired heat up and the microwave will start its-self. This feature is great for the easy macaronis and other pastas.
I also cook a lot of rice in mine and mine will allow me to use high then lower temps as well. I can use most any type of container in mine as well. But one must be careful when heating up food in plastic containers, be sure that they are microwave safe. And don’t use utensils that will damage the unit.
I also like that mine has a glass, rounded plate that allows the dish or food to rotate. This allows for a more even cook or heat time. And clean up is really easy. You should clean your microwave out on occasion. That’s important! Who wants to look at splattered food?
Which brings me to something else. Cover your dishes with a paper towel or lid. This will help food from splattering and make clean up a lot simpler. And life can stay good! Keep your microwave dusted off and don’t put things on top that will block air flow.
When cooking any kinds of bacon, sausage, hotdogs and other greasy items, be sure you have them covered and do not over cook. They will burn, even in a microwave. Do not put eggs in your microwave either, they will explode! And remember to not use anything with any kind of metal. Now there are some canned foods with metal around the edges, but they are made to be heated for a minute or less in any microwave, but still be careful. I will put foods from cans in a bowl to be safe.
Well these are my thoughts on choosing and/or buying and/or using a microwave.
I hope that this has helped in some kind of way.
God Bless!
ŠLKD 2002
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Member: Leah
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