some things you just can't microwave

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Delta-T

Minister of Fire
Feb 27, 2008
3,142
NH
i'm sure i am like many others and last nights dinner is also today's lunch. my complaint is in reference to steak. I made spicy teriyaki steak and rice...also some pot stickers. Steak is just the worst when reheated in microwave...the worst. it is the proverbial "shoe leather". And so, lunch becomes white rice, and some pot stickers. i do not eat the food of the water (fishes, clamses and their cousins, or the cockroach of the sea) but ig hazard a guess that they also lose something in the ole microwave. DANG YOU MICROWAVE! DANG YOU!
 
Reheat it at half power instead of nuking it at full power.
 
are you for serious or just messin with me? I have heard rumor of this "half power" setting, but never used it.
 
If you have the option of selecting a power level, that's gonna make a huge difference. On mine, instead of just punching the button that gives it a minute on high, I can set the time, and select a power level from 1 to 10. Some stuff I heat gently...low power, couple minutes (maybe), let it "rest", do it again if needed. I've had pretty good results.
 
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i can select the power rating and whatnot...just never have. not in all my days of using the microwave. I semi assumed they were for show...like all the flashing lights on the console of the original Enterprise. Lots of beeping. I shall give it a go nect time. thank you.
 
Next time, once you have your food on the plate, put a bowl upside down over top of it. Over top of the food, that is - you don't want the bowl bigger around than the plate or you'll have a mess to clean up.

Keeps all the good in. Or at least as much of it as possible.

Tossing out day old steak? Blasphemy!
 
thank you, i do always cover the food, usually it is in microwave safe type container system with lid slightly ajar to keep from exploding.
 
This subject got me thinking of a time 25 yrs ago, or so. Single days, running with a hard working crowd, that when saturday came it was lets get together and hang out. With a few beers of course.

Microwaves had been around for a bit, but not that long. Told a good friends wife(we were at her house), that it's a simple breakfast and good. Take an egg(keep it in the shell) and wrap with bacon. Bacon keeps the shell soft and prevents a mess.

Bang...funny at the time.
 
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thank you, i do always cover the food, usually it is in microwave safe type container system with lid slightly ajar to keep from exploding.

Instead of a lid get some moist paper towels and cover the meat with them, and as others have said lower the heat some, another trick is to set a small cup of water next to the plate while cooking

I nuke leftover steak all the time for my lunch at work, no it does not come out the medium rare that i put it in as, but still comes out respectable. Key is to get / keep some moisture in it
 
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Add the steak for the last 15 - 20 seconds at a "higher power", stir, and serve. No shoe leather ;)
 
Had a left over chuck eye tonight that was microwaved . . . came out great. I think it was rare though when I cooked it .. . medium rare after a short stint in the microwave merry go around.
 
always cover and add a tablespoon of water cook at 50% power. Chinese comes out great meat or no meat. with the addition of water rice won't be a lump.
 
Leftover steak, chopped up simmered with onions,mushrooms and topped with mozz cheese becomes a philly cheese-steak sub. Whats not to like.
 
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When I cook mashed potatoes, I always cook way more than we need. Throw some in a frying pan on high heat a couple days later, cut in some leftover meat (steak = awesome), onions, whatever-other-veggies, sprinkle some steak spice, some good stirring & top with a bit of cheese. Pretty good end result for 5 minutes work.

Guess this is getting away from microwaves....
 
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::DTit helps to remove the steak from the steer before microwaving.
 
Now , now we will have none of that, you simply can't lump all the essential food groups together & then call them bad! Blasphemy indeed!
I would never call the ocean foods "bad" just that i dont eat them....I say "cockroach of the sea" as a term of endearment for the lobster. They so cute and cuddly just like cockroaches:).
 
When I cook up meat (hamburger, london broil, steaks, chops) I do it in large quantities on the grill and barely cook them, just so the surface is colored and gets grill marks but very undercooked inside. Then I freeze on freezer shelf and put in a freezer bag(s) after frozen. To serve lets say a 6-8 oz hamburger (5/8- 3/4" thick). I cover a pan on the gas stove put on high while I defrost/par cook the hamburger on high for about 1 min to 1.5 min in microwave, then about 2 minutes in the covered pan that's already heated up (usually with a slice of cheese that will melt, burger will be pinkish inside but hot).

If using the microwave alone (no stove, or oven) to reheat meat to serve, will cover with a wet paper towel to keep from drying out, but prefer to parcook/defrost in microwave and finish with real surface heat (stove/oven/toaster oven).
 
Run away! They make your food radioactive. !!!
 
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