But How Do You Make Popcorn??: Living Without a Microwave
To the average American, their microwave is probably their pride and joy, the thing that makes them their food and makes it quickly, the perfect addition to a busy lifestyle. But when you walk into my downtown Indy apartment, you will find yourself wondering where mine is. Part of this is due to historic buildings tending not to come furnished with an above the stove microwave, and part is due to choice. When we moved into our apartment, we began decorating, placing things in cabinets, and figuring out what we needed to buy to complete the space. I love to cook and always take up a ton of room doing it, and our kitchen seems like it was once a nice sized closet, if you happen to be Harry Potter. I knew I wouldn’t love a giant piece of equipment sitting on the counter taking up my precious space, so I asked Taylor the wild question, “well, what if we just didn’t have a microwave?” and for some reason he went along with it, probably because he likes me. I’m here to answer your questions you sent in to my Instagram about our crazy choice and shed some light on how simple life actually is without a microwave.
So why’d you decide to forgo a microwave, other than lack of space?
While lack of space was a HUGE determining factor for this decision, we also saw it as an environmental choice that we could be proactive about. Microwaves obviously use electricity which obviously uses energy, so it made sense that we would rather have our monthly electric bill be lower than higher. Also, foods that can be put in the microwave are usually abundant in plastic which is not great for our environment, and many components of the packaging cannot be recycled. We also saw beneficial health aspects from making this a part of our lifestyle; most microwaveable foods are honestly not the most nutritious or healthy, I know my favorite things were microwaveable burritos and packaged, high in sodium dinners that actually weren’t that great for me. We saw this as a way to make more conscious health decisions that would be better for us in the long run.
How do you prepare hot foods?
It’s actually quite simple! I mean, before microwaves were even invented people used basic fires and stoves to cook their meals, so we just do the same! I find cooking to be really relaxing and another creative outlet, even if I may not be the best at it so I don’t mind taking a couple hours out of my night to create healthy meals for us (or not so healthy sometimes). You do have to schedule your time a little better to be able to cook more but it is worth it in the end. We create way less food waste, can portion things out properly, and enjoy fresher tastes that a microwave can’t really compete with. We definitely bought a few more pots and pans than we had before and have to keep up with dishes a little better since we also don’t have a dishwasher, but I find myself meal prepping a lot more since I when I’m cooking I use larger amounts to have a larger batch.
What is the easiest thing about it?
The easiest thing about living with a microwave is how much counter space I have, how much pride I have in my meals, and how creative I have to be. Honestly, the easiest thing was realizing how simple it really is! I use my Pinterest to find interesting and healthy meals since we like a lot of variety in our food. This also helps because you can just type in “quick 30 minute meals” or “5 ingredient recipes” into the search bar for more inspiration. As for creativity, I have to sometimes work to think about how to make certain things, like the burrito I mentioned before. It takes about a minute and a half to nuke it in the microwave, but if I set my oven around 400 degrees and do some dishes while I wait, the burrito is so much more crispy and cooked throughout, something I know a microwave can’t always do. The most creative I’ve had to be is when Taylor brings me home Starbucks drinks after work. When we had a microwave, I usually would heat it up the next morning. Now, I have to get more creative and pour it in a pot on the stove and have it heat up while I get ready in the morning and pour it into a tumbler! It’s things like this that you have to use your imagination on but you realize how simple they really are.
What is the hardest thing?
The only hard thing about this is overcoming laziness, especially in the winter time. I turn into a big lazy bear when it’s cold out and nothing makes me want to cry and throw a fit than when I’m hungry and it’s late and I just want to order pizza. This is not great for my gut or my budget, but it can be hard to overcome. I’d suggest prepping out your meals for the week to avoid this problem. I’ve recently started asking Taylor to pick one or two recipes from my Pinterest and then I pick one or two depending on the week and those recipes are what I take with me to the grocery store, that way I’m only buying things I know I need and food isn’t going to waste.
If I’m looking to make the switch, how do I start?
I’ll leave the 3 essential items you need if you want to make the switch to a no microwave lifestyle, or if you just want to challenge yourself and see if you can do it for a week or a month! I would suggest other kitchen appliances like my beloved crockpot or the illustrious air fryer I’ve been wanting to try out but this post is all about conserving space and using what you have.
Gooseneck kettle - this is what I use in the morning since I only use the pour over method for making my coffee. This kettle helps me control the pour in my coffee, but that’s for another blog post. It is essential when you don’t have a microwave because you can easily make ramen, oatmeal, tea, and even rice and macaroni with just hot water so it helps a lot if you don’t have the time to boil water on the stove.
Pyrex containers - these containers are fanstastic for meal prep! They are heavy duty glass with plastic lids that lock on each side so nothing falls out or spills in your lunchbox. I love these specifically because they are freezer and oven safe! This helps a lot when I want to cook a small meal or heat up some leftovers. They are easy to clean and you can also find cute ones like these, too.
More pots and pans - more cooking equals more dishes so it is always good to have a lot more pots and pans in your kitchen. I for sure need to go grab some more smaller pots and saucepans for leftovers like soup or curries that need to be heated up the next day.
Seriously, how do you make popcorn?
This was the #1 most asked question when I brought this topic to Instagram! I didn’t know you guys cared so fiercely about popcorn, but I do live in the Midwest after all. It’s actually really simple, quick, and tastes a whole lot better than microwaveable bag popcorn. I use the Atom Corn Popper that my mom gave me and we have used it since I can first remember! It’s held up for a looong time and will last even longer if I clean it properly. You can also find this Whirly Pop Stovetop Popcorn Popper online if you want to give it a try. All you need is the popper, some Crisco, butter, and popcorn kernels, all of which you can easily find at Walmart or Target. Check out the video to see how easy it really is!