microwave smart

As a busy working mom I know how hard it can be to get a good meal on the table each night. I think the main reason for this is time. There never seems to be enough time in a day and with busy schedules, kids and extra curricular activities taking up some evenings a decent meal can sometimes be hard to come by.

A microwave can be a great solution to faster meals and you can make sure your family is getting a quality meal without having to hit up the local drive-thru. Microwaves have come a long way over the years. You can find the perfect size, watts and type to perfectly fit into your kitchen.

Faster meals with a microwave

When I think of microwave cooking the first thing that comes to mind is getting your food fast. I know I use mine strictly for re-heating and hadn’t really thought that I could cook so much more in there.

I use a Panasonic microwave almost identical to this Panasonic Prestige Plus Countertop Microwave and I’ve been very happy with it. The Cyclonic wave technology ensures your foods are getting heated evenly and my favourite feature is the time dial. It’s easy to use and allows you to be very specific with your cooking times. The only thing my older version is missing is the finger-print proof stainless steel finish which I would love to have.

Microwave smart cooking options

microwave smartYou can cook a complete meal in a microwave, even dessert (hello mug cakes). For breakfast simply poach an egg with some bacon or cook up a healthy oatmeal that you can add your favourite fruits to. At lunch you can reheat any leftovers you had from your previous nights dinner or maybe you have something pre-cooked in the freezer that can be re-heated. Dinner time means a baked potato or some pasta, steamed veggies and a protein.

If you’ll be using your microwave often to get faster meals, you’ll want to get a larger size microwave with high wattage. The downfall to a large microwave is finding the right fit for it in your kitchen and this is where an over-the-range style might be perfect for you. This LG Over-the-Range Microwave is 2.2 cu.ft. for you to easily heat or cook larger items. The best feature of this unit is the ExtendaVent which delivers ventilation over the entire cooktop below to clear smoke and cooking odors away quickly so you get the benefits of a range hood as well as a microwave all in one.

Repurpose leftovers with the help of a microwave

Leftovers can really save the day when you’re in a pinch for time and wanting a healthy meal, and if leftovers aren’t popular in your house just repurpose them into a new meal. For example if you have leftover bolognese or chicken breast, simply bake up some potatoes in the microwave, split them open and add your protein and melt some cheese over the top, and you have an easy and delicious meal.

This KitchenAid Built-In Microwave will look sleek and stylish in your kitchen and is the perfect microwave to help you turn leftovers into something amazing. On top of being a microwave, it’s a convection oven, steamer and broiler too and the 1600 watts will ensure you get a meal quick.

After taking in to consideration what kind of microwave you want and the features and options you want it to have you’ll be sure to find the perfect one for your kitchen.

You can find a large variety of microwaves to choose from to suit your kitchen and lifestyle at bestbuy.ca.

Main image @ www.laviesenior.com.

Lindsey Reed
I am a mom of two boys who loves reading and trail runs. I am passionate about health, fitness and food and write about these topics and more on my personal blog www.organicfitnesstips.net.