Do you remember cooking before the microwave? If you do, good for you! If you don't, then this might cause you to do some thinking. Either way, cooking before the microwave was a little different, especially when it came to handling leftovers. My mom and I had a fun conversation the other night about all the things she did in the kitchen before she got her microwave oven. The conversation was a real hoot and prompted me to do a new weekly series to share stories and recipes that my family made prior to the microwave oven.Although I was born in 1975, we didn't get our first microwave oven until about 1985. By this time, I was at least ten years old. I remember at first that my Mom didn't want one, but my Grandpa insisted that she would love it. He convinced her that she had to have it. I remember when he went up to Sears and bought it for her. In the 80's, microwave ovens were expensive , and not something my Mom would've bought for herself. I'll never forget the day they installed that strange looking beast. It was huge and loomed over the stove on a shelf. It was like a science experiment or something.
These days, Mom and I love our microwave ovens mostly for reheating leftovers or making popcorn, but back then it took some getting used to. Mom was used to being creative with her leftovers and had very different methods for reheating things. If you think about it, some things just don't reheat well in the oven. How would you reheat leftover pasta, leftover mashed potatoes, leftover vegetables, or leftover rolls? No wonder we had so many casseroles back then! The microwave really was a new concept in the kitchen. In many ways, it reinvented how people cooked.
One of my all-time favorite things to eat back then was pasta. When we had leftover pasta, my Mom would reheat it gently on the stove. I'm not sure if this was her own special way, but to me it is. I'd be very curious to know if some of you have also reheated pasta using this method. If not, you might find it interesting. Either way it is delicious and when I have time, I still use this method. It produces more dirty dishes, (which is another thing the microwave changed), but it is much better than reheating leftover pasta in the microwave.
Mom's Leftover Pasta, Reheated
*leftover plain or buttered pasta, any shape
*pat of butter
*about 3-4 tablespoons of milk
Put a pat of butter in a skillet over low-medium heat. Let butter melt.
Add about 3 - 4 tablespoons of milk (skim, lowfat, whole) to the skillet. The milk should probably be enough to just cover the bottom of the skillet.
Add in the desired amount of leftover pasta. Usually there is only enough room to make 1 or 2 servings.
Gently loosen up the pasta and let reheat in the milk and butter mixture. This takes about 2-3 minutes, or until the milk evaporates. This is a good time to throw in any other leftovers: chopped bacon, parmesan cheese, any leftover veggies, etc. It is a good way to use up any other leftovers hanging out in the fridge. Can you see the potential here.......much better than anything reheated in the microwave!!
The pasta is ready when it is warm all the way through and all the milk is evaporated.
Pile on a plate and enjoy. The pasta should have a sheen to it. The butter and milk almost make a delicate sauce that keeps the pasta hydrated. Although your pasta will not techically be "al dente", it will be much better than if it was reheated in the microwave.Have you ever reheated your pasta this way? If not, do you have another method?
What do you remember that was different about cooking before the microwave? What did you cook on the stovetop or oven that you now cook solely in the microwave? Did you have any special method for reheating leftovers? Any special recipes you created to use up leftovers? If so, please share. It's kinda funny to go back and think about cooking without the microwave. I'm looking forward to some funny and creative stories and ideas.
Next week's edition is all about leftover mashed potatoes (before the microwave, of course)!!
I well remember the days before the microwave. You're right - they were expensive and huge. I didn't buy one until they became built-in above the oven. I've never reheated pasta this way but it looks like a good method. We don't have a microwave in our little pied-a-terre where we are for the winter and your tip will come in handy.
ReplyDeleteSam
Very cool. I have a microwave (of course, who doesnt lol) and i rarely use it. I just use it to heat up left overs. That being said, the microwave can be used to make fabulous scrambled eggs. I learned how from my mother in law. I'm going to post that some time.
ReplyDelete*kisses* HH
I don't remember when we got our first microwave - but now, sheesh - we use it all the time.
ReplyDeleteI love the way your Mom heated the pasta - almost better the second time around!
such a fun post, and i love that pasta! i don't remember life without a microwave, but i do remember my mom's prehistoric, 2 ton microwave that we had well into my teen years! i probably use my microwave way more than i should, but it sure is handy for lunchtime!
ReplyDeleteI am actually pretty new to the microwave. I have only had one for about 15 years.
ReplyDeleteI still like to heat things on the stove, it seems to taste better for the most part. :)
I remember the microwave just sitting on the counter waiting to be cleaned and rarely ever used. Then I went through a period where I sought out recipes to actually "cook" in the microwave. A short-lived, dismal experience. Now I'd be lost without it, but mostly for defrosting things and, of course, reheating leftovers. My mother reheated everything on top of the stove in a frying pan. I never liked leftovers, particularly leftover pasta because I like very, very little sauce and reheated pasta has sauce all over it. I like your new look.
ReplyDeleteMy husband does not like to use the microwave to heat stuff for my kid.....makes me crazy.He thinks is not good for you, so I use it to reheat my food.
ReplyDeleteI was born in 1974 and we got our first microwave in 1987 - and you know what? Before that I couldn't tell you what we did with our leftovers! I suspect they were reheated gently in the regular oven, though. I don't know if I could do without a microwave now...Just way too convenient. My dad doesn't have one and swears he will never get one, and when we eat at his place, sometimes it's really irritating to not have one there! He stir-fries his leftovers.
ReplyDeleteLOL! I remember when we got our first. My mom was against the idea as well. My dad bought her one anyways for Mothers Day. She just cried. I'm thinking she must love it now:)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way to reheat pasta! We didn't get a microwave until the late 80's, but my mom reheated with tomato sauce if we had leftovers. This method you use seems better even with a microwave handy since the pasta won't dry out! I actually did not have a microwave for a long time and just got one recently - had to cave in to save time.
ReplyDeleteHi!!! My family not only re-heats pasta in this way, we often simply make a simple sauce for our cooked pasta in this manner as well. We then generously salt and pepper it and WAH LAH! This is truly one of the joys of Italian cooking....the more simple the better! Gosh, it sure is making me hungry just thinking about this! Ciao, Roz (aka bella)
ReplyDeletefun post, I hardly use mine just for re heating as well, thanks for your kind comment, you so must eat a curry
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea for a blog post! Just recently, our microwave bit the dust. I thought maybe, I would not replace it for awhile and see how the family does....So far, it really has not been that big of miss except for my son, who likes to microwave frozen foods when he gets home from school.
ReplyDeleteI am finding that he eats better without having a microwave to heat up his hot pockets :-) I have to admit, I like the additional counter space too. We will see how long this lasts.
I have to remember your post for reheatng pasta.
Yes, yes, yes! We always reheated pasta like that. My grandmother didn't use her microwave for reheating food. I don't know what she used it for really. I loved how some of the pieces of pasta got a little crispiness too it. Chicken reheated the microwave is not good. It gets a funny taste, did you ever notice that?
ReplyDeleteI think we got our first microwave around the same time as you did. And I'll be darned if it doesn't still function to this day! Or I'm guessing it does...my husband got rid of it a few months ago. I liked having it around as a back up.
ReplyDeleteThat last comment was my alter ego...woops :)
ReplyDeleteI love using my microwave to reheat leftovers or to thaw frozen meat if I forget to take it out of the freezer early enough. :) My mom has a microwave, but does not use it at all. She reheats everything on the stove or oven.
ReplyDeleteI love my .. cooking range! Though I do have a microwave - which I use to melt butter to butter pans .. and to reheat! They're part of our current appliances in our kitchens today.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine cooking or baking without a microwave. How long would it take to thaw out frozen chicken? Yikes. :) Thanks for this post.
ReplyDeleteWell, I'll be the different one here. I don't have a microwave. I had one when we lived in DC, but I never used it. When we designed our new kitchen here in Belgium, I just didn't put one in. I don't miss it, either (since I never used it).
ReplyDeleteWe reheat pasta in the way you've done it here, but with a chopped tomato and some onion/garlic/herbs instead of the butter and milk. I like the idea of butter and milk, though. I'll try it next time.
Most of our leftovers go in a pan with whatever else is in the kitchen to make a sauce, and are served either over pasta or over rice. If they're slice-able they might go in a sandwich or a salad.
When I lived in Germany we had no microwave, and I just reheated leftovers in the oven. I would always put a pan of water underneath the food, though! I don't really know how much it helped, but in my mind it kept the food moist :) And I love your lead photo! I also have a silly vintage microwave cookbook with crazy awesome food photos!
ReplyDeleteThis is very interesting to read about. Thanks, Kim! We didn't get a microwave until the late 80s when I was almost a teenager. My dad didn't trust them. He thought we'd all get cancer. When we finally got one, one of the first things my mom did was to "bake" one of those microwave cakes. We all stood around the microwave and watched the whole process. Not my dad, though, b/c he wouldn't go anywhere near the thing while it was running!
ReplyDeleteI don't remember what my mom cooked in the microwave but I do remember that leftovers weren't as dried out after getting one. That's pretty much what I use mine for--heating leftovers. I've never actually cooked anything using a microwave.
I don't know if it's my imagination, but it seems to me that food (esp. pasta) reheated in a microwave cools off faster than food reheated on the stovetop.
I really love this post! I don't remember life before the microwave but I do reheat things constantly and could use some tips to make them taste better and more like they did on the first day. This is a great one!
ReplyDeleteI store things inside my microwave, my husband say it’s a boxy clock we have in the kitchen . Your pasta sounds very good. :-)
ReplyDeletegreat idea- I've been trying to get unhooked from the microwave, this is a great way to get new ideas. I've never tried to reheat the pasta like that, but it sounds yummy!! Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteThat is a great way to use up leftover pasta. I can totally see the possibilities. I usually pour a little milk over pastas with cream sauce or food with gravy as I'm putting the leftovers in the fridge. That way when my husband re-heats them for lunch in his work microwave they're not so dry and sticky.
ReplyDeleteOh my...i feel like we always had a micro at home though we still have the reheating steamer mom used...yeah a steamer....i love this way of heating pasta and have some sitting in the refrigeration right now...dinner leftover ....and with way of reheating could toss a warm salad morrow....
ReplyDeleteMy cousins were the first to get a microwave. When we visited, my cousin Chris ran over to me and said "I can make you a hot dog in less than a minute!"
ReplyDeleteIf I remember correctly, it only had minimal buttons, like on and off!
I make my daughters pasta like that - except add minced garlic - she doesn't really like red sauce - but butterned noodles are her favorite!
Oh, I am just like your mother! I dug my heels in on anything new…didn’t want the microwave. Didn’t want a cell phone. Did not want an automatic drip coffee maker……after the new appliances/toys are in the household I get used to them.
ReplyDeleteMy mom reheated pasta the same way you did and I do the same. My big problem with microwaves is the food can get rubbery.
I love that you added milk! Never done that before, but will be trying it next time!
ReplyDeleteI must admit I always use the microwave to reheat leftovers. This sounds like much better way to reheat pasta!
ReplyDeleteMicrowaves have been around since I learned to cook but I don't use them much. The main thing I use ours for is
ReplyDelete1) popcorn
2) melting butter
Other than that, just reheating leftovers at work, but I used our mini convection oven more often there.
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