Welcome to the first Video Q&A at gnowfglins.com. We’ll have many more of these in the coming weeks!
Today’s question comes from Katie:
“I was reading your no-microwave post and was wondering if you have any suggestions for while one is at work. I often bring my leftovers to work with me and that is where avoiding the microwave seems impossible. Any suggestions?” — Katie
You’ll see my answer in the video above. Basically, it comes down to using stainless steel insulated food jars. We have an assortment. Some for single servings, and a couple larger coffee thermos’ with wide mouths that fit lunch for the kids and I when we’re in town.
Here’s How To Do It
I reheat leftovers (according to Reheating Foods without a Microwave) to fill an insulated food jar. That goes in a cooler with beverage and other jars/glass bowls of food that don’t need to be kept warm. Like kefir/fruit, hummus, cold salmon salad, etc. The ice in the cooler keeps the cold foods cold, while the insulated food jar keeps the warm food warm!
A Few Tips
“Temper” the food jar with hot water for 5 minutes before filling it with hot food. This helps keep the hot food hot longer because it doesn’t cool down initially from a cold jar.
To de-odorize a food jar, wash with soap and water as usual. Then fill with water and a splash of vinegar. Let soak overnight. Periodically, take apart the lid (if your food jar does this) and wash any rubber gaskets separately, scrubbing out the grooves of the lid with a small cleaning tool.
How do you provide a warm lunch out and about without using the microwave?
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About Wardeh
For some reason, my last link photo doesn’t show up. Odd....
Take the guesswork out of what to fix, what to buy and what to prepare. This week:
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Thanks for the helpful tips! Another suggestion is, I send my husband’s hot lunch in a small crock-pot that he just plugs in once he gets to work. You can find the 1.5 quart crock-pots at Wal-mart for around $15-$20, I believe. It’s a perfect size and cleans up easily. It works great for us!
Christine — What a great idea. Thank you!
The crockpot is an excellent suggestion for those who can do that! In fact, I have a small fondue type crockpot that would probably work well for that purpose. I’ve also use those types of containers you are showing Wardeh. I found one at starbucks awhile back that was meant for keeping hot oatmeal. But I just add hot water to it, heat my soup really hot and then add that to the hot container and it stays warm for a long time.
Tara — That’s a good idea (the fondue pot)!
Twitter: believeinbutter
says:
Once I got a toaster oven for my birthday in 2010, I truly left behind the microwave. Don’t think I had used it much before then but that really insured I never would consider it.
Soli — I have heard that from so many people! I have a toaster oven but it isn’t very good, so I don’t use it much.
Great tips, Wardeh! We also are microwave free and I actually wouldn’t know what to do with a microwave anymore since I’m so accustomed to not using them. At first my husband thought it was a crazy idea to get rid of the microwave, but don’t tell, I think he’s actually enjoying using the stove and toaster oven since he realizes the taste difference
The only time I miss our microwave is when I want to use a magic bag. We use hot water bottles and gel-filled packs that can be done on the stove but they’re not quite as cuddly
great video, thanks for sharing!
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We went sans microwave 17 years ago and I have never looked back. It is funny because my parents bought a super deluxe microwave back in 77 and I learned how to cook complete meals (meat loaf, chicken cacciatore, etc) and we rarely used the stove.
I have friends who feel sorry for me having to spend ‘so much’ time in the kitchen each day but I love it, making real food with real cooking methods.
Anyway, thanks for being there to affirm what I already know and to remind me that I am not crazy
Oh, I got 15 pieces of lidded storage pyrex like you showed at black friday for a super deal and am loving the versatility.
Be blessed!
This is a great video and I really appreciate all the suggestions as this is what I am trying to wean myself from at work. Something I keep in my desk is an immersion heater that I bought at a travel store. (Of course, I paid $15 for it and my husband found one at the Goodwill for $1.25!) But it works very well for soups and hot liquids. Oh, I keep a container of miso in the refrigerator and the immersion heater lets me enjoy a cup of hot soup anytime. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=immersion+heater&x=0&y=0
I have used my small lidded Pyrex bowels (straight from the fridge) and placed them on top of an electric coffee warmer at least two hours before lunch. It works great most times unless a chunk of meat is really thick.
Years ago, I would wrap my food in foil, place it on the heaters in the morning, and cover it with a box. By lunchtime, my food was at a comfortable temperature. During the summer months, I’d put hot water in a large bowl and put my food–enclosed in a plastic container–inside of the water. Now that I’m transitioning to a raw food diet, I just leave my food out and eat it when it reaches room temperature.
We’ve been microfree for years now, but I still struggle at times. I agree on the crockpot; it feeds my kids and I at our weekly co-op at lunch, while everyone else is having lunchables. However, while I always pack food for my husband for work (railroader gone 2 days at a time…), it’s impossible to send him with a crockpot. I have an immersion heater that I LOVE but it doesn’t work to heat some things, like casseroles. Any suggestions? I guess I could send all cold stuff and just hot soup to be heated with the immersion heater….
Hey Wardeh! I got a question. There’s an article on the WAPF site that warns against using stainless steel, even in thermoses, as it can leach heavy metals, particularly nickel. (http://www.westonaprice.org/environmental-toxins/mad-as-a-hatter) What do you think about that?
I’m about to get me some food jars, and I’d like to heed their warning, but I can’t even find glass ones listed as an alternative to the stainless steel. And before learning about the nickel issue, I was under the impression that stainless steel was relatively inert and totally safe. Hmm. I’m wondering if this is one of those times where worries about safety have gone a little overboard… do you think? I’d love to hear your input on this!
Emily — Stainless steel is minimally reactive. I am totally fine with it if the contact is momentary, but using it prolonged does give me pause. I don’t have a better choice for warm lunches that works for us, though. So we choose to do it anyway. The biggest risk are acidic foods — like tomato based soups and sauces.
I spent some time looking for the old Thermos style — the ones with glass liners. I could never find any.
I do remember growing up that my parents had them and they were always breaking!