Right now I have a mid-90s Panasonic that does the job, but I've been looking at some of the newer models because what I have now doesn't have any of the bells or whistles, and we got it hand-me down for free so it's not like we have any sunk costs in it. I'd love something like this one (a combo microwave / convection oven), but I think my wife would blanch at the price. Anyone have any experience with those combo microwave / convection ovens? Are they worth it?

As for what I use the thing for - mainly making popcorn. I will always have a microwave, if for no other reason than that. I also use it fairly often for reheating leftovers (although not all leftovers - some things definitely do better in the oven, if you're willing to have a little patience), and find that it's especially nice for reheating beverages (if you sit a cup of tea down somewhere and forget about it for an hour or so). I don't really use it to make beverages though - I have a Sunbeam Hotshot for when I need to boil water quickly (it's 3 or 4 times faster than the microwave and seems to be surprisingly rugged - have had it for about 3 years now and use it on average at least once a day).

... but I cannot imagine  having a kitchen without one.

The microwave is absolutely the best solution ever devised for reheating foods, whether it be a restaurant doggie bag or last night's lasagna.

Now that my my kids are grown or almost grown (and the almost ones don't live with me all the time anyway) most nights it's just me and my lovely Significant Other. I do most of the cooking but I have yet to grasp the concept of cooking for two. There are almost always leftovers and we can't afford not to eat them.

I detest most designed-for-the-microwave convenience foods as being generally tasteless as well as being stuffed with all sorts of suspicious-sounding preservatives and other miracles of modern chemistry, but for leftovers or the occasional quick zap of some frozen veggies in the dead of winter, nothing beats the Nuker.

{Insert amusing quotation here}

Anyone out there who doesn't have one?

I owned one years ago, but gave it away -- I didn't use it much and they take up a fair amount of kitchen space.  Since then I've occasionally resided in places where one was installed as part of the furnishings, and there's pretty much guaranteed to be one in every workplace I've worked for the past 20 years or so, but in my own home I haven't felt a need to acquire another microwave to replace the one I had way back when.

It's not that I have any categorical objection to them, I just don't find a microwave oven to be all that necessary or useful.  Generally I can reheat leftovers just fine on the stovetop or in the oven, I prefer popcorn that's actually popped in oil and topped with real butter on the rare occasions when I feel like snacking on popcorn, and I think that the usual effect of microwave cooking on meats and breads is abominable.  They do steam things well, but honestly, how hard is it to boil water in a pan and put in a steamer basket?

About the only common microwave trick I am impressed by is the ability to turn out a tolerable imitation of a baked potato in 5 minutes.  Beyond that I just don't see the point.

So now that I've fessed up to being the microwave contrarian in the group, let me turn the question around:  what's the "killer app" for all you microwave fans?  What am I missing out on?

I bet no one is surprised that I don't have a microwave.  My favorite kitchen applicance is the pioneer maid wood cookstove.  I can cook more things faster on this stove than anything else I've ever used.  It's already 30 years old and still in nearly perfect condition - when I need it in the winter it is already hot and ready to go.  Next to that I have a propane stovetop that works quite well in the summer.  Leftovers are best fried, or sometimes heated up in the toaster oven.

I've never had a microwave.   When I lived in Europe, they were not common, and I've never found the need for one.  I finally broke down about 2 years ago and got a toaster oven since it seemed a bit ridiculous to fire up a giant gas oven just to toast some bread....

Honestly, I don't see the point of a microwave.  It's just more crap in your kitchen.

Then again, I don't own a TV either, so I guess I'm a bit outside the mainstream.

Chris.

My parents also have an Amana.  I think it's from the mid 80s. Those Amanas last forever.  They are still using theirs.

What interesting things do you have in your kitchen?

George Foreman grill and Crock Pot for life, son.  The Foreman is used outside, though.  I love that slow-cooker, though, there's nothing like taking a cheap hunk of roast or whatever and just throwing it in at 10am with whatever (veggies, seasoning, sauces, any combination, really) and having a meal ready at dinner time.

I've actually been thinking about getting a Real Deal Grill because a) Holyfield is playable on Fight Night Round 3 and Foreman isn't; b) they open all 180 degrees and seem more versatile; and c) every time I play FNR3 online we make jokes about the Real Deal Grill.  Although if I ever do get one, it won't be for a while because a friend gave me the biggest Foreman there is as a gift and it would be pretty bad form to have him over with a Real Deal out there.

My grandpa has a cast-iron skillet that "ain't been washed since before my daddy had it, I ain't never washed it and you sure as hell ain't gonna wash it, you hear me boy?" that I'll inherit one day along with other priceless family treasures like firearms that predate the invention of the automobile and handwritten letters to his dad from Bat Masterson (no shit).  May that day be long in the future, though.