I was going to bash this but then I considered that a microwave is such a long lived appliance over the years you have it the saving in electricity _might_ make up for the environmental cost of manufacturing a new one provided you craigslisted the old one rather than throw it out.

Does anyone buy used microwaves? I tried to get rid of two of them the last time I moved to no avail. It's a shame because they really do last a long time.

My boyfriend has been trying to talk me into buying a microwave so that the can make speedy scrambled eggs in the morning while he's rushing out the door.

I've been trying to find an alternative, but it seems that there isn't a fast and un-messy way to get around this.

Microwaves have always freaked me out, and I know about the enzyme loss, and studies on breast milk, but I'm thinking that maybe just the occasional reheat and cooking a quick breakfast isn't all that bad. And as far as buying a used microwave- I think it would be hard to determine whether the thing is working safely or not...

Anonymous, I've found FreeCycle (often cited on Tree Hugger) to be a great way to get rid of or receive a used microwave (and many other things!). http://www.freecycle.org/

ashes, are you serious? I just made scrambled eggs, in my cast iron skillet and it took me, including cleanup, maybe two minutes at the most. Especially with a high-protein animal food, microwaves not only produce a disgusting flavor and texture, but denature the proteins and cause toxic byproducts which can have a host of undesired effects.

Seriously, people, we're talking about the nourishment for your body and mind. It should be at the top of your priority list, not something just slapped together in record time. I hate to be preachy here, but the whole "fast foods for busy lifestyle" excuse is getting pretty tired. If you can't set aside a little time to prepare some nutritious meals (try getting things ready in advance) then perhaps it's time for some lifestyle changes.

I'm a bit skeptical that the normal use mode of one of these mini-micros would really be helpful to conservation efforts. Microwaves heat food directly, so they don't suffer from heat loss. A higher wattage microwave will take less time to heat something like a cup of water, giving little if any advantage to a smaller, lower wattage unit.

Further, just like with small refrigerators made to store no more than a few cans and a lunch bag, this microwave is probably primarily going to be bought by people putting it in their offices, dens, entertainment rooms, etc. just to avoid walking to the existing microwave.

Especially with a high-protein animal food, microwaves not only produce a disgusting flavor and texture, but denature the proteins and cause toxic byproducts which can have a host of undesired effects.

djb, it has been my experience that most of these claims can all be traced back to a single alarmist piece of literature about the dangers of microwaves. Most of its source materials are controversial at best, commonly failing in repeatability or peer review, and at worst the results of research from politically motivated departments (for example, many of the papers were Soviet and still very much on the fringe). Most of these claims have been widely debunked.

Here's a good jumping off point for the debunking of many of these claims:

http://message.snopes.com/showthread.php?t=5443

I agree with djb, taste and texture is disgusting. Whether or not it breaks down nutritional value matters little to me if the food tastes like rubber. I buy fresh organic food not just for the environment, or the nutritional value, but also because I like my food to taste good too. It's difficult to compete with cast-iron.

People, try not to be so gd absolute. I think this is an interesting post--well spotted, Colin.

It should go without saying that a product's green credentials depend entirely on how they're put to use. As for taste, microwaves are fine for some things (excellent for scrambled eggs, btw) and not for others. You need to know how to use it effectively Quel surprise.

djb: don't worry, 80% of my eating can be considered "slow food". But I still find time for my microwave, even when I'm slow-cooking. And who doesn't have the need to quickly reheat leftovers from time to time? It doesn't make you some stressed-out arsehole.

The RMI (Home Energy Brief #8) shows that microwaving is the most efficient way, by far, to heat things up.

I don't put much stock in the scare stories about microwaves, particularly as I don't use mine very much.

And the space-saving is a very good thing, potentially. I welcome anything, however small that can contribute to compact living.

I won't run out and buy one of these--actually I've never bought a microwave in my life. But if I needed one, and couldn't find a hand-me-down, then this is probably the one I'd buy. It's not about whether a product is good or evil; it's about having appropriate products for particular circumstances. I give it two green thumbs up.

Sharper Image doesn't say how large the interior is or how many watts it uses. Will it hold a standard dinner plate?

the additives tree hugger which is use in petrol engine ?
the mixture of additives & petrol whose stickiness nature is similar as diesel or not?
if mixture is added in diesel engine with diesel, than what will be happen?