I’ve pretty much always had a microwave since I left college and began living on my own. But frankly, I was surprised when Que Tal had one aboard when we bought her. I’d never really thought of having one on a boat.
A couple of readers have asked me my thoughts on having one and whether it’s a good idea. Simple answer: it depends. There’s no universal answer, so all I can do is give you some things to think about.
First, there isn’t one “typical” TBG reader — some are living aboard and prepping a boat to go on an extended cruise, some are full-time cruising, some are weekenders, and all sorts of others.
In deciding whether you want a microwave, there are basically three things to consider:
- The room it will take up;
- How much you’ll use it; and
- Whether you have the power for it.
Space
Space is probably the simplest consideration and is simply a matter of whether you’re willing to give up space for something else (equipment or just storage) in order to have the microwave. You’ll have to make sure that you can get power to the intended location and engineer a tie-down system to make sure that the microwave won’t go flying in rough conditions.
Usage
Your microwave usage ashore may or may not be a good indicator of how much you’ll use it on the boat. If you’re working (or working on the boat as opposed to cruising) and the boat is at the dock, you may find that your lifestyle is very similar on the boat to ashore and your usage is about the same — heating up meals, cooking bacon and baked potatoes, melting butter, boiling water and so on.
The difference comes when you’re away from the dock — there are both pluses and minuses:
- Unless you have a large freezer, you’re not likely to have a lot of frozen meals to just heat in the microwave (few anchorages have a store where you can just pick up something to heat up).
- Water actually boils faster in a teakettle on the stove, and if you’re on passage or in a rolly anchorage, it’s safer as it’s less likely to splash on you than in an open container in the microwave.
- It’s also a lot safer to melt butter on a gimballed stove than to risk hot oil sloshing in the microwave.
- In rough conditions, many cruisers love being able to “bake” potatoes in the microwave — it’s easy, you can often use the microwave when it’s too rough for the stove, and potatoes are good even if you’re mildly seasick.
- It’s also somewhat safer to cook bacon in the microwave than on the stove, particularly if it’s rolly. Just be sure to use enough paper towels to absorb the hot grease so it won’t slosh and burn you when you remove the dish from the microwave.
- If you like popcorn (and it’s a great snack), making it in the microwave is much easier than on the stove. And at least the microwave can be used for other things, where an air popper can’t. Popcorn was BY FAR our biggest use!
- Thawing meat — well, I know I shouldn’t thaw meat on the counter. But in the tropics, a chicken breast will thaw in about 15 minutes and so I do it that way instead of thawing it in the microwave. And you can cook any meat from frozen or partially frozen. However, if you’re in a cooler climate, you might use it for thawing . . .
Many people find that they use their microwave as a bread box away from the dock. It’s also a good place to put small electronics during a thunderstorm (read more about this).
Power
Yeah, this is the big one. On shore power, no problem as long as the boat is wired with outlets where you need them. At anchor, it means a generator or an inverter and sufficient battery and charging capacity.
A typical microwave is 1200 watts. With these, you’re going to need at least a 2000 watt generator or a 1500 watt inverter (due to start up loads). With a 700 watt microwave, you may be able to get by with a 1000-watt generator or invertor.
If you’re going to use generator power, keep in mind that you’ll have to run the generator every time you want to use the microwave. Most people find it impractical and end up either not using the microwave at anchor or deciding to run it off the inverter. If you’re thinking about this, you might want to read Inverters 101.
So how much battery power will it take to run the microwave? I’ll use a 1200 watt microwave as the example — the total power used by a 700-watt one is about the same as cooking/heating/thawing times are correspondingly longer.
Ignoring any losses in the system (there are always inefficiencies but battery voltage is usually over a true 12 volts, so this works for estimation purposes), a 1200 watt microwave is going to use 100 amps at 12 volts. That’s 100 amp-hours for a full hour of use . . . but we just want to know how much it uses per minute since that’s how we use it. Dividing 100 amp-hours by 60 to get the amp-hours per minute, gives us 1.67 amp-hours per minute of microwave use. Ten minutes is nearly 17 amp-hours.
From there, you can figure about how much you think you’d use it per day and design your power system accordingly . . . or decide that you don’t want it . . . or that you’ll only use it when you have shore power.
The space/usage/power analysis is different for everyone. I know some cruisers who couldn’t imagine not having a microwave and others who gave theirs away after realizing that they didn’t use it enough to justify the space.
Carolyn Shearlock has lived aboard full-time for 17 years, splitting her time between a Tayana 37 monohull and a Gemini 105 catamaran. She’s cruised over 14,000 miles, from Pacific Mexico and Central America to Florida and the Bahamas, gaining firsthand experience with the joys and challenges of life on the water.
Through The Boat Galley, Carolyn has helped thousands of people explore, prepare for, and enjoy life afloat. She shares her expertise as an instructor at Cruisers University, in leading boating publications, and through her bestselling book, The Boat Galley Cookbook. She is passionate about helping others embark on their liveaboard journey—making life on the water simpler, safer, and more enjoyable.
Here’s your “Quick Start” to everything you need to know when living on a boat:
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Christine Warren on Facebook says
We have a microwave on our boat…and we love it. We do popcorn…hot water for coffee, tea and hot cocoa….and rice in it. We recently got a small clay pot that does chicken perfectly in the microwave…but haven’t tried it ourselves yet….we did try it at a pampered chef show and it was delicious. We tend to cook our meats on the grill that is mounted on the swim platform.
Paul says
We left ours behind. It’s such a power hog, and we were only using it for re-heats, so we filled the space with much more useful items. We currently live aboard, and are a year away from full time cruising, so best to get used to not having one.
Dan says
Our new boat had a microwave and we removed it – considering we would never use it as we have never had one on previous boats. We do get better use out of a toaster oven, for toast, grilling, and heating snacks and pre-cocked pies, meat and veg. Toaster ovens are a little smaller, lighter and easy to store. They may not be easier on power but I have the luxury of a 2k inverter and generator on board. A great compliment to existing galley ranges.
Cheri says
Actually, an air popper is great for roasting coffee beans. If you are into that sort of thing. I converted our coveted microwave space into much needed storage. Kept it on board for the first year and never used it, then in storage the second year in case I changed my mind. Lots of work arounds to not having one. Bacon…cook up a few pounds in a nice deep pot to contain splatter… Freeze or refrigerate what you don’t use and throw in a pan to heat up, or eat at room temp. Yum.
Dave Skolnick (S/V Auspicious) says
I put a microwave on Auspicious. A year later I took it off. I have hung on to it, and when we hauled the boat for the winter (the first time in seven years!) I moved the microwave onto the boat again. For us, while cruising, it just doesn’t make sense to give up the space and power for a microwave.
Sue says
We have one and only used it when in a marina.. now after 8 years of not being in a marina very often I forget about it if we are. I am not sure of its safety after so long at sea either..Skipper wants to remove it but it is a useful cupboard and where it is does not impinge on my galley space.
We are living in a house at the moment and I forget I have one here too. Getting used to using it for defrosting meat and heating up leftovers..
Roberta Casentieri says
Just about to buy a microwave but having second thoughts after reading your interesting article
I have been liverboard a narrow bost for nearly eight years. Thank u
Ric says
Love having one. Many uses. Looking into a Jackery battery to power when off the dock.
Gord Wedman says
I guess I have had a microwave in my kitchens for 40 years or more. So handy for cooking and reheating leftovers. I have been living onboard for 10 years now and always use my microwave when in my marina. I don’t really find the space it takes up to be an issue and will take it with me when I go south next year. Plan on having a Honda Eu2000i generator but can run it from my batteries.
Mark-Sue Lawrence says
We took ours off. It makes a good storage area, conveniently located.
seadaddler says
Love our microwave and use it alot for the type of cruising we do here in Florida,I do have a gen and 2000/inverter
and even added 2-195 watt solar panels and have 4-6volt batteries which do a great job charging my batteries.
We are big battery power users for also TV and computers and chaging smart phone with hot spot for internet and electric coffee maker so we are well setup for charging batteries at anchor with solar and Gen.
Nick
Robert Patterson says
All boats should have a microwave oven, to store handheld GPS and radios in an electrical storm.
The Boat Galley says
🙂 The oven overflow!
Adam says
What does this do for them?
Carolyn Shearlock says
It acts as a Farraday cage, to protect them from lightning strikes. Read more here: https://theboatgalley.com/oven/
LaMarr Harding says
I have a 12 volt Wavebox microwave (I used large wire and its close to the battery) in my minivan. I use it to heat hot dogs, heat water for jello, water for rice, noodles, powdered potatoes and oatmeal (I dump it in a wide mouth thermous to cook), an egg in a sprayed measuring cup, heat precooked bacon and sausage (No splatters)
Living in a minivan it gives me the food I want without the fumes of cooking in an enclosed space.
Shelly Young says
A microwave is important on our boat for all the above reasons. We are a cook once, eat twice boat which means we are reheating all the time.
Mary Dixon says
We’ve cruised for months & yrs at a time w/out a microwave. My pressure cooker is used often even for popcorn. I love to cook on the boat so the microwave isn’t important. We currently live in our lake house for 6 mos that does have a microwave & our 37′ sailboat for 6 mos w/out microwave. It works for us.
Becky Croston says
Our Ericson 32 was too small for a microwave. The max vacation we had was 3 weeks. Now with a Ponderosa 42 (stink -pot) we have lots of space for 2 people. We’ll spend 5 mo. “to Alaska ” and will NOT use the micro. We don’t stay at docks and the power consumption vs. gain is negative. The barbe is the best investment.
Frances Liz Fernandez says
My microwave came as part of the galley. I use it for all overnight trips. I do pre-cook everything I can and plan accordingly so everything that needs to get zapped happens in success ion. So I only have to shut off nonessential items and run the generator as necessary. Otherwise we don’t use it that often.
Peter Robertson says
We use ours everyday! … As a bread box…… yes, it’s in an up high useless space above the refrigerator
Mary E Dixon says
No microwave for me. Not worth the space. I do love my pressure cooker.
Ron Newton says
Mine has a microwave over the stove, factory setup. I use the exhaust fan and use it for storage. Popcorn and the occasional reheat of leftovers is the only real microwave duty it does.
Debbie Brethauer says
With solar panels and inverter- our Beneteau First26 is our weekend live aboard – and the microwave is worthy! Small and tucked efficiently away, the popcorn is always a hit and tie up dinners are assisted by its presence. Need? Probably not. Luxury yes. Will I have one again? Yes!
Matty Fletcher says
No Way !!! Circe is a steel yacht and I would NEVER use a microwave on any steel or ally vessel. If the microwave leaks then it turns your boat into a microwave. They are powered by a magnetron the same as a Radar and you wouldn’t stand in front of a Radar. If your vessel is GRP or wood then you should always have a microwave leakage detector.
Skylar Walker says
We love ours!
Maryanne Grady says
This was a timely post!!! My husband and I were just kicking around the pros and cons of getting a microwave for our boat. We were leaning towards no, but had not decided for certain. You have given us confirmation of the issues we were wrestling with. I think we will live without one. Thanks so much for you input!!!
Carolyn Shearlock says
You can always add one if you find you really miss it.
Jennifer Dean Neumann says
We have a convection microwave instead of an oven, and installed a dishwasher drawer where the oven was. However we’re on a power boat with a generator. Would love to add solar on the bimini.
Dave Skolnick (S/V Auspicious) says
Reading this article again, and my own comment, I think Carolyn and I both missed a crucial element. If you use a microwave often ashore you will miss it afloat. If you didn’t use it much ashore you won’t miss it. This is much less superficial than it seems.
If you really cook (as opposed to reheating) in a microwave ashore then there will be additional stress associated with cooking without one. Moving aboard and cruising, particularly in the beginning, is stressful enough. Don’t add additional factors if you don’t need to.
So for those for whom “potato,” “popcorn,” “boiiing water,” or “rice” cause a microwave to leap to mind then by all means plan for a microwave. For my part “potato” means baking in the oven or on the grill, “popcorn” and “rice” means a saucepan, and “boiling water” means a kettle. There is no judgment intended on my part – my point is that you shouldn’t change things you don’t have to in the process of moving aboard and going cruising.
No matter what, there will almost certainly be adjustments to your cooking style when you move aboard.
For my part, I traded two food processors and a blender for a single Immersion (stick) blender. I traded my drip coffee maker for a percolator. I added a pressure cooker (which I discovered I love and should have procured 30 years ago). Over the last eight years I have added home pressure canning to my repertoire.
My message is that you will change your style. Don’t force yourself. Let it happen. In the meantime, if you cook with a microwave ashore put one on your boat.
If all you do with a microwave is reheat things then ask around (Carolyn is a good place to start) for how to reheat without one. A little water, a little steam, sometimes a dry pan, a bit of oven – you’ll be surprised how easy it is to reheat food without a microwave.
None of this is about right or wrong, seamanlike, or whatever. It’s about building a comfortable life afloat.
sail fast and eat well, dave
Jim Watson says
Our 30 ft sedan bridge had a small microwave that slid around the counter-top while underway. The boat also had no oven. Our solution was to replace the microwave with a microwave/convection oven and with some minor modifications, I was able to “build it in” under the sink and still hide it behind the cabinet doors when not it use. It gained us precious counter space and provided an over which expanded the variety of dishes we are able to prepare.
Patrick Shepherd says
Hi Jim,
I’m looking to do the same in our galley. Might I ask which microwave/convection oven you settled on? I’ve been looking around and am at a bit of a loss. Did you build venting into the cupboard?
Georgina Moon says
No. Not necessary. It makes you rely on plugging in to the electric ashore. We have lived aboard for three years and NEVER use shore power for anything.
The Sea and Sailors says
No, no, no 🙂
Commuter Cruiser says
That’s MY microwave! And it mostly gets used as a bread/snacks box. 🙂
Mikelyn Heck Scheid says
I traded mine for an ice maker
Jim Watson says
Our icemaker was fine at the time, but bit this dust this fall.
Road King says
I am currently staying in motels 250 days a year and use one quite a bit when it’s there.
In my camper I use it much less as I mostly use propane on the stove and oven. Making noodles and other dry goods that need hot water is just as fast using propane. At home I have one that I use a lot just for convenience. Pressure cookers are great and cook faster and way better than a microwave. Coffee is great using a hand held grinder and french press. All you need is the hot water. Popcorn is easy to cook on the stove.
No sailboat yet but looking at small blue water cruisers. Saw one right before I read this with a microwave taking up half of the galley on a Mariah and thought “That’s going overboard”.
Ernie Lorimer says
If you do, get an inverter style microwave. That way a low power setting draws less amps, instead of cycling full on/full off.
brad says
Most people don’t know it, but microwaves destroy your nutrition. They kill about 70% of the nutrition right off the bat. If you cook food in contact with plastic – which is virtually always carcinogenic and an endocrine disruptor – you VASTLY increase those damages.
The former Soviet Union countries know that microwave cooking is unsafe, so when the Byelorussian State Dance Troupe came to Northern Minnesota and stayed in our homes, they verified that microwave cooking was illegal in the former Soviet block nations at that time.
In 1931 Dr Otto Warbur essentially proved that a diet deficient in live enzymes (microwaves kill them) causes hemoglobin to change from 4 microns in size to 7 microns. This almost doubling makes the oxygen attached to the hemoglobin impossible to be taken into the cells themselves; disrupting the mitochondrial functions, and cascading through a series of biochemical damages. Frequently resulting in cancers – which always take place in a low oxygen environment.
Food cooked in nukes increases LDL cholesterol. Studies in India show that people who are malnourished do NOT get better when fed either nuclear or microwave irradiated foods.
i would obviously not recommend damaging yourself with a nuke.
Maureen says
Thank you for your comments!
Beth Burlingame says
I like the microwave, but suggest that Dave check out the whirley pop for his popcorn (I had one cruising 20+ years ago, bought another when it finally wore out). Stovetop popcorn is so much better I will always find room on my boat for the whirley pop!
Michael Mangione says
Use the pressure cooker for popcorn, just leave the valve open so no pressure builds up and cook as you normally would.
Julia Ayers says
Omg I was just having this conversation today with my honey! The only reason we have a microwave aboard is for popcorn!!! Would much rather use the space for other thangs!! DirksandCaicos Sail follow!
Annual Salvador Rally says
Don’t you know you can make popcorn in a pot?
Kat Fenner says
Gord makes popcorn in a pot for us on a regular basis! 🙂
Kat Fenner says
Gave our microwave away in Guatemala!
The Boat Galley says
Of course I know it. But Dave LIKES to do it in the microwave.
Paul Wyand says
Get a whirly pop and you can use the pot for other things. Makes the best popcorn and does a good job of roasting cofee beans.
Deb Farino says
Yes on the microwave. We heat out coffee water mainly but it comes in handy when I bring leftovers from home to the boat
Christine Dumaine Springfield says
So… Went to reheat food while underway today and between the A/C and oven, the ampmeter was very unhappy. The microwave however did a splendid job. One vote for being able to nuke food. Although, the Whirlypopper is INCREDIBLE for popcorn.
Richard Boren says
I have to admit…when we bought our current boat it had a microwave installed and I used it for a few years until it died. Lori didn’t want a new one, and likes to use the hole it once sat in for storage but that hole where some pots and pans now sit is still a hole in my heart. I miss my microwave and plan to sneak a new one aboard and since I’m the cook of the family it may take a few months before Lori even finds out! Ha ha ha
Paul Daniela Herlihy says
Well, ours (combo microwave/range fan light) at home broke down three years ago and we refuse to replace it since the fan light still works… Microwave on the boat has not been used in two years and have learned to live without. We use Jiffy Pop on the boat’s gas burner or grill and air popper at home. A microwave takes up space and draws roughly 1500W of power.
Kelly Young says
We have the Jiffy pop too along with the camping popcorn maker … the kid likes the Jiffy pop, me not so much.
Mary Jane Russell says
Our microwave is in a “no harm, no foul” space on top of the fridge that would otherwise be a harder to reach space to dust. All I’ve ever done with it is reset the clock when we switch power sources, but I’ve heard that the captain uses it for cooking frozen burritos!
Deb Eldridge says
WhirlyPop is the best!!!
Rich Morpurgo says
We have one and like it.
Cathleen Speaker Holzknecht says
Yes! Where else will you store you electronics during lightning storm?
Jan Alexander says
Oven
David Barten says
For popcorn, stovetop is both lowest cost and no chemicals, I used to like nuked popcorn till I learned about the ingredients but we each pick our poison. For hot water I can stovetop boil water as fast as our nuke can hear it with a force ten stove , only thing it’s useful for is re heating leftovers if you cook that way. I rather save the amps for other consumption. I think a door on the space where the nuke is would be a better use for us…
Maggie Hale says
No need! You won’t miss it!
Ann Heinrich says
Took out our oven put in a microwave, love it! My guy is HAVC licensed and electrician, we got it right 🙂
Jan Alexander says
Another vote for stove top popcorn!!
Robert Denunzio says
Yup
Patti Holma says
Like the microwave for multiple purposes; it’s only run when needed and only for 1-3 min at a time on the inverter so I think it’s a great appliance to have onboard
Samm Souvigny says
O no! !! Dont eat microwave popcorn! ! 🙁 ive lived aboard 4years & never had a microwave on board. .. didn’t use one in my house either. .. we eat our popcorn in a pan w/ (raw) corn kernels & good butter w a glass lid!!! A lot cheaper & healthier! ! ??✌?
Kathy Belanger-Barber says
Get the pop in pan stuff
Delta Zoid says
Makes the best bread box
Lauresa Robinson says
Love my micro, mainly because we have a Dickinson which really need’s to be cranked up for a hot stove top, but I get a lots of use out of my electric fry-pan and George foreman (generator on).
Nola Ck says
microwave is the most versatile appliance on a boat u can defrost food as well as cook food
SV Belle Ile says
Can’t do without my microwave. It is built in and I use it everyday even at anchor for very short periods. The oven or range top makes the entire boat hot.
Forever Living Irie says
We had a microwave on board for the first couple of months, but removed it to free up some counter space. I do miss my microwave popcorn like crazy though, so I’m hoping to have one on the next boat!! 🙂
Jared Stanger says
Never had a microwave when we lived aboard, don’t have one now I live ashore, won’t get one when we get live aboard next. Waste of space and energy.
Dianna Rdesinski Reese says
Don’t eat microwave popcorn, it is so bad for you, get an air popper!
Michael Mangione says
Think about this for a moment: how much food could you store in the space the designated for the microwave? Then, how much energy do you need to run the the wave? If you answer both questions, you’ll see that you don’t need one.
Don Thompson says
We have a tiny 30 year old Litton on Our Nest. Works fine, we use every now and then…
Gordon Thompson says
I bought a 700 wat microwave for Falkor and we use it a lot. I don’t yet know if my 1,000 watt inverter will power it.
Brad Fisher says
It doubles as a faraday box too.
Ginger Rodgers Howard says
Yes yes yes!! We have combo convection and use it 20x more than regular oven. Much less heat in an already small hot galley 🙂
Melani Davis says
Have a Siemens conventional oven/microwave combination and love it ! does not always have to be either/or on a boat if it appeals to you 🙂
Ginger Rodgers Howard says
And yes it doubles as a bread box , anything off the counter box LOL
Lazy Geckos says
Great post! Thanks for sharing!
Lisa McCullough Burd says
We didn’t have one.. Didn’t miss it. Make popcorn in a pot the old fashion way Dave!!
Rod Shehan says
Simply no
Geoff McClure says
We have one. It was on the boat when we bought it. We’ve used it once and ended up smoking the 30A shore power cord. They’re just too power hungry.
Kelly Young says
We have a camping popcorn maker … works great
Edie Rosner says
I only have one for the space that was there with one when we bought PANDA. I use it rarely, it doesn’t take up much space. It makes great storage and I will warm up leftovers. I make popcorn in a kettle. I only use 2 teaspoons of oil. Turns out great! I pour out desired amt of popcorn, take the oil and mix it in the pcorn, then pour into pan. Pop till it stops.
Bridget McGraw says
Ours broke 7 years ago – the first time we used it. Haven’t miss it since.
Wilfred Monette says
gotta have a microwave, a life saver on a boat
brad says
As i stated WAY above, nuking destroys nutrition. Think 1,000 $$$ of food and throwing out $700 of that. Think about studies in India where the malnourished were fed plenty of meals with either nuclear irradiated foods or microwaved foods – and they didn’t get any better. Technical term: “Failure to Thrive”.
Not to mention if you cook with plastic in contact w/food, you vastly increase the xenoestrogens very highly. That increases risk of prostate, breast, and colon cancers although others can result. Not to mention throwing off hormone levels anywhere…..
Katie Calkins says
Dean makes our popcorn in my Grandma’s pressure cooker onboard. It’s so much better than the microwave kind! I could live without our microwave. I use it very little. Sometimes I wish I could have the extra little bit of storage! 🙂
Rosemary Kinderman says
Ditched the microwave that was on the boat when we bought it. Have to be plugged into shore power as it uses lots of power and stove top pop corn is better and healthier .
Edward Popka says
I ‘d keep one just to use it as a Faraday cage for electronics during a lightning storm (and popcorn!)
Claudia Davis Reshetiloff says
Don’t have one, don’t miss it. Stovetop popcorn 🙂
Lysa Stulberg Evans says
I have a microwave convection oven and couldn’t be happier. One space serves a dual function.
Tina Ann Byers says
Yes!
Kathy Kirk Hanson says
Replaced ours with a Breville toaster oven. It is amazing and much more useful than a microwave……however it does not make popcorn 😉
Sean MacLeod says
I don’t have one (working) in my house either.. The only thing I miss is being able to quickly zap a cup of coffee up to temperature..
Jennifer Cole Simpson says
Tell Dave stove top popcorn is SO much yummier! I don’t miss the microwave at all. I prefer the galley storage we got when we took it out. 🙂
Georgina Moon says
It’s strange to read how Americans have different priorities to the Brits…..
Cary Tyrone Carniello says
I have the Orval air popper and it sucks stovetop much better…
Microwave on a boat, ❓
I’m single so no microwave for me..lol
Susan Mahall says
Go with stove top for the popcorn. Jeff has it down pat!
SV Belle Ile says
Couldn’t live abound full time without one!
Janice says
We have a convection microwave that bakes, broils, heats and reheats and I would not live without it on the boat.
Sandra Renwick says
I would love to get rid of ours as we use it usually at the dock only and I could use the storage space it is taking up but compromised and kept and now I use the side for storage for breakable items and other stuff.
Laine Common says
I hate microwaves.. Only have one because the boat came with it.. It’s going once we remodel the galley. The dishwasher however stays forever.. Lol
Carol says
We have one and I use it for fresh veggies, popcorn, bacon and occ. to thaw. Is it necessary? No. But if you have the space and the power it is nice to have. And like many commenters have said…it makes a great bread box.
Tricia True says
We have a microwave onboard and don’t use it because we don’t know the wattage. The microwave came with the boat. I use my microwave at home but don’t miss it at all on the boat. We do need a way to heat up my husband rice pack that he needs for his Rheumatoid arthritis. I am trying to think of another way for him to heat the pad up and haven’t come up with anything. Any ideas?
Carolyn Shearlock says
Can’t you use it without knowing the wattage? (And there should be a label on it somewhere with the electrical info . . .)
tkthesailor says
I am wondering about thoughts on a combination microwave/convection oven for use when at the dock or using the generator. I ask because it seems as this might be more efficient and cooler (during the hot summer months) than cranking up a larger propane oven and could serve dual purposes. It also provides an additional oven if entertaining a large group, allows for broiling and cooks more quickly than a normal oven. Almost think toaster oven and microwave combined. My questions are 1) does anyone use one of these on their boat, 2) does it help reduce the heat on hot days and nights, 3) does it consume more power than a normal microwave, and 4) most importantly is it safe?
Any suggestions or ideas are most welcome.
Carolyn Shearlock says
Yes, more and more people are using the combination units as a way to keep cooking heat out of the boat. If you use the convection portion, it will use more power than just the microwave, mainly by being on longer (not more draw at one time). The unit you’re looking at is 1,000 watt, so most generators and larger inverters will power it — and of course, it’s no problem on shore power. And yes, it’s safe as long as wiring is properly size and you install it so that it won’t move underway (most boats figure out a way to stray them down, same as with a microwave).
My stepmother used a microwave convection oven for years in a land-based kitchen and loved it. I have only used one when visiting them as I just don’t have space on our boat.
tkthesailor says
Thanks Carolyn for your prompt and very helpful reply. Our old microwave just died and we were on vacation and rented a house with one of these gems which got me to thinking wouldn’t that be a good idea for a boat. Yet, I know there are always downsides to thinking what works on land will work on the water!
Lynn Cryer Duggan says
Oh yes! When not in use … storage…
Dianne Mendat says
Agree!
CJ Schnier says
Such wasted space for how often I used mine. Even using it as storage was pointless. Tossed it a long time ago, the only thing I miss is easy instant popcorn.
Diane Ericsson says
We used ours daily when cruising. Also it’s a great place to store a few tempting food items if you have a dog that likes to counter surf.
Alicia Culpepper Clayton says
Use ours daily
Brooke Longval says
I love mine, but I’m at the dock with shore power. I use it almost every day. Mine is built in, so doesn’t take up any counter space.
Sandra Asbe says
We gave ours away to a dock worker in LaPaz. Haven’t missed it at all. We rarely used it and it took up lots of space.
Karen Bowen says
We have an electric stove which only functions if the generator or engines are running. The microwave will work from the house batteries when at anchor. This makes the microwave invaluable to us.
Pamela Dakin Harwood says
Hugh likes his food “damn hot” so we decided to put one into a bookshelf in the saloon. Since we didn’t want to have to look at it, we had a fold-down door made.
Jerri Miller says
I regret not having one when we’re on passage for reheating food. We have tons of solar and could support it, but I chose not to tie up the space. Sometimes it sure would be convenient, but back in the day, I never used ours at home.
I’m also a huge popcorn fan and I hate to bum anyone out, but microwave popcorn is absolutely terrible for you. Most of the bags contain carcinogens and a lot of the brands still use trans fats. You’re much better off popping in a pan and dumping a bunch of melted butter on. Plus it’s so much better. Like 100 times tastier. We have the time.
Louis evans says
Does anyone know where I can buy a 12 volt microwave?
Carolyn Shearlock says
The only place I’ve ever seen one has been in truckstops. Most use 110 ones with an inverter.