Written by Online therapist Dr. Gloria Vanderhorst, Ph.D.

I STORE PLATES IN MY MICROWAVE

Technology, Tradition, and the Humor of Household Habits

Microwaves may be designed for cooking, but they’ve also become symbols of skepticism, adaptation, and the occasional storage hack. For individuals in Maryland and DC, this reflection explores how kitchen appliances carry stories—of resistance, reinvention, and the laughter that binds us.

My favorite restaurant had a problem in the kitchen, so going there for lunch was out. The group planning to meet, chat, and be well served had to regroup. We decided to join each other over Zoom to avoid missing everything completely. As the conversation focused on kitchens—since a problem in the kitchen now shut down our favorite place—one of our number announced that she had never used her microwave. The device serves as a storage cabinet.

You laugh! We all laughed. Then I recalled my introduction to the microwave. The school lunchroom where our daughter went to school had installed a bank of microwaves. This was at the very beginning of the microwave craze. In the 1970s and early ’80s, the microwave was a must-have for the modern kitchen.

I was skeptical. I wondered if this thing could cook more than what was inside. Now, I could have researched the safety of microwaves, but instead, I leaned into my Midwestern roots and insisted that even if I could accept it, I did not want to use it. Therefore, there was no reason to purchase one simply as a decoration for the counter. This is likely a distortion of something my Uncle Johnnie claimed at some point when I was a child and wanted him to install indoor plumbing. That is a story for another day.

The microwave debate in our house continued for over a year before I relented. We have had a microwave ever since, which now gets daily use. I am happy to report that my hair has not fallen out, and as far as I know, none of my organs have been sautéed.

However, my vulnerability was publicly exposed during my daughter’s high school senior speech. The senior speech is required for graduation and is a big deal. Each senior must give a speech in the large auditorium. The public is invited, and of course, all of the proud parents show up, bringing along grandma and grandpa. I had no preview of this speech, and that was purposeful. No other speech gained the laughter of my daughter’s speech as she proceeded to recount the microwave debate. The parents sitting close to me asked if she made it up. I had to report that every word was true.

So, I greatly sympathize with my friend who stores dishes in her microwave. She had no choice; the place came furnished with a microwave. Now, it does not store many dishes, just enough to keep the counter space tidy.

Want to explore how microwaves have shaped cooking habits and cultural quirks? Visit Common Good Ventures’ guide to microwave impact across cultures, Hot Food Oven’s breakdown of microwave influence on daily life, and MicrowavesHub’s reflections on microwave history and habits.

If you’re reflecting on household habits, generational humor, or emotional connection, therapy can help. Learn more about individual therapy in Maryland and DC or explore therapeutic approaches that support insight, healing, and everyday resilience.