I've heard chefs malign microwaves for years, but I think not having one in your home today is slightly akin to not having a telephone. It's just wasteful to heat up the whole oven to warm a tiny plate of leftover lasagna. That said, I think there's plenty of microwave abuse going on, too. Heating bread in a microwave should be prohibited by law. It creates leathery chew sticks not fit for animal consumption. Jasper White, my mentor, said the microwave was best for drying flowers and softening ice cream that's too hard to scoop. But I think it's an excellent way to cook baked potatoes, especially if they're to be used for another recipe. The microwave is also one of the better methods for cooking small amounts of green vegetables — preserving color, flavor, and nutritional value.