Humor often fails, so I resort to raw honesty. The frozen food anecdote I shared earlier is entirely factual. In truth, I was fully prepared, anticipating someone would eventually probe deeper into the story, waiting for that precise moment of inquiry.

During my single years, frozen dinners were a culinary lifesaver. My freezer was stocked with an array of ready-to-heat meals, each offering a convenient solution to hunger. Back then, before microwaves became ubiquitous, I would patiently wait 35 minutes while my dinner transformed from a solid block of ingredients into a steaming, edible meal. These pre-prepared dishes were not just food, but a testament to the convenience of modern cuisine.

I continue to keep these items in my freezer, enjoying them after heating. Yet, the cooking time has significantly decreased from thirty minutes to merely seven minutes. This rapid transformation creates an unusual experience. Previously, I was unbothered by longer preparation times. Now, the brief seven-minute interval is too short to engage in other activities, a phenomenon I refer to as the “microwave effect.”

In the era of instant gratification, traditional cooking methods like slow roasting have given way to microwave convenience. We impatiently hover near the appliance, eyes wandering, fingers drumming, eagerly anticipating the shrill beep that signals our meal is ready in mere minutes.

Microwaves have become an indispensable kitchen appliance, with nearly every household boasting at least one. Their convenience and speed have transformed how we prepare meals, making them an essential part of modern culinary life.

Still, we continue to wait.