Frosted glass bowls come with glass lids topped with colored rubber handles (blue and black also are available). Photo courtesy of Anyday
Having once lived in Singapore, where the only cooking apparatus in our apartment was a microwave, we learned how to cook everything from poached eggs to pasta in one. But what we didn’t have was a line of dishware created specifically for microwave cooking that also is usable in a regular oven.
Anyday bowls — there are multiple sizes — feature a secure glass lid rimmed in stainless steel to keep the steam in; a small rubber handle allows excess steam to escape. And, yes, stainless steel can be safe in a microwave, but only because it is manufactured with a specific curve. The glass does get very hot, and the bowls are heavy, so be sure to use oven mitts.
There’s a lot of science behind the safety of microwaves. Although some popular myths may make it the most underutilized tool in your kitchen, it can be a secret weapon for cooking not only fast but well. Studies done at Harvard and Cornell universities show that food cooked in a microwave actually retains more nutrients than food cooked for a long time or at high temperatures — which also means your chow retains more flavor. That’s because microwaves heat up the food itself versus heating up the air around the food, the way a stove, an oven or a pressure cooker does. And we always prefer to use glass rather than plastic.
Microwaves are also a cool cooking option when you can’t take the summer heat. And if you are cooking for a crowd, they are a nice alternative method for cooking real food when the oven and stovetop are otherwise occupied.
Anyday founder Steph Chen worked at Saveur magazine and with chef Alice Waters at Chez Panisse before launching her brand in 2021. The cookware arrives with a few recipes, and you’ll find many more on the website, including those from chef David Chang, founder of restaurant Momofuku and author of Cooking at Home, a book dedicated to microwave cooking. Pro tip: Review the features of your microwave, including power settings, to get the best results. Don’t be afraid to adjust cooking times so as to tailor recipes to your microwave.
If you’re still not sold on microwave magic, know that the frosted glass bowls are also oven- and dishwasher-safe. The touted “airtight seal” is indeed tight — you need to remove the lid with the rubber handle — making it a plus for storing leftovers. The bowls are pretty enough to go from the fridge to the oven to the table.
This two-step salmon dish involves cooking the rice in the microwave before adding salmon and frozen spinach to finish. Photo by Meda Kessler
RESOURCES: Available only online, you can buy a single dish or a set, from $40 to $175. The six-dish set comes with a Shallow and a Deep Dish, each in medium and large sizes, plus two small dishes. The bowls are frosted borosilicate glass; lids are made of glass, silicone and stainless steel and come in Kale, Blueberry and Black Sesame. cookanyday.com