[Our_Benefactors]

I admit that it’s mostly convenience. But there are some things you can only do with a microwave.

Popcorn during a short commercial break (stovetop popcorn is way way more involved)

Melted butter (using a saucepan is NOT more convenient than just melting it directly in a measuring glass)

Mug brownies

[chongli]

Commercial break? I can’t remember the last time I saw one of those!

For popcorn there’s a third option: get an air popper! They’re fast and convenient, make great popcorn, and allow you to precisely control how much fat you add (since they don’t use fat to pop)!

[Our_Benefactors]

But then I have a kitchen gadget ONLY for making popcorn. The microwave is multifunctuonal.

I don’t see many actual commercials anymore but I do value being able to get up during a movie with other people and make popcorn without asking them to pause or missing much context.

Maybe I’m weird in this way but pausing movies breaks my immersion, even if I miss a bit of context while I’m out of the room.

[chongli]

The key is to find the perfect moment to pause. Usually this is at the end of an act, during the fade-out.

Are you a fan of Alton Brown? He seems to be at the vanguard in the war against “unitaskers”. I would imagine he’d make his popcorn in a pot with oil, though!

[splatcollision]

Stovetop popcorn is superior in all ways end of story.

[Our_Benefactors]

No, it takes longer, it’s messier, it’s less consistent.

You can make the argument that the end product is better, but that it’s superior in “all ways” doesn’t pass the sniff test even a little.