Editor’s Note: Coronavirus has hammered the hospitality industry, forcing millions of layoffs and business closures. Consider ordering takeout, buying gift cards or pledging money to initiatives like the James Beard Foundation Food and Beverage Industry Relief Fund or Save Restaurants.

Momofuku Restaurant Group founder, Ugly Delicious creator, Mind of a Chef host and one of the world’s most visible chefs, David Chang has spent his time in COVID-19-induced quarantine cooking approachable food for his wife and son and posting it on Instagram. The main takeaway: David Chang loves a microwave.

“The microwave is a machine from the future,” Chang wrote on his first post espousing the humble microwave’s power. Chang’s microwave tips started with his mother’s wisdom: package leftover rice in plastic wrap and reheat in the microwave for 3 minutes when you’re ready to eat again. “The microwave is a machine from the future here in present day. If you think a microwave is bad for you…throw away your smart phone,” Chang wrote. To a naysayer who questioned the microwave’s effectiveness and deemed its use lazy, Chang replied “you are correct. I am lazy and you are a fucking dumbass.”

Then came a kitchen sink pasta dish in which the chef microwaved sausage, olive oil, garlic, sliced onions and chili flake in a microwave. In the comments, Chang expanded on the method. “Glass bowl. Covered. Start with a the onions and garlic in oil first, it’s starts to get soft. Then add sausage til cooked through. Doesn’t matter if the sausage doesn’t brown. It’s getting wet anyway.”

Even more recently, Chang posted a riff on a nicoise salad made with anchovies, egg yolk, rice wine vinegar, radish, turnip, potato beans and, naturally, microwaved tuna (skin-on, 4 minutes and 30 seconds).

Since Chang has come out as a microwave supporter, commenters have accused him of promoting microwaves for pay, while others have embraced the chef’s fondness for the appliance. “You must be sponsored by microwave,” one commenter wrote. “I’ve been trying to make the microwave great again and you inspire me to keep that movement going,” another added.

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Will Price

Will Price is Gear Patrol’s home and drinks editor. He’s from Atlanta and lives in Brooklyn. He’s interested in bourbon, houseplants, cheap Japanese pens, and cast-iron skillets — maybe a little too much.

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