Anyday promises it can deliver delicious dishes in minutes. Is it legit—or too good to be true?
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I Tried Anyday and the Cookware Set Made Me Fall in Love with My Microwave
Updated on Nov. 26, 2024
Just as pots and pans are made for the stove, and roasters and casserole dishes are made for the oven, Anyday is cookware made specifically for the microwave. A representative from Anyway says the company has two goals: to prove that the microwave is capable of much more than reheating, and to help people save time. As a working mother of two who occasionally (OK, often) doesn’t feel like cooking at the end of a long day, anything that promises less time in the kitchen and more time on my couch has my full attention.
In addition to cutting cooking time, Anyday’s microwaveable cookware cuts cleaning times as well. Made from materials selected for their durability, Anyday cookware is safe to use in the dishwasher, oven, freezer, microwave (of course), and doubles as a storage container for leftovers. When I was offered the chance to put this supposed “microwavable miracle” to the test, I couldn’t resist.
Don’t miss these microwave tricks every cook needs to know!
What Is Anyday Cookware?
Upon first glance, Anyday cookware looks like a simple set of glass bowls with fitted lids, but far nicer than most large bowls or sealed containers on the market. Anyday cookware is made from frosted borosilicate glass, which is non-toxic, heat-resistant, exceptionally durable and, unlike many other types of glass cookware, will not crack or shatter under extreme temperature changes. If you’ve ever lost a glass baking dish by putting it on a cold surface while it was still hot, you’ll appreciate knowing that this won’t happen with Anyday.
The lids of Anyday cookware are just as sturdy, and equally attractive. Made of the same heat-resistant borosilicate glass, these lids have a silicone knob that remains cool-to-the touch, no matter how long it’s been in the microwave. The knob doubles as a venting mechanism, letting out just enough steam to prevent explosions, but not so much that food will dry out. A firmly-attached silicone gasket runs around the perimeter of the rim, which locks in moisture while food is cooking, and creates an airtight seal that protects leftovers when refrigerated.
The rim is 100% stainless steel, which is surprising, as we’ve all been taught not to put metal in the microwave. However, it’s perfectly safe to use stainless steel in the microwave as long as it’s specifically designed for microwave use. Thanks to their unique curved shapes, the stainless steel rims of Anyday cookware are microwave-safe, provide extra level of durability and are pretty darn good-looking to boot.
We Tried It
Anyday Everyday Set
The set includes eight pieces with large and medium dishes.
Find more genius microwave cooking tools.
Anyday Product Features
For people like me with kids at home, the Anyday has been a godsend. Kids can use it to cook for themselves quickly, cleanly and, most importantly, safely. My teenage boys have made themselves a lot of ramen and macaroni and cheese in those bowls, and have left the most minimal of messes in their wake.
Anyday also excels at making quick and easy soups, which may be my favorite way to use it. It’s so simple, you barely need a recipe! I’ll chop up a head of cauliflower or broccoli, throw it in the Anyday Deep Dish Pan with stock, different herbs and spices (it’s easy to change it up!), and a can of coconut or evaporated milk, and cook it for 12-15 minutes. After a quick buzz with an immersion blender and a quick taste for seasoning, it’s ready to go. It could not be simpler, or more delicious.
Another problem Anyday solves: when you’re done with dinner, find yourself craving dessert, and realizing you have none. When an emergency like that strikes, you can whip up a microwave-friendly cake batter directly in an Anyday, pop it in the microwave, and have hot, delicious cake in less than 10 minutes.
And because Anyday cookware is also oven-safe, you can throw things under the broiler if you’d like to crisp the top, as I did with a microwave apple crisp. It took less than one minute under the broiler to make the topping crunchy, and the crisp tasted amazing. It wasn’t exactly like a dessert I made in the oven, but why compare apples and oranges? Microwave cooking is its own thing, and should be treated as such. Fortunately for us all, its own thing has very delicious results.
How We Tested Anyday
As someone who has been writing and developing recipes for 20 years, I understand the limitations of microwave cooking. Microwaves can’t make foods brown and crispy, but they do a wonderful job of cooking foods that are normally cooked with water or steam. This is because of the way they work in the first place: they cook by shooting electromagnetic microwaves (surprise!) through food, which causes the food’s water molecules to vibrate. These vibrations produce heat, which turns some of that water into steam, and cooks the food from the inside out.
Just like I wouldn’t try to boil pasta in the oven, I wouldn’t cook anything in my Anyday dishes that is better made in the oven, the air fryer or in a hot skillet. When cooking meat or fish, it will come beautifully moist, but it won’t have an iota of crispiness, because it’s being cooked with hot water; essentially, all your proteins are being poached or steamed.
Poaching and steaming are both excellent ways to cook fish and chicken, but other meats don’t fare quite as well. Because microwaves cook food from the inside out, they will cook all the way through—not ideal for cuts that are best served medium-rare. Ground beef and pork work well in Anyday cookware; though they don’t brown like in a skillet, they stay soft, moist, and easy to drain off excess fat and liquid. Once cooked, the crumbled meat can be stirred with a flavorful sauce or marinade and served over salad or rice—perfect for making bowls at home.
Speaking of rice—Anyday has replaced the Instant Pot as my go-to rice cooker, not only because it results in perfectly cooked rice, but because I don’t need a separate container to store leftovers. I used it to make rice, couscous and quinoa, and made double what I needed. After dinner, I stirred what was left with dressing, leftover veggies, and other odds and ends from around the kitchen. I popped on the lid, refrigerated overnight and had a delicious lunch the next day. Anyday helped me save time twice!
Pros
- Minimizes active cooking time
- Extremely durable
- Cooks food quickly
- Keeps food moist
- Doubles as a storage container
- Easy to clean
Cons
-
Doesn’t brown food
FAQs
How to clean Anyday cookware?
Cleaning Anyday cookware is about as easy as it comes. Put it in the dishwasher. Take it out of the dishwasher. Be amazed at how much time you’ve saved! Its glass surfaces are resistant to sticking and staining; I have not had to scrub my Anyday dishes once in one month of use.
What is special about Anyday cookware?
According to the brand, Anyday cookware offers microwave-safe dishes thanks to its unique steam-trapping lid and durable glass bowl.
Can Anyday cookware go in the oven?
Even though Anyday cookware is perfect for cooking in the microwave, it’s also oven-safe! The glass dishes can handle up to 500 degrees, and the lid is safe for temperatures upratures up to 400 degrees.
Is Anyday lid dishwasher safe?
Anyday’s dishes are made from borosilicate glass, which makes them durable and thermal-shock resistant to high temperatures. The lid is also durable enough to withstand heat, even in your dishwasher. So yes, it’s dishware safe!
Final Verdict
After using Anyday microwavable cookware in my kitchen for almost a month, I wholeheartedly recommend purchasing at least one, if not a set, of Anyday bowls. As long as you remember its limitations and plan your meals accordingly, it will save you time, and may save your sanity at the end of a long, crazy day.
Where to Buy Anyday Cookware
Anyday cookware is available on the company’s website. The $140 Everyday Set includes all four Anyday bowls which can all be purchased separately: the Large Deep Dish, which has a 2-quart capacity, and the slightly smaller 1.75-quart Large Shallow Dish, retail for $40 each. The Medium Deep Dish and Medium Shallow Dish both have a 1-quart capacity, and sell for $30.
We Tried It
Anyday Everyday Set
Shop the Anyday Everyday Set on the brand's website, Amazon and Williams Sonoma.
