davidsc@mako.UUCP (David Schiferl) (06/09/85)
Several weeks ago I requested information on micrwave ovens. Following is a summary of the features one might consider in buying a microwave oven: DESIRABLE FEATURES: - Variable power: 5 settings minimum. - Wattage: 650 minimum for small units (~1 cubic ft) 700-750 for larger units. - Defrost cycle with automatic power scale down as defrosting progresses. - Probe: 115-185 degree range minimum; auto-hold after reaching desired temperature; current temperature displayed during cooking. - Even cooking: stir fan for microwaves is common approach today; bottom tray or false bottom in unit allows microwaves to get at food from underneath - common in most ovens; GE has a dual-wave unit that seems to work well, i.e. it has two magnatron tubes for microwave dispersal; carousel units are nice and were recommended by several people - problem is that space outside the carousel in the oven cavity is not very usable. (It seems to be that there exist some problems with even cooking no matter how you go yet. It is getting better than several years ago though.) - Touch pad control with 0-99 minute range. - 3 or more memory cycles, including defrost. This allows you to defrost, cook at one level for a specified time, then another level for a specified time without having to be at your oven to start each cycle. - Oven capacities range from about .75 to 1.5 cubic feet. - Stop control without opening oven door and resume from where the cooking cycle was stopped. OTHER FEATURES: - Quietness of oven/fan. - Ease of seeing food inside oven while it is cooking. - Timer on oven. - Time of day clock on oven. - Programmable recipes, built in and add your own. - Start delay so you can have it start cooking something while you are not there. - Warranty on magnatron tube ranges from 2-10 years. This feature list is something you can play with. Pick and choose what you think you would like in a microwave oven. Following are the edited responses I received from the net: > I've got an Amana 2nd-from-the-top-of-the-line (I forget the > model number). It has the touch panel (easy to clean), the > temperature probe (good for a lot of miscellaneous applications, > like heating up soup, but not necessary), and it hasn't broken > in the year that I've had it. > *********************************************************************** > > I bought a cheap Tappan (masquerading slightly as another brand ). > I am a sucker for features, the salesman tried to bait and switch me > away from the touch panel (1-10 heat settings) and temperature probe, > saying "you don't need them". > > I use the oven a lot, but he was right! I only ever use the Defrost setting > and High. I never use the probe. But! my use is limited to quick hit, > warmed up food, rarely real cooking. > > The Tappan has been unreliable in that its safety switch in the door > mechanism has failed twice (it fails safe). > > Finally, I really recommend buying a clockwork rotating tray (if your > oven doesn't have one built in). It really is a pain having to set the > timer for half way, then stop what you're doing, reach in and move the > food for even heating. > ************************************************************************* > > I have just purchased (2 months) one of the new GE Dual Wave > microwaves and I am very pleased with its performance. It not > only circulates the microwaves, but it also generates waves > from the bottom. I have had very little problems with uneven > cooking. Good visibility and nice features (auto cook!!). > *************************************************************************** > > I suggest that you not try to scrimp when purchasing a microwave. > That's true for any major appliance I guess. I own a Quazar. It costs > $500 can. and has the following features : > > Wave Scattering system (MOST important) > Time defrost (starts off on about med and works > it's way down as it neers completion) > Weight defrost (A simple conversion funtion > (ie. 1lb = 11.32 minutes)) > Timer/Stand (I use it as a timer for baking) > 3 step programmable > Temperature probe (used rarely but good for roats) > 650 watt Max. power (that extra 50 watts is nice) > Large capacity (can't remember right now but) > > > Things to avoid in microwaves : > > Rotating table (it cuts down on the size of bowls you > can put in it and usually indicates a > bad scattering mechanism) > "Fancy" features (even my oven has things I've NEVER used. > The 3 step programmer is useless since you're > almost always near your oven when it's working) > Loose or weak door hinges (This one's pretty rare now) > > > The wave scattering mechanism is VERY important since it is > responsible for even cooking. This is especially important when cooking > at hight power settings. If you have time defrost, the weight defrost > is almost useless (once you get to know the aprox. times). > *************************************************************************** > > A big thing to consider is size. They make some microwaves that you > should be able to park in. My microwave is .7 cu in. I find that it > is big enough for every day uses. Only occasionally do I wish that > it was bigger. In most of the apartments that I have lived, ther is no > good pace for a bigger one (in fasct, several homes cant stand to have a > bigger one than that. > ***************************************************************************** > > We bought a microwave last October, a Sharp Carousel II. I insisted on the > carousel. I don't understand the devices that claim the waves move around... > (Panasonic also makes a carousel). > > The things we looked for were : > automatic food rotation > non-mechanical switches and knobs > good door closing mechanism for the least amount of leakage > large enough to be useful, small enough to not take up a whole > counter (we have a 1.0 cubic foot) > quiet fan > > We love out nuker.... it does a great job on veggies, baked potatoes, > frozen dinners, frozen anything to cook or defrost. I've heard it's > wonderful for baby's formula, etc. in bottles. (Some friends bought a > very small one for that reason.) > > They seem to be getting smaller, lighter, and less poower-consumptive. > Ours was on sale for about $225. > *************************************************************************** > > I have a microwave with all those fancy features that never get used. > > You need power level control (the magnetron is time cycled). On rare > occasions I use the multiple cycle feature -- first defrost (low power) > then heat. > > I have used the temperature probe once. I would not buy another. > > A rotating lazy susan to minimize hot spots is something I miss. I > rotate manually. > > The auto-turn on and cook junk was tried once. We were late getting > home. The food was cold. > > Check the fan noise in the store. Our Whirlpool sounds like a machine > shop when it is running. > *************************************************************************** > > One thing that was stressed when I bought mine was to get one with a turntable > in it. That helps to get even cooking by rotating the food. > > I also observed the units that were in the back room of the dealer on the > repair bench. Most were those that had a motorized timer rather than a > digital control panel. > > Of all the brands presented at this dealer's demo, I chose a Panasonic. > ************************************************************************* > > I thought that the feature of different power levels was useless frufru > when I got the microwave. You know, I thought it should either be on or > off and that's that. But in fact the different power levels have proved > useful for defrosting and for reheating and for cooking somewhat slowly > food that is not uniform and homogeneous. > ***************************************************************************** > > I just bought a top of the line Litton and it's great. > **************************************************************************** > > I bought my first microwave from Sears and was pretty happy > with it. It had digital touch, time-of-day display, power variable > from 0 to 99 in increments of 1, cooking time variable from 99 mins > to 1 second. Digital is definitely better than rotary knobs and allows > greater control over the cooking process. > > However, microwaves have 'hot' and 'cold' spots (the test > is to cover the bottom with buttered pieces of bread and see > which areas melt/don't melt). The solution to this is either to > open the door and rotate/turn over what you are cooking (like stirring > something in a sauce pan). OR get a microwave from Sharp with the carosel > that rotates (this is what a I buying now). > > In addition, if you want to go all out, Sharp makes > microwave/CONVECTION ovens as well! I have found that J&R Music > World (yes, I know, 'Music World', but they have an extensive catalog > of electronic consumer goods) has about 16 different models by Sharp > and their prices are very good. I don't have the number for them but > they have an 800 number so you can call 800-555-1212 for directory > assistance. > > Lastly, if you want to cook an entire meal all at once, DONT. > The more you put in the microwave the longer it takes to cook (same > amount of energy provided, but more items to soak it up). Microwaves > are great for reheating, and cook veggies terrific. Roasts and things > to brown - use the oven or gas grill; they will taste better. > ****************************************************************** > > I just moved into a new home this past November, and the builder > offered a above-the-stove built-in microwave from GE. I liked the idea > of getting one that was above the stove, and didn't take any counter > space, but I was a bit taken back on how much the builder wanted for it > ($750). Well, I went out shopping and found that same model for about > $400, but also looked at other models and found a Sharp Microwave/ > Convection combo unit (modle R-1800) for around $640. I bought that > and *LOVE IT*. Sharp Microwaves have a built-in pot-turner, so for > most things you can just throw something into the oven and let it > cook. The convection part works great, and does much to keep the > kitchen cool in the summer. You can cook with a combination of > microwaves and convection, so stuff gets brown *and* cooks faster. > > I find that I only use my regular oven now when I need to cook more > than one thing at a time. > > The one thing not included in the $640 that the builder would include > for his $750 is installation. My Dad and I put the Sharp in in a > couple of hours (we had to go out to the store and get some stuff in > that time). It is a breeze to install, as the unit hangs off a metal > backplate which you attach to your wall. Once that's attached, you > just lift the unit up and it hinges up off the bottom of the metal > backplate and locks into place. > ************************************************************************* > > WOW! Your message is nearly identical to one I sent out 6 months ago! I was > inundated with replies, and did summarize to the net. For general interest, > the consensus seemed to be the "perfect" microwave has these features: > > -minimum of 5 power settings (good for defrost, "conditioning" ice > cream, melting butter, etc. etc.) > > -a beeper that quits instead of sounding a continuous tone until the > door is opened (user-friendly!) > > -temperature probe (if you cook candy or large meats) > > -limited programmability. Most people do not need to have a roast > defrosted at 7:29am, cook on one heat for 43.2 minutes and then another > heat for 9.63 minutes. > > After about 50 messages, it became clear that people's cooking styles > dictate what they like in the way of a microwave. There was a LOT of > confusion about whether you need a "merry-go-round" or not. Some people > thought they don't work. (They do.) Those who said they don't almost > universally owned older units without the stirrer. It turns out that most > all the latest ovens have a microwave "stirrer" that is like a fan turning > in the stream of microwaves. > > I took all the info I collected and went out pricing them, and for the 350 > bucks I got a really nice unit. It is made by Tappan, and has 10 power > settings, two cook cycles, a temperature probe, microwave stirrer, some > programmability (more later on that), and a browning element. > > The browning element was my own idea -- noone reccommended it. I love it, > though, because I can use the programmability like this: Come home at 5:30, > check the freezer, pull out a pork chop, do a 10 minute defrost cycle, 4 > minutes at 70% (Cook 1), 2 minutes at 100% (Cook 2), 3 minutes brown, then > when it beeps, turn it over and brown the other side. Somewhere in the > middle of the defrost I'll put in a dish of frozen veggies and a potato. > When it's all over, I have changed clothes, popped open a beer, and can eat > by 6:00. As a single person on the go a lot, I've grown to really like my > purchase, and hope you will too. > > One thing a lot of people mentioned is that your cooking style has to change > if you intend to use it a lot, and I have found that to be true. In my case, > it has changed for the better: I am eating more balanced meals than I had in > the past. > That's it folks. Thanks for your help. David Schiferl P.S. Feel free to contact me if you have questions about the above.