tpchmara@wateng.UUCP (Tom Chmara) (02/13/84)
My roommate suggested that I post my experiences to the net, as I got
recommendations from the net concerning which micro to buy.
I got the RK9090, Hotpoint's bottom-of-the-electronic-control-line.
It has the "dual-wave" feature (waveguide(?) from top and bottom), a
temperature probe, electronic touch-pad.
I favour the touchpad over mechanical controls. True, they're expensive
to replace if they fail, but they're pretty rugged and they're EASY TO KEEP
CLEAN. Also, you have more control and aren't limited to 20-40 minutes time.
The temperature probe! DON'T BUY A MICROWAVE OVEN WITHOUT ONE!!! They're
one of the finest ideas to hit the kitchen since sliced bread. They WORK
(unlike many other gadgets), and take much of the guesswork out of cooking.
It's hard to say whether the "dual-wave" idea is worth the extra $$.
GE and Hotpoint (a subsidiary, incidentally) both use it throughout their
product lines. Mom's got an old Toshiba (without this feature, natch) and
I think I've been having more luck with less effort (less turning, etc) than
she has had. I'd say it's not at all detrimental, and may be beneficial.
One problem: with the lower waveguide, Hotpoint did't "dish" the bottom
of the cavity. Which also means they didn't provide a glass tray. I bought
a "baking pan" (30X30cm) which now resides inside the oven. This is a
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED practise, as it makes cleanup almost unnecessary.
Alternatively, you might buy a replacement tray for another brand of microwave.
On the whole, I'd rate it a Good Buy (9 smiley-faces out of a possible 10).
If anyone has further questions, or wants me to regale them further about
a) what I found tastes GOOD when done in the microwave;
b) what NOT TO COOK in the microwave *(Mr. Hamster, etc)*
let me know.
---Tom Chmara, EE @ University of Waterloo
"What? Me worry?"