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Why every microwave sucks these days

moth.monster

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Re: Why every microwave sucks these days

#121

Post by foundart »

furst wrote: post #67
Waterluvian wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just want a microwave with an analog dial for time and a switch for low, med, high. They can keep the computer.

Depending on how you feel about IKEA, their TILLREDA model microwave is two dials for time and power, and a button to open the door

I like the concept, but the rotating turntable for the food and plate is silly. I have a Panasonic NE-1022F (sadly, no longer available) and it rotates the antenna under the floor of the unit.

That approach enables use of a smaller motor, requires fewer moving parts, and makes the interior very easy to clean.

Re: Why every microwave sucks these days

#122

Post by solardev »

kadoban wrote: post #118
solardev wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't regular microwaves also do PWM? How's that different from just cycling on and off?

If the new ones are doing PWM (I hadn't heard that's how it works, but have no reason to doubt it), it must be cycling several times per second. It's indistinguishable from having true control over the wattage. The old cycling on and off, it's full power for several seconds and then off for several. The full power sections are long enough to nuke the shit out of many items. Butter doesn't do well, soup and pizza eith…

Thanks for the explanation!

I didn't realize PWM specifically referred to fast cycling. I thought any sort of deliberate on/off pattern to modulate power would be PWM. What you said makes sense though, that the regular microwaves can't lower their power output enough (whatever The mechanism) to be safe for some foods.

Re: Why every microwave sucks these days

#123

Post by spoonjim »

Aloha wrote: post #120

I have a fancy GE Microwave, its a built in, over the stove job, that is also a convection oven (a lousy one perhaps), but when used in hybrid convection cook mode, its pretty spiffy. The boyfriend does not like using it with the moisture sensor active (he strongly likes to cover his food with a lid, to prevent splatter), but I find just a paper towel is good enough for me - and when left to its normal pre-programmed…

You have a wife and a boyfriend?

Re: Why every microwave sucks these days

#124

Post by esafak »

Aloha wrote: post #120

I have a fancy GE Microwave, its a built in, over the stove job, that is also a convection oven (a lousy one perhaps), but when used in hybrid convection cook mode, its pretty spiffy. The boyfriend does not like using it with the moisture sensor active (he strongly likes to cover his food with a lid, to prevent splatter), but I find just a paper towel is good enough for me - and when left to its normal pre-programmed…

I have one too. The only problem is that you have to change the tray depending on what mode you want to use.

Re: Why every microwave sucks these days

#125

Post by fostware »

armchairhacker wrote: post #56

How do we avoid this problem and sustain companies who make long-lasting products? - Subscription service? - Annual government funding? - Annual private funding for "best product in category"? Also how are some companies who make long-lasting tools which are apparently good quality (such as Lodge, PYREX, Patagonia) seemingly doing just fine?

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/jun/14/pyrex-and-i...

Spoke too soon

Re: Why every microwave sucks these days

#126

Post by geysersam »

foundart wrote: post #121
furst wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Depending on how you feel about IKEA, their TILLREDA model microwave is two dials for time and power, and a button to open the door

I like the concept, but the rotating turntable for the food and plate is silly. I have a Panasonic NE-1022F (sadly, no longer available) and it rotates the antenna under the floor of the unit. That approach enables use of a smaller motor, requires fewer moving parts, and makes the interior very easy to clean.

Interesting, I've never seen a microwave oven without a rotating turntable.

Re: Why every microwave sucks these days

#127

Post by jpalomaki »

Couple of things I'm now looking at microwave: 1)inverter 2)no rotating plate.

My understanding is that with inverter the microwave can actually adjust the power instead of doing the on/off/on/off cycle you get with the cheap ones.

I guess the rotating plate is there, because it's hard to distribute the microwaves evenly inside the oven. Some time ago I tried to find one without the rotating plate, but the only ones I could find were professional ones (>$1k)

Now at least Panasonic seems to have models that meet my criteria [1], but they are not on all markets. Haven't checked any reviews yet.

[1] https://www.panasonic.com/au/consumer/household/microwave-ov...

Re: Why every microwave sucks these days

#128

Post by olyjohn »

citizenkeen wrote: post #26
ForkMeOnTinder wrote: post #11

As a chronic comparison shopper, this is a first-world problem that's near and dear to my heart. I think the reason microwaves (and appliances in general) suck is because comparison shopping is so hard. I wish I could get a list of all microwaves and filter by criteria such as: - Does the +30 seconds button start cooking immediately, or do you have to also press "start" afterwards? - Does it beep every 30 seconds aft…

Literally all those things are discoverable if you buy in a store. Edit: I maybe should have clarified "appliance store", rather than big box. But there are three appliance stores within ten miles of me that sell appliances. Not Home Depot, not Wal-Mart. Appliance stores. The refrigerators and ovens and microwaves are all plugged in and you can try any of them. The only thing you can't try is the gas ranges. This is…

I went to an appliance store. A real appliance store like you're talking about. They told me that all the consumer models are the same. Same hardware, same manufacturer. They only had 2 or 3 to choose from. They said there is basically no point to shopping them, the quality is the same. You can pick stainless, or black or maybe get one that mounts under a cabinet.

Re: Why every microwave sucks these days

#129

Post by 1123581321 »

voisin wrote: post #72
ChainOfFools wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The kind of review you're looking for is what Consumer Reports is, (or at least used to be, as I'm not sure of the current state of things,) famous for. Because it's a paid subscription, and all of the items they review are actually purchased from retail suppliers who have no knowledge that Consumer Reports is the buyer, they can take their time and do very thorough comparisons incorporating tests of real world usabi…

For those who don’t want to pay, many libraries allow free digital access to Consumer Reports.

You can usually stop by and flip through the buying guide index, too.

Re: Why every microwave sucks these days

#130

Post by nvy »

gobins wrote: post #18
ForkMeOnTinder wrote: post #11

As a chronic comparison shopper, this is a first-world problem that's near and dear to my heart. I think the reason microwaves (and appliances in general) suck is because comparison shopping is so hard. I wish I could get a list of all microwaves and filter by criteria such as: - Does the +30 seconds button start cooking immediately, or do you have to also press "start" afterwards? - Does it beep every 30 seconds aft…

The Samsung microwaves, although with good build quality, are notorious for having a very bad UX. - The buttons don't give have tactile feedback. - Setting time is very confusing. - You have to press multiple buttons just to start. - If you want to cancel/clear timer, you have to press multiple buttons again.

I've had the misfortune of using a Samsung microwave, electric oven, dishwasher, and phone.

I've concluded that Samsung products are just generally dogshit.

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