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Why every microwave sucks these days

moth.monster

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Re: Why every microwave sucks these days

#161

Post by RF_Savage »

toast0 wrote: post #135
geysersam wrote: post #126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

My parents have an ancient one, which they inherieted from a relative decades ago... It has a button to cycle through the power levels (the typical couple seconds on, couple seconds off duty cycle power levels), and four buttons to set the time: one under each digit (adds one to the digit and overflows to zero), the start button, something for temperature cooking if you have the probe (they don't). Actual buttons, be…

Same here, but unlike my rotating one, that one had classic coldspots and hotspots microwaves sometimes had.

But I sure loved the fine grained time and power control. Figure out the setting put once and then it is unattended perfection every time.

Re: Why every microwave sucks these days

#162

Post by mcluck »

Waterluvian wrote: post #22
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…

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

I have one of these. It's fine but I prefer being able to set exact times for certain things. The perfect middle ground for me is a +30s button that also immediately starts it

Re: Why every microwave sucks these days

#163

Post by lambda_lord »

LRVNHQ wrote: post #61

I'm not an advanced or regular microwave user (try keeping a straight face while talking like that about microwaves lol, but I use it maybe once or twice a month averaged over the year) but frankly I don't see any performance issue with my cheap microwave compared to what one could expect from a microwave. Put food in, wait 4-5 minutes, food comes out hot. What infuriates me are vacuum cleaners. To make them more "ec…

The Sebo E3 is 1200 watts and has a 10 year warranty. Built like LEGO, every part is serviceable too.

Miele and Lindhaus are also good.

Re: Why every microwave sucks these days

#164

Post by huytersd »

stevage wrote: post #149
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…

My ideal microwave would have two buttons. 1: The first two times you push it, it sets the timer to 0:30 and starts cooking. The next time, adds 0:30. Each time after that, it adds 1 minute and starts cooking. 2. Reset the timer to 0. And a door latch which stops cooking. I don't need power levels, or more precise timing, or any of that other stuff.

What an asinine solution. A button that doesn’t work consistently. How are you going to set 1:30 (which is very common)? Or 55? You’re going to stand there and press that one button 57 times? What about defrosting where you want a low power level? Or soups? Or a hundred other examples. How does having a number pad ruin the experience?

Re: Why every microwave sucks these days

#165

Post by idontwantthis »

rsync wrote: post #90

We have a Panasonic NE-1258R. It's a commercial kitchen microwave oven and is built like a tank. It requires a 20amp circuit and it has no turntable because it has two magnetrons . https://www.manualslib.com/products/Panasonic-Ne1258r-Commer... Recommended.

How much did it cost and where did you buy it?

Re: Why every microwave sucks these days

#167

Post by huytersd »

thayne wrote: post #92
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…

The problem with consumer reports is I only need it every once in a while, so it isn't really worth paying a continual subscription for.

I get one and split it with my whole extended family.

Re: Why every microwave sucks these days

#168

Post by cmckn »

geysersam wrote: post #126
foundart wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I think that’s how most “commercial” microwaves work; the food stays put and the element moves. It’s much easier to clean and it (usually) heats the food more evenly.

Re: Why every microwave sucks these days

#169

Post by fulafel »

jpalomaki wrote: post #127

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…

What is the theory that puts power modulation behind the magnetron voltage regulation? Or is the modulation frequency so low that it can leave unevenly heated areas in the rotating plate?
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