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Why every microwave sucks these days

moth.monster

271–280 of 419 posts

Re: Why every microwave sucks these days

#271

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.

This is the nearest I've seen to that: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Russell-Hobbs-RHEM2301B-Flatbed-Mic...

Four buttons: Microwave, Defrost, Stop, Start.

Defrost is 40% power. It is a flatbed, so no turntable to clean.

Re: Why every microwave sucks these days

#272

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I just press "Start" on my microwave and it uses sensors to cook. Works at least as well as I do with guessing times. For something like popcorn with a set time (2 min 20 s is perfect on ours, 10s too much and it burns), it's twist the dial then press start.

Which model is that?

Re: Why every microwave sucks these days

#273

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just press "Start" on my microwave and it uses sensors to cook. Works at least as well as I do with guessing times. For something like popcorn with a set time (2 min 20 s is perfect on ours, 10s too much and it burns), it's twist the dial then press start.

Which model is that?

Hitachi MRO-W1A

Re: Why every microwave sucks these days

#274
post #260
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.

As usual, the industrial-grade stuff is the only stuff that is actually worth having; while the whole entire consumer market is by and large a rip-off and a scam. Not just for microwaves. Also food ingredients, cosmetics, drugs, electronics. The problem is that business-to-business suppliers are harder to find and contact, they rarely engage with private individuals and often they are even restricted by the governmen…

When I search Google Shopping for 'Panasonic NE-1258R' then I find plenty of companies willing to sell it to me.

Re: Why every microwave sucks these days

#276
post #196

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Yeah, my parents have an upside down ceramic pie dish permanently in the microwave which raises the food to be heated up into what seems to be a more favorable area for heating. Before we got that in there, you'd have to do a lot of short bursts and mix / rotate, which is tedious especially when there was about two seconds of off time when starting...

Before they were integrated into the microwave, you could buy third-party turntables.

Re: Why every microwave sucks these days

#277

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 could do without the clock. How about if I do not set a time on the clock, then do not display 12:00 or anything when not in use.

Bosch microwaves for example let you turn that off. See e.g. https://pdf.lowes.com/productdocuments/3c4ab01b-1931-4181-be... page 18.

Re: Why every microwave sucks these days

#278
post #162

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.

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

Best of both worlds is a digital dial with ~log scale. My Bosch microwave has that, though apparently newer models don’t.

Re: Why every microwave sucks these days

#279
post #158
post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seriously. I used to have a microwave and oven stacked on top of each other. Both had an LCD, and so some horrible PMs somewhere presumably had entire sets of meetings to spec out the clock feature. The microwave would not function if the time and AM/PM values were not set. (As far as I could tell, there was no way to actually ever see the AM/PM value after setting it!) So. Every time the power went out, I would be c…

My Siemens oven wanted an Internet connection on first power up. I fired off an E-mail to Siemens, stating that there was ONE feature which could tempt me into granting it access: NTP support. Much to my surprise, I got an enthusiastic reply from an engineer stating that this would be rolled out in a future firmware update. Fingers crossed.

I set up a second private network on my router for iot devices. On a but on a whim.. I don't know how private but its something

Re: Why every microwave sucks these days

#280
post #30

As soon as you open the site in Chrome it complains that my browser is stalking me (I know and don't care) and that this site does not work with it. So I closed it. More annoying than my browser's stalking habits is the assumption that one knows best and can decide for others what they should be using. This is the first time I see something like that. Hope it's the last too.

Enjoy you advertiser-driven web.

This won't stop an advertiser driven web. Only an alternative approach that maintain provider profits. Adverts exist because we refuse to pay for every service. This doesn't offer an alternative, but presumes to know better by removing user's choice.
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