Everyone’s got a microwave these days, and it’s super easy to think it’s as harmless as an ironing board or a wooden spoon. The truth is… your microwave oven works by emitting electromagnetic radiation. If that sounds a bit scary, it’s because it is.
Firstly, these “microwaves” (or radio waves) are harmful if they come into contact with humans. Secondly, they work in ways that are very different from just making food hot like an oven.
To give one example…
Do you know why it’s so dangerous to put metal in a microwave? You’ll know by the end of this article!
It’s true that microwave ovens are designed with safety as a priority. But even still, there are 21 microwave-related hospital admissions across the US every day! That’s about 8000 a year!
Don’t become a statistic. Read on to understand exactly how you should be using your microwave and what precautions you and your family should take. By the time you finish reading, you can rest safe knowing that you won’t end up as one of the “21”.
Sound good?
Then let’s dive in!
1
Heat up to 167°F (75°C)
We reheat food for two reasons. Firstly, because it tastes better hot. And secondly, because bacteria and other undesirables naturally grow on food and heat kills them.
To kill all viral and bacterial pathogens you need your food to reach an internal heat of 167°F (or 75°C). That’s pretty hot, not too far from the boiling point of water.
Ideally, you’d use a thermometer to check your food is at a safe temperature. Realistically, make sure your food is piping hot. It should be too hot to heat just after it’s come out of the microwave oven.
You should be letting your food stand for a minute or two after using the microwave to let the pockets of heat dissipate. So if in doubt, overshoot it and give it an extra minute. This helps for safety reasons but will also mean your food is more consistently hot, too.
Heating it up to “warm enough” or “ready to eat” temperature might seem ok, but have a think about what might be growing on you or your family’s dinner for a second then get back to me. I think you’ll realize it’s worth waiting a touch longer.
2
Make sure your food is spread out
As you (now) know, you need your food to be hot. The issue with microwaves is that the heat is not distributed evenly, but in bursts of waves that are strong in some points and weak in others. Moreover, these waves can only penetrate 1-2cm into food!
The solution is to make sure food is spread out where possible. Try not to have a big, dense clump of food in the middle of the plate as it will be hard for the microwaves to penetrate to the center and make it hot. If your food is spread out, the heat can pass through easily.
Some foods you can’t spread out, (baked potato, anyone?) so make sure these foods are cooked long and hot so the heat can spread through conduction.
3
Don’t use if the door doesn’t close
The inner frame of your microwave is coated with metal that reflects the microwaves (AKA radiation) back into the appliance so it doesn’t escape. Even the door doesn’t let the radiation out. It might look see through, but those small holes are designed to be too small for any microwaves to pass through.
So what happens if you leave the microwave running with the door open? You are literally letting radiation in the form of short wavelength radio waves out of the machine, ready to be absorbed by the nearest unfortunate human being. While it takes a substantial dose for any damage to occur, this should not be a risk anyone ever takes.
It must be said that microwave ovens are designed to only operate with the door closed. If this happens something is wrong with your device and you must not use it. Get it repaired pronto, or better yet, chuck it and replace it with something more reliable.
4
Never put metals in
Metal is NEVER microwave safe. You should make it very clear to all your family that this is an absolute NO-NO to put in a microwave, whether that’s a dish, fork, spoon, whatever.
Metals are full of spare electrons that are heated up and agitated by the microwaves (AKA short length radio waves) which cause the metal surface to get extremely hot and can cause sparks and bursts of flame. Check out this video for a demonstration.
If you want a fuller explanation with all the science behind it (good to show the older ones who are learning about science) then check out this great video.
What materials can you put in the microwave? Let’s answer that in the next section.
5
Check for microwave safe materials
The best dish, bowl or plate you can use in a microwave oven is anythnig that has the words “microwave safe” or the following symbol on it.
A manufacturer must make their products pass strict tests that are regulated by the FDA before they can use a “microwave safe” symbol. If you don’t own anything that’s labeled “microwave safe” then it gets a little trickier.
Ceramics, glass, and plastic are the best materials for a microwave as they allow the microwaves themselves to pass straight through without being absorbed or reflected. Unfortunately, each of these comes with its own issues.
With plastic, you run the risk of plastics that are harmful to humans leaching into the food and being consumed. BPA plastics are linked with a whole host of negative health conditions and exposing them to high temperatures from the microwave oven is more likely to see them end up in your food.
For ceramics, the potential danger comes from possible water content that can reach high temperatures from the microwaves. Ceramics also easily absorb heat through convection from hot food and burning hot dishes can be a hazard, too.
Be smart and look for the “microwave safe” symbol for peace of mind. Don’t have anything with this on it? Glass is the safest microwave material and your best bet in this case.
6
Test the heat of the food before trying it
One of the most common causes of microwave accidents is burns, either to the touch when holding burning hot dishes or on the mouth and tongue when eating.
Microwaves tend to focus their energy in certain spots of the oven and have less effect in other areas. This is why you have a rotating turntable in every microwave, to spread out the hot regions. Without it, your food would be burnt in a few spots and icy cold in others.
Even with the turntable, most microwave ovens are not perfect and have hot spots that cause burnt tongues and unhappy infants.
Let the food stand for a few minutes to allow the heat to dissipate throughout the food and test the heat of the food before swallowing a big mouthful. This way you’ll avoid a hasty post-dinner trip to the emergency room.
7
Don’t just pick up your container
The containers or dishes that you put in your microwave are ideally “microwave safe” (see tip #5), but that doesn’t mean you’re protected from burns to the fingers or dropping your dish because it’s too hot.
Microwave radiation will pass straight through a glass or ceramic container and cannot heat it directly. But as the food becomes hot, the container becomes hot be convection (transfer of heat, the way an oven works).
This can be deceiving and mean you pick up your microwave container when it’s actually burning hot!
How to avoid this? Well, plastic is the best material because as well as not absorbing microwaves it doesn’t absorb heat through convection very easily either. You definitely need “microwave safe” plastic though as otherwise dangerous BPA plastics can leach into the food.
8
Pierce your food / film lids
Due to the way microwave radiation concentrates on some areas of the oven more than others, you can get energy build up the leads to popping, bursting and splattering. This is especially pronounced in foods with higher liquid content or with film lids where steam can easily accumulate.
All microwave meals will tell you to pierce the lid. You don’t need to overdo it, a couple of times is enough to create a pressure release for excess steam to escape from. Fail to do this and you may just hear a few loud pops as your dinner is being cooked.
This can also be an issue with dense foods like a baked potato, which you should also pierce with a knife or fork to prevent steam build up.
9
Be careful of “super heated” water
One of the best “microwave hacks” is its ability to make boiling water in quick time without a kettle. Microwaves work by heating up water molecules so this is very energy efficient. At the same time, this poses danger in the form of “super heated” water.
When you boil water in a kettle on the stove you get visible signs of boiling like steam and fizzing at the surface of the water. Water that is boiled in a microwave however can appear still, like it’s a normal temperature, when it’s actually really hot.
This “super heated” water can make sudden jerks at the slightest disturbance which can easily result in burns if you’re not careful.
10
Don’t use it to thaw meat
The microwave radiation that heats up food and water in a microwave oven is quickly absorbed by dense foods, unable to penetrate more than one to two centimeters into any given food.
So if you’re trying to thaw a large chunk of meat, you’re likely to have burnt, half cooked edges and an ice cold center.
The last thing you need when cooking a chicken or pork dish when the center is frozen solid and you need to stick it in the oven.
Thawing meat is best done over a number of hours by naturally raising the temperature to that of room temperature. If you’re in an unavoidable hurry then chopping the meat into smaller pieces works as a fallback.
11
Clean your microwave
When was the last time you cleaned the inside of your microwave? I’m willing to bet it wasn’t in the last two weeks (if it is, pat yourself on the back and skip this section!)
Foods that are heated in a microwave are renowned for spitting and bursting. These little splashes of food end up on the ceiling and wall of your microwave oven and are a perfect breeding ground for bacteria and other nasties that can find their way into future meals.
A quick wipe is all that’s needed to be safe in the knowledge that anything cooked in your microwave is free from unpleasantness.
12
What’s the safest microwave?
If you’ve managed to read this far then you’ve absorbed a solid 2000 words of safety-related material and it’s safe to say (pun intended) this is a big issue for you. In that case, you might wonder what is the best microwave for safety.
For my money, the top dog in the market is this model from Panasonic. This microwave oven has a hefty power output of 1200W so your food cooks fast with a range of size options, comes with loads of features including Panasonic’s patented Inverter Technology and things like Turbo Defrost, while also offering unparalleled safety.
Check out the link to see current price, reviews etc.
Most people’s idea of a perfect breakfast is last night’s takeaway sitting in your fridge. A couple of button pushes then a few minutes in the microwave and it’s (usually) just as tasty.
Have you ever noticed that reheated pizza is never quite the same though?
When it comes to microwaving leftover pizza, here are two invaluable tricks that’ll turn your dry, stale pizza remains into the crispy delicious stuff you had the night before.
Add moisture to the microwave. You can do this by putting your pizza on a damp paper towel, spritzing the pizza itself with a little water or putting it in the microwave with a small cup of water.
Use low power. Around 50% works well, and set the time for double to make up for it.
These two tips will transform your morning-after-the-night-before pizza with barely any effort.
Why do these tips work? Answers coming right up.
How to microwave day old pizza
Let’s examine the two tricks to making perfect reheated pizza with full explanations of why they work.
Tip 1 – Add moisture to the microwave
A microwave works by emitting low-frequency radio waves that are absorbed by food and especially water molecules. The waves cause these molecules to vibrate and heat up.
The important point here is that your microwave evaporates the water in your food and dries it out.
It’s no problem with foods like soup, curries or chilis. But for drier foods and particularly bready or doughy foods, using a microwave can ruin the taste.
So what’s the solution? Well, you need to add moisture.
One simple method is to put a small cup* of water in the microwave while your pizza is reheating. You can achieve the same effect by placing your pizza on a damp paper towel rather than a plate. Another option is to spritz the pizza itself with a few splashes of water.
*Note: Use a microwaveable cup or container. If you can’t find anything with a “microwave safe” label on it, then the safest materials are glass and ceramic.
Tip 2 – Use 50% power for double the time
Microwave ovens do not distribute heat evenly. The waves focus on certain areas more than others. It’s why every microwave has a rotating turntable to keep the food moving which avoids the issue of certain parts of the food being too hot or burnt.
You might have noticed packaged meals instruct you to stir the food? This allows the heat to be spread evenly throughout. This works great for curries or soups, but you can hardly stir a pizza.
Use a low power instead. Setting your microwave to 50% and double the time will allow the heat to spread by convection. The pizza will become consistently hot and less likely to end up a soggy, cardboard-like mess.
What is the best way to heat up pizza?
The best way to heat up leftover pizza is by using a skillet or oven. Microwave ovens do not get hot enough to crisp your pizza, melt the cheese or cause the desired “Mailliard Reaction” which causes the delicious browning we all love.
On the other hand, using a skillet takes longer, requires you to watch it and means more cleaning up once you’re finished. Using an oven means sitting around waiting for it to heat up. None of which is ideal when your goal is a couple slices of pizza and some Netflix while you nurse a hangover!
So there are reasons why you would use a microwave oven for reheating pizza, even if it’s not the optimal choice. Hey, I’m as guilty as anyone.
Now if you want the convenience of using a microwave to reheat pizza but still with awesome taste, check out the next section…
The combination method
Let’s say you’ve got access to a full kitchen but you don’t want the effort of reheating your pizza properly. Let me introduce you to “the combination method”.
Put your pizza in the microwave oven (one minute a slice is a good rule of thumb)
Flick the heat on your oven or skillet while you wait
When the pizza has finished in the microwave, throw the pizza into the (slightly) preheated oven for 20 seconds or so
There you are! Quick, convenient microwave cooking with the crispy crust and gooey cheese from a quick blast in the oven.
Your plucky microwave oven sits in the corner of your kitchen waiting to reheat three-day-old pizza or the chicken soup that’s for dinner because you can’t be bothered to spend more than 4 minutes cooking tonight.
But did you know it can do so much more?
This article has a bunch of interesting and surprising ways to use your microwave. We’ve included loads of cool recipes along with a couple of tricks to cook things you didn’t even know could be done in a microwave (chicken, anyone?)
Feast on the info that follows and you’ll find cooking easier, simpler and faster than ever!
Microwave Mug Cake
Let’s start with a classic, the microwave mug cake. If you’ve never experienced the pleasure of making chocolate cake by lobbing a cup in a microwave, that’s something you need to rectify pretty darn soon!
Using a few common ingredients and with a cook time of less than two minutes, this is perfect for an easy treat. The cake pops out the top of the mug when it’s finished (cute af, by the way) and kids adore it. I can personally vouch for this recipe, but countless twists and variations are just a google search away.
Easiest Bacon Ever
Oh, you thought bacon was reserved for precious mornings off?
Well you’re mistaken, my friend… Bacon can be cooked in your microwave in a couple of minutes and with a fraction of the cleaning up.
While meat is inadvisable to throw into your microwave, bacon is so thin that it absorbs the heat efficiently.
I’m going to defer the full explanation to this picture-laden post here. Check out the photo at the bottom, can you even tell it wasn’t cooked in a skillet?
Cooking Dry Pasta
Next up is the most criminally overlooked of cooking “hacks”, a way to cook dry pasta from scratch in just ten minutes.
Put one serving of pasta in the microwave with cold water and cover. Full power for ten minutes. The pasta cooks easily, the difficulty is getting the amount of time right.
Check the pasta has softened before serving. You can give it more time or add more water if needed. The process gets easier after you’ve mastered it (i.e. done it four or five times).
This shortcut is a lifesaver for those who get frustrated watching a pot meander its way to a boil (AKA me).
Easy Peasy Scrambled Eggs
Rustling up breakfast can be an ordeal. All that mixing, cooking and cleaning just to plop some scrambled eggs on a plate.
Sidestep the hassle by throwing a few eggs (with seasoning) into a bowl and giving it 30-60 seconds in the microwave. Stir in intervals if you don’t wish the eggs to set, and giving it more or less time will change the consistency from thicker to runny.
Either way, eggs on toast in a couple of minutes doesn’t sound too bad, does it?
Awesome Mushroom Risotto
This risotto recipe shows that your microwave can pull off more than just snacks and small bites. Get dinner ready in a jiffy with a handful of common ingredients you’ve probably already got.
The risotto is not just easy to cook, but easy to customize too! Great for the last few days before paycheck or a clear out of the pantry. You can throw almost anything in there!
Make Peeling Garlic Super Easy
Place a head of garlic in the microwave for about 20 seconds and the heat will break apart the tough seams.
Put pressure on the full bulb of garlic using your bare hands and it will swiftly slide out. No messing around with knives or crushing the garlic first.
This is a great way to use full bulbs of garlic without chopping the ends off. They look fantastic placed around a joint of beef an oven roast, for example.
Make Foamed Milk For A Cappuccino
Love foamed milk in your coffee? This 30-second video shows how to create foamed milk using just a mason jar and a microwave.
Impress friends and loved ones by making coffee just like they do in coffee shops with none of the fancy (or expensive) equipment!
Toast Your Nuts
Whether your jam is almonds, walnuts, cashews or anything else, everyone agrees that nuts taste better toasted. Get your burn on by putting your nuts in the microwave for a quick blast to get that toasty, crispy texture.
Read this article that walks through trying it out with some walnuts. Eight minutes is the sweet spot, apparently. Taste-wise it’s not far off what you’d get from doing it in the oven.
Sweet Potato Chips
Sweet potato chips are an awesome crunchy and salty snack that are yet another to throw on the pile of “super easy microwave food”.
Take one sweet potato and some seasoning and you’re a few minutes away from crispy chips ready to eat.
What’s best is you get all the pleasure of munching on delicious chips with none of the guilt. The preservatives you get in store-bought chips are absent and you’re chowing down on ultra-healthy, low-GI sweet potato!
These delightfully cute “choc chip cookies” are another five minute microwave wonder.
Like the “cake in a cup” I mentioned earlier, everyone is gobsmacked when they find out their little ol’ microwave can bake up goodies like this.
Recipe here. You’ll notice the ingredients are all probably in your pantry already so I’ll understand if you wanna close this article to run off and make these!
“Roasting” Garlic
If you’re in need of roasted garlic for a recipe without waiting an hour for your oven to get the job done… then you’re in luck. Read this shortcut for getting squishy, cooked garlic in just a few minutes.
Mac And Cheese
The biggest shock for me with microwaves was being able to cook dry pasta with little difference in taste. What a timesaver!
This four-ingredient mac and cheese (in a mug) is the perfect recipe to show off the microwave’s versatility. And to make super easy dinner tonight!
Oatmeal In A Mug
Oh yes, get your mugs out (again) for another cool ‘n’ quirky idea for breakfast. This recipe imitates “baked oatmeal” but with none of the aggro.
It’s super customizable, so get creative with all your favorite embellishments. Chuck nutritious whole grains and fruits in there for the health-conscious.
Soften Butter
I don’t use the word “lifechanging” lightly, but of all the tips in this list, this one comes closest.
Take hard butter from the fridge and put it in your microwave on low power (30% or so) for 10-20 seconds. Congratulations, you now have soft, perfectly spreadable butter!
Melt Chocolate
In a similar vein to taking the grief out of hard butter that you can’t spread, microwaves can be used to heat up and melt chocolate into delicious gooey goodness!
Use very low power (10% is ideal) for 10-15 seconds, it doesn’t take much. If need be you can give it a little more time and/or stir.
Microwave Mug Pizza
Didn’t think microwaves were suitable for pizza? Well, you’re not way off the mark.
Pizzas and other doughy products rely on high heat to brown and crisp the pie and give it that lovely texture. A microwave can cook a pizza but it’ll be a soggy, disappointing mess.
There is a workaround however, and surprise surprise, it involves a mug.
Recipe here. Ingredients are simple, preparation is simple, and it just might satisfy your craving for a cheesy, tomato-ey meal!
“Roast” Chicken
One of the beauties of the microwave is it can be used to simplify otherwise long and arduous cooking processes.
For example, making some chicken for a chicken sandwich requires either an oven or a pan, plenty of time and lots of clean up.
Alternatively, read this from my new favorite website. Full instructions on how to safely and easily microwave raw chicken into cooked chicken that can be used in sandwiches or any other dish.
Fluffy Rice
No rice cooker? No problem!
Rice is one of the cheapest ways to get your calories and with a microwave and a bit of knowhow you can serve yourself up some fluffy goodness in no time.
The process is a little tricky. Follow this (very) detailed recipe for starters. It might take a few tries to pull it off as you’re working with water ratios and getting the time dial in. There’s definitely a knack to it.
Thick, Creamy Polenta
Need some quick carbs to beef up a meal? Throw some polenta into a microwave and you’ve got a great complement to whatever else you’re cooking. Find the recipe here, it’s as simple and easy like most of the other things on this list!
Perfect Poached Eggs
We all know that pulling off a sublime poached egg is the holy grail of breakfast making. And we’ve all tried and failed at making perfect poached eggs in a pan (to be fair, it’s darn tricky!)
Just 30 or 40 seconds is enough to make poached eggs in your microwave by following the recipe here. And you don’t even have to tell anyone you cheated!
Boiled Water For Tea Or Coffee
No kettle and looking to make yourself a hot drink in a pinch?
Guess what… your microwave can help you do that as well!
Put a microwaveable mug filled with water up to 2/3s and on high for around a minute. Your water will be boiled and ready for tea/coffee/cocoa.
Microwaves are an essential appliance in any kitchen. But what if you wanted something top of the line for your defrosting and reheating needs? If you’re willing to splash out a little more then modern microwaves have all sorts of functions and techniques that’ll make cooking easier than ever.
We’ve researched and reviewed the best microwaves on the market so you don’t have to. The following article will provide a comprehensive roundup fo the best high end microwave ovens that have been evaluated on quality of features, safety, reliability and ease of use.
Panasonic’s newest range of microwave ovens offer an outstanding array of features along with power output that’ll give you rapid cooking times. Throw in fantastic reliability backed up by a comprehensive one-year warranty and you’ve got a microwave that will last and last.
Inverter Technology gives accurate power output to low power modes.
Huge range of super convenient sensor reheating options.
Packed with loads of extra features.
What We Didn’t Like
Number one in our list of best high end microwave ovens comes from Panasonic. this company hits the high notes again and again with its microwaves and makes this an easy recommendation.
First up you have the patented Inverter Technology. This means you get a steady stream of constant power when you use a low power mode.
Putting it on 30% to defrost? The Panasonic actually emits 30% of full power giving you more consistent and thoroughly heated food. This is unlike typical microwaves that have to turn the magnetron off and on again to approximate a lower power.
This microwave has a wonderful array of sensor reheating options. The sensor reheat is a wonderful modern addition to microwaves that lets you reheat simply by pressing one button.
No need to spend time trying to guess the time needed, the microwave does that by using a humidity sensor to work out when the food is perfectly cooked.
Panasonic as a company offers a standard 1200W on microwaves. This is a very high power output compared to typical or older microwaves where a range of 700-900W is common.
What this means for you is rapid cooking times when using your microwave. And because this wattage is the standard, if you need a smaller microwave than the top model then you still get to enjoy this high power output.
Other features include:
– Turbo Defrost which speeds up thawing and defrosting times. – Popcorn button with three different levels. – Smart controls combined with beautiful LED interface. – Ten different power levels for low power modes.
Lastly, the company has a terrific record when it comes to reliability and longevity of its microwaves. Buy one of these and you’re safe in the knowledge you’ll be avoiding spending a number of Sundays trying to get the darn thing fixed. Panasonic offers 1-year warranty on all parts and a 5-year warranty on the magnetron itself, too.
The LG Neochef, with its unique features, will appeal to those looking for excellent design and solid user interface.
Their wide range of over-the-range microwave ovens does stand out, though. They are a great brand to consider for customers who are looking for this type of microwave.
Aesthetic is fantastic with its uncluttered interface.
Tons of unique quality of life additions like the antibacterial coating or the stronger turntable.
What We Didn’t Like
Jingle that plays rather than the standard beep.
The LG microwave is a sleek device that will appeal to those looking for something with a modern look and style.
You’ll notice that, at first glance, it looks like there are only two buttons for “STOP” and “START”, this is because much of the clutter is hidden on the inside of the microwave to add to the aesthetic.
They call this Smoothtouch and you can access much of the functionality just with those buttons and the timer scale just above it. Open the door and you’ll see the full complement of features, too.
The LG has useful quality-of-life additions like its antibacterial Easyclean coating and scratch resistant surface which will keep your microwave looking beautiful and being hygienic.
The turntable has six prongs rather than the usual three for added stability and so you don’t have to spend your precious time trying to place the turntable exactly where it’s supposed to go!
– Auto defrost and auto reheat modes. – Dedicated popcorn function. – Quick start feature allows you to easily put 30 seconds on. – Gorgeous glass panel input controls. – Bright in-microwave LED light so you can see your food while it’s being heated. – Eleven different power levels for low power modes. – Option of using the clock as a kitchen timer
One potential negative to bear in mind is the jingle that plays when the microwave is done cooking. It’s nothing too extravagant, but might annoy the wrong type of person.
Convection/microwave combination is unique and fantastic for some purposes.
Plenty of other excellent features.
Trendy design with clear layout of buttons.
What We Didn’t Like
Power output is a little low for the price.
The Samsung line of microwaves are a solid if unspectacular bet for best high end microwave. Compared to the others on this list, the Samsung can feel a little flat with its relatively lower power at 950W. This is still high power and will give fast cooking times, but it’s slower than you might want from a high end option.
Where the Samsung comes into its own, however, is with its convection or grilling element. Firstly, this can be used as a quick replacement for a normal oven if you want to do some browning. The microwave heats up fast which makes it convenient.
The real magic comes in with its combination microwave/grill mode. When you use this function, you can simultaneously reheat foods with the microwave while using the grill to brown and crisp at the same time. Think of reheating pizza where you can melt the cheese and brown the crust!
Other features include:
– Numerous preset options for one touch cooking. – Sound on/off button to turn off annoying beeps. – Eco mode which saves power during standby. – Ten different power levels. – “+30 seconds” button for easily adding on time.
Poached, scrambled, boiled or fried, eggs are a delicious way to start your day. And there’s nothing easier than using your microwave oven to cook some eggs up in 30 seconds flat. No clean up, either! Sounds good for a home-cooked breakfast, no?
With a specially made microwave egg cooker, making eggs in a microwave is a breeze. And this article is the right place to find the best recommendation and reviews on the best microwave egg cooker on the market right now. We’ve rated the following microwave egg cookers on their functionality, reliability and the best specific usage.
The Sistema is a simple design composed of a cylindrical container in which you crack your eggs. It’s large enough that you can crack two eggs in and whisk it a little before putting in the microwave making it perfect for cooking up scrambled eggs.
You can also fill it with cheese or ham and turn it into a simple omelet. The size is around 5 inches in diameter which also means you can use it for an easy layer of egg in muffins or sandwiches.
It has a lid with steam vent which means it’s super simple to cover the eggs while they are cooking. This means less splatter to clean up from the inside of your microwave.
The device is super easy to use around the kitchen as it’s freezer and dishwasher safe. They can also stack onto each other making them easy for storage. Oh yea, and it’s made of pure BPA free plastics, so you can rest easy on that front, too.
These next egg cookers are designed with one thing in mind: poaching eggs. Making poached eggs is usually a bunch of hassle getting everything set up but it couldn’t be easier with the Cozilifes.
Just crack your eggs into these devices and set them off in the microwave. Come back in 40 seconds to awesome poached eggs.
If you have a little more time, you can get more authentic poached eggs by using the same devices in a saucepan of boiling water. Plop the eggs in inside the Cozilifes and it wil poach the eggs nice and easily, with none of the risk of having your egg mix into the water in the pan!
The cute design is sure to be a hit with all the family and each set of 4 comes in four different, unique colors.
Our next set of microwave egg cookers sell themselves on being the perfect size for a breakfast sandwich or muffin. Recreate your favorite morning snack from McDonald’s with one of these babies.
The eggs themselves come out like perfectly round poached eggs. It is recommended to pierce the egg yolk with a fork before microwaving to prevent explosions so the white and yolk will mix up a bit.
You always have the handy lid to cover the eggs while cooking to prevent any unwanted splatter on the inside of your microwave.
The plastic is totally BPA and pthalate free as well as being safe to use in dishwasher and freezer.
Next up we have a device that can be used to boil eggs in a microwave. This one can be a real timesaver given how finicky it can be to make boiled eggs using a saucepan.
The way it works is similar to the usual method for boiling. You fill the device’s lower section up with water which then gets heated and boils the eggs. This is what allows you to get perfectly cooked boiled eggs without removing the shell.
It’s simple enough to adjust the time depending on if you want to make soft, medium or hard boiled eggs, too.
It has a maximum capacity of four eggs but you can use less, even just one, if you prefer. When it finishes the device can be pretty hot so make sure to use oven gloves when removing it from the microwave.
This egg poacher gets great reviews and it’s easy to see why. It does the simple things well, offering two spaces for you to crack your eggs with dishwasher safe plastic and an easily removable lid.
The design is structured well so it stays stable even when given a little shake or a nudge. This is useful when you’re making eggs as the goop from eggs that haven’t been cooked yet can make a real mess with just the smallest spill.
Very easy to clean when finished, you won’t be spending precious time scrubbing little bits of egg from hard to reach places with this egg cooker.
Our last microwave egg cooker fulfills the need of those who like a breakfast omelet. The wide and long base gives you a nice opening to crack your eggs into, give them a quick stir and they’re ready to be put in the microwave. A few minutes on medium power and your omelet is ready.
The Snips device itself is quite spacious, leaving lots of room for any extras you might want to add. You can put your toppings in at the start, but another option is to let the eggs set a little bit, maybe halfway through, then add the toppings to give them some time to heat up.
The device functions really well as a makeshift bowl so you can eat your food straight out of it. Perfect for those who want a convenient breakfast with a minimum of cleaning up.
Most people will advise against cooking meat in a microwave. Defrosting? Sure.
Cooking from raw, on the other hand, is considered culinary malpractice at best and will lead to a nasty case of food poisoning at worst.
Bacon, however, isn’t like most meats…
Can You Microwave Bacon?
Yes, you can. Bacon is unusual among meat products in that it is actually well suited for being cooked from raw in a microwave.
Bacon is extremely thin which means the heat from the microwaves can be fully absorbed.
In addition, its high fat content allows the bacon to get to a high enough temperature to get a nice browning and crisping that you wouldn’t get by putting most other meat in a microwave.
Is it the best way to cook bacon? Still probably not.
Is it a good way to get some crispy bacon in a pinch? You bet.
Why can you microwave bacon?
Meat has two qualities that make the microwave oven an ill-advised choice for cooking it.
The first is that meat is usually big and dense. Think of a large pork chop, a chicken breast or a roast of beef. The microwaves can only travel 1-2cm into these foods (or any foods) before they are absorbed so only the outside of meat will get cooked.
The high density of meat means it takes a while for that heat to spread through to the center – why is why a roast in the oven can take hours to be ready – so it’s difficult to cook meat through in a microwave.
(That said, it is possible to do a roast in a microwave and there are recipes out there if you feel the urge to look for them. Even then, it’s not such a great idea due to the second issue with meat…)
The second problem is that microwaves do not cause high enough heat to brown or crisp the outsides of foods, particularly meats.
An oven will brown your foods, as will a frying pan. A microwave, however, is extremely efficient at delivering heat and never reaches the kind of temperatures of 140 to 165 °C (280 to 330 °F) needed.
Bacon, however, has such a a high fat content that it can essentially cook itself to the termperatures needed to crisp itself.
The microwaves work by being absorbed by molecules in food, most commonly water and fat molecules. The amount of bacon in fat actually works well to achieve the crisp from the Maillard reaction.
Here’s the super simple method for thoroughly cooked, tasty bacon using nothing more than a garden variety microwave oven.
Place bacon on paper towel.
Fold paper towel over so it covers the bacon.
Give bacon 1-2 mins per slice. On my 900W microwave, nuking it for 90 seconds does the job just fine.
Enjoy your bacon!
Don’t skimp on using the paper towel. It’s there to absorb the rendered fat which will drip out of your bacon and you need to put it on top of the bacon to stop any little “pops” of grease that might end up on the walls of your microwave. Not very hygienic…
Disadvantages to cooking bacon in a microwave
The main issue, as I see it, with cooking bacon in a microwave is that you can’t use the bacon grease.
I’m of the belief that this “fats = heart disease” stuff is a load of baloney designed to get us eating loads of processed sugary rubbish.
Putting that argument to the side, when you cook bacon in a microwave you can’t use the grease from the bacon for other cooking, particularly to jazz up scrambled eggs.
You might also find the bacon loses a little flavor as all the grease gets absorbed into the paper towel. Then again, those of you looking to reduce your fat intake might see that as a positive…
The microwave oven is an essential in the kitchen. Needed for reheating and defrosting primarily, these useful appliances can do so much more for your family including neat tricks like popping popcorn or softening butter.
Today we’ll be examining the microwaves of Toshiba, a widely known and well regarded Japenese electronics brand that creates a full range of microwave ovens.
We’ve spent hours researching and reviewing to put together this review article, looking at factors like reliability, ease of use, safety and features.
Fantastic reputation for reliability and longevity of its microwaves.
Excellent all round microwave suitable for most types of buyers.
What We Didn’t Like
Not as many features as the top of the line modern microwaves.
The Basics
Toshiba offers a good range of microwaves at the mid range of the microwave spectrum. That means with the smaller microwaves you’re getting a simple, stripped down microwave and on the higher end loads of modern features like “Invertertech” and sensor reheating.
The models offered all pack a decent punch when it comes to wattage. Its smallest microwave offers a 900W power output and that goes right up to 1250W. Until recent times, home microwaves hovered around the 700-800W mark so all the Toshiba microwaves are well powered.
What does that mean for you? Basically, faster cooking and reheating times which means less time waiting around for your food which is a nice time saver in the kitchen and at home.
Three of their best selling models are:
Toshiba EM925A5A-SS – 900W / 0.9 cu. ft with 10.6″ turntable Toshiba EM131A5C-BS – 1100W / 1.2 cu.ft with 12.4″ turntable. Toshiba EM245A5C-BS – 1250W / 1.6 cu. ft with 13.6″ turntable
The first thing to point out with Toshiba is, like many companies that make microwaves, is that they offer a range of options which have different sizes, wattages, and features. So if you go for the top of the end you will be getting things you don’t get at the budget option.
That said, there are a lot of quality of life features available in all their microwaves. Things like a mute button for beeping, a quick start “+30 seconds” button, and the ability to use the clock as a timer for other cooking uses are all neat little additions.
You are also getting a number of presets for easy reheating like “popcorn” or “beverage” functions, too.
If you’re considering the higher end microwaves then you’ll be looking at some neat modern features like Inverter Technology which delivers a steady stream of power on low power modes rather than having the magnetron switch on and off repeatedly to approximate low power.
You will also get Sensor Reheating which is when your microwave uses a humidity sensor to detect when your food is perfectly cooked, saving you the hassle and guesswork of trying to figure out how long to put your meal in the microwave for.
Ease Of Use
Toshiba’s microwaves have a sleek black modern aesthetic that is repeated across their microwave range. Unlike a lot of brands, it can actually be quite hard to tell apart the different sized models at first glance, usually the number of buttons on the keypad gives the game away.
The user interface for Toshibas is good, using a keypad input with buttons that for the most part, explain each function easily and simply.
It must be said that some functions are hidden, for example, to turn the buzzer/beeping off you need to hold down the “8” button for 3-5 seconds.
It is labeled on there but it’s not super clear how to do it unless you’ve read the manual (or me telling you right now!) Also the general style of the keypad looks a little dated compared to some of the companies snazzy offerings.
Reliability
When it comes to reliability Toshiba hits it out of the park with all their microwaves. They have a wonderful reputation for long lasting microwaves that cause few issues and this is reflected in thousands of excellent review scores on Amazon and elsewhere with reports of breakdowns or faulty parts being reassuringly rare.
On top of that, Toshiba offers a 1-year warranty on their microwaves along with a 5-year warranty on the magnetron itself for your peace of mind.
Overall
Taking it all into account, we’re happy to say that Toshiba’s microwaves come fully recommended. A wide range of options with plenty of modern features and record on reliability that is nothing to sniff at, you can’t really go wrong with this brand.
Looking for a microwave oven on the cheaper side of things? If your home needs a new appliance for defrosting or reheating then you’ve actually got a lot of choice for just a hundred bucks.
We’ve spent hours researching the best microwave so you don’t have to. Putting together the top microwaves you can buy for less than 100 dollars in this article. We’ve reviewed the microwaves in terms of value for money, features, reliability and more. So read on if you want our recommendations.
(Please note prices fluctuate. For this reason we’ve tried to avoid using specific figures although all microwaves are under $100 at time of writing.)
Number one on our list is a great offering from Toshiba. In fact, this microwave is so impressive it won “Best Budget” in our overall roundup of the top microwave brands which you can read about in this article here.
Toshiba makes great all round microwaves. That means a simple, unfussy design that gets the job done without overloading you with pointless extras that you’ll never use.
You get a decent 900W power which gives respectably fast cooking times along with many useful extras like an eco mode, mute option and plenty of presets to work with.
The company has a stellar reputation when it comes to the reliability and longevity of its microwaves. The microwave oven is not a sexy appliance.
Most people would prefer to buy something that sits in the corner of the kitchen and does its job quietly for a decade with no issues. Toshiba fits the bill in this respect/
The aesthetic is not to everyone’s taste. These days the trend with home microwave ovens is a slick black stainless steel finish that looks trendy and modern.
By comparison, the Toshiba can look a little dated in some eyes. Happily, this doesn’t affect the user interface which is clear to understand which button does what and very easy to use.
The machine I’ve linked to is actually considerably under 100 so you can save a few dollars by choosing this one. If you’d like a bit more bang for your buck then the next model up from Toshiba (1.2 cubic feet) is equally impressive in all the same areas but with more size, more power and the wonderful addition of smart sensor heating. You are going a little over the 100 mark with that one though.
Black + Decker produce truly beautiful looking microwaves and copy the black stainless steel chic that you typically see in much more expensive microwave ovens.
The model I’ve linked to is one of their “mid range” microwaves which comes in at an average 0.9 cubic feet capacity.
This is paired with a solid 900W power which is respectable in terms of delivering fast cooking times and about as high as you can expect at this price range.
The microwave is not packed with features but has all the main things you would hope for. You get six presets for common microwave cooking like popcorn, vegetables or potato. You have ten different power levels to cook with and a useful little “+30 seconds button” as well.
To top it all off, Black + Decker is considered one of the best overall brands when it comes to reliability. Reports of breakdowns and other issues in its microwaves are reassuringly rare.
Do bear in mind that the keypad does not have a backlight and can be a little hard to read in spaces that are not well-lit.
If money is priority numero uno then feast your eyes on this little number. This microwave actually features in my list on “Best Microwave Under 50” and comes out as the overall winner!
The Sharp at the bottom end of the price range of microwaves which means its capacity of 0.7 cubic feet is as small as the come, although sufficient for most household needs outside of using larger plates or bowls.
It also comes with low 700W power which means cooking times will be slower than with more expensive and powerful microwaves.
The look is dated but doesn’t get in the way. All buttons are clearly marked and you won’t be spending hours in the manual trying to figure out how to find the “popcorn” setting.
The white color and general design might put people off who want a microwave that looks like it was made in the last 20 years, though!
The Sharp comes out pretty well featurewise for the price, offering a decent amount of preset functions, an “auto defrost” mode, the ability to use the clock as a kitchen timer and even a super handy “+30 seconds” button to save you a few seconds when plugging a time in.
Again though, this microwave is for those who just want something solid which will work at the cheapest possible price. The other microwaves in the list all offer a little more for the extra few dollars you’re shelling out.
Our fourth option for best microwave under $100 comes from Kenmore who produce a range of smaller, budget microwaves. The one I’ve linked to is actually their largest model currently on sale but is similar to the other microwave ovens in this list.
Its size is a medium 0.9 cubic feet in capacity with an equally average power output of 900W.
Do bear in mind that power outputs in microwaves have steadily risen over the years and a typical home microwave a few decades ago would’ve been 700-800W. So when it comes to cooking times, the Kenmore at 900W is no slouch.
A great touch with Kenmore’s microwaves is the few reports of reliability issues. A microwave is not the kind of appliance anyone enjoys spending their weekend trying to fix so a solid microwave that’ll last without issues can be a real weight off in terms of stress.
Features-wise, you’re looking at a standard set for this level of microwave with six preset modes to choose from as well as a “+30 seconds button”, ten different power levels and “weight defrost” mode.
A microwave oven is used for cooking, defrosting and reheating which makes it one of the most versatile home appliances in your kitchen. Whether you’re a budding chef or just an amateur looking to warm up some leftovers, having a versatile and practical microwave can help so much around the house.
Choosing a high quality microwave can be difficult for many customers. We’ve reviewed and researched to find the best Danby microwave reviews, looking at factors like ease of use, durability, reliability, and safety to give the best consumer recommendations. Read on to learn all about the best Danby microwaves on the market right now.
Sensor reheating is a dream to use in the kitchen.
Eighteen different colors to choose from.
High power means you won’t be waiting all day for your microwave.
Cons
Basic appearance.
We’ll begin with the higher end of the Danby range and start with its 1.4 cubic feet and 1100W model. This is an above average size, good for cooking large amounts, and a power that is almost as high as anything you’ll find for home use on the market. What that means to you is rapid cooking times.
The Danby microwaves have a basic aesthetic and this one is no different. A plain black exterior that looks a little dated compared to some newer microwaves but is part the reason why these microwaves are so affordable.
Its basic appearance doesn’t mean any loss in features, however. You get a full complement of sensor reheating options where you tell the microwave what type of food it is and it will automatically heat up to the perfect temperature using its humidity sensor. You also get ten power levels, defrost by weight function, a “+30 seconds” button and a bunch more.
Surprisingly decent features for the price you are paying.
Cons
Low power can be annoying for impatient types.
Our next Danby microwave is more budget-focused with a smaller 0.7 cubic feet capacity and lower 700W power. This is the standard for small, budget microwaves and will get the job done. You might find its small size awkward though, and cooking times will not be as quick as pricier microwaves.
Featurewise, this model performs well. You get a number of pre-programmed options to take the hassle out of reheating, although sadly, but understandably, sensor reheating is not available at this price. You can cook and defrost by weight rather than time and you also have the option of a speed defrost function.
This microwave has the highest average rating of consumer reviews with 4.3 stars at over 400 reviews. This is a good metric to judge the reliability of a microwave over the long term so you may want to take that into account.
Next up in our roundup is this retro looking microwave which comes in at a 1.1 cubic feet capacity and a 1100W power. This makes it middle of the range in terms of size but pretty powerful which will give you speedy cooking times.
The microwave comes with a basic set of features although nothing that’ll blow you away. Six built in presets for reheating along with reheat and defrost by weight rather than time make up the main things people will be using. A kitchen timer and ten different power levels are included as well.
Overall, this is a solid if unspectacular mid range microwave.
Solid mid range microwave does everything you’d expect it to well.
“+30 seconds” button which you don’t see on many Danby microwaves.
Cons
Not a huge amount of features.
Next up we have a departure from the common look of the Danby microwaves with this sleek, modern design with stainless steel colored exterior. This comes in at 0.9 cubic feet and 900W power. That’s about average size wise, perhaps a touch small. In terms of power output, it’s about average too, nothing that’ll blow you away but no slouch when it comes to cooking speeds.
Like a lot of the Danby microwaves this has a fairly standard range of features to help you in the kitchen. You get your normal six presets along with weight or time defrost and speed defrost. There’s also that awesome “+30 seconds” button (which I love) and which you don’t find on all Danby’s.
Unique look could be very appealing to the right person.
Solid power output.
Cons
Unique look could be off-putting to the wrong person!
Quite a narrow range of features.
This last Danby microwave has a pared down look with a robotic, almost 80s vibe going on. The keypad is stripped down to its bare essentials so you get the basics and not a lot more. In terms of features, it’s got the least of any microwave on this list, so definitely one for those who don’t need any flashy tricks with their microwaves, just the simple stuff.
It’s a 1.1 cubic feet capacity which is about average and fairly spacious. That comes with a 1000W power which is pretty powerful and gives you fast cooking times.
Overall though, this unique looking microwave is mostly about the aesthetic. If you like the look of it then get it in your kitchen.
Not what you were looking for?
While Danby offers a number of different microwaves in their line, they are missing out on the top end of the microwave market where you have crazy features like Inverter Technology and super high wattage.
Every home needs a microwave in the kitchen. It can be used for cooking, reheating and defrosting but also more niche uses like popping popcorn or softening butter. This comparison review article will look at the best appliance for you and your family.
In this article we will be analyzing the microwave ovens from the brands Samsung and Sharp, pitting them head to head in order to determine the winner. We’ve researched and reviewed all aspects of microwaves including reliability, ease of use, features and more to bring you a comprehensive comparison of these two companies. But in the end, who comes out on top?
Samsung‘s microwave ovens’ calling card is its additional grill element. This makes it a “two in one” appliance that can both microwave and grill.
Where it gets really interesting, though, is its combination microwave/grill mode where both can be set at once. Imagine going to reheat leftover pizza but using the grill at the same time to get a nice crisp on the dough and a little melt on the cheese.
Samsung microwave ovens have a scratch resistant and easy to clean exterior which makes them beautiful to look at and keeps them looking perfect for years with minimal maintenance.
Other notable features include:
– Wide range of auto cook preset options. – Dedicated soften and melt functions. – Auto defrost. – Turn off clock button. – Sound on/off button to stop the microwave beeping.
Sharp occupies the cheaper end of the microwave spectrum to Samsung, and for that reason, it has fewer features with the benefit of a cheaper cost.
It’s also worth pointing out the Sharp has a broader range than Samsung so I can try to outline some of the common features but you’ll need to have a look at each microwave yourself to make the right decision. As always, the more you pay, the bigger it is and the more features you get.
Sharp’s microwaves do commonly offer a sensor heating function. This is a great little trick with modern microwaves. If you haven’t used it, basically rather than telling your microwave a time, you tell it the type of food it is and turn it on.
The microwave automatically works out the amount of cooking time needed based on the humidity level in the oven from the food. No messing about trying to work out the right time or adding an extra 30 seconds because it’s not done yet, the microwave does it all for you.
Other features you see in Sharp microwaves are:
– Ten different power levels for low power modes. – Preset modes including “popcorn”, “pizza”, “potato” and more. – Kitchen timer on the LED display to conveniently time anything you want. – Auto defrost. – “+30 seconds” button.
Winner: Samsung.
This is a clear win for Samsung in the number and quality of features that are offered with the big caveat that you generally pay for it with a higher price. It should also be said that some of the higher end Sharp microwaves are much more feature-laden than the cheaper ones.
Power / Size Options
Samsung offers mid-range microwaves in terms of size, power output, and general budget. The size options are between 1.1 to 1.4 cubic feet, pretty average for a microwave.
The wattage is between 950-1000W which is respectable, even among high powered modern microwaves. Traditional microwaves would be in the range of 700-900W so this thing will give you rapid cooking times at that power.
The models offered by Samsung are:
Samsung MG14H3020CM microwave with grill – 950W with 1.4 cu. ft. Samsung MG11H2020CT microwave with grill – 1000W with 1.1 cu. ft.
Sharp offers a wide range of size options with specific names for each type like “compact” or “XL Family”. These come with an equally wide range of power outputs so the larger microwaves will cook super quick but the smaller budget microwaves are low on power with slower cooking times.
All their microwaves come in a range of different colors with white, stainless steel and black being the common options.
Some of the models offered by Sharp are:
Sharp Carousel Countertop Microwave – 700W with 0.9 cubic feet Sharp (SMC1131CB Microwave Oven – 1000W with 1.1 cubic feet Sharp SMC1662DS Microwave Oven – 1100 with 1.6 cubic feet Sharp SMC2242DS Microwave Oven – 1200W with 2.2 cubic feet
The vast range of microwaves offered by Sharp, in all different sizes, powers and colors, give customers full choice over what they want in their kitchen. So Sharp takes this one.
Ease Of Use
Samsung microwave ovens are a beautiful piece of kit with their black mirror finish. The surface is scratch resistant and “easy to clean” so you know that modern look will last for years and years.
The interface is clear to understand with all buttons labeled and being obvious what they do. Quality of life features are pretty good too with the kitchen timer, sound on/off button and “+30 secs” button all being lifesavers for the right kind of person.
In comparison to the Samsung microwaves, the Sharp line is much more basic looking. They give the impression of electronics that were made 20 or 30 years ago. Although some people may like the look, it’s not what you expect from buying a brand new, modern electronics.
The user interface itself is good, with all buttons clearly marked. You’ll understand all the functions of the Sharp microwave just by looking at it and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to be able to work the various things it can do.
Winner: Samsung
While both companies offer microwaves that are easy to use, the modern look of the Samsungs just gives it the edge in this category.
Reliability
Samsung has a solid if not stellar reputation with their microwaves. User reports generally indicate a positive experience with their microwaves with complaints or other breakdown issues being relatively rare.
The issues that were there generally talk about the microwave not working for one reason or another. Samsung does offer a 1-year warranty on all parts with all of their microwaves.
Sharp has a decent record of reliability with complaints and other reports of faulty parts of breakdowns being relatively rare. Sharp offers a 1-year warranty on their microwaves.
Winner: Tie
Nothing to choose between the two brands here. Both are good if not perfect with reliability and buying either microwave you can expect few, if any, issues.
Overall
This one’s a clear winner for Samsung. The abundance of features combined with a great look and interface makes it an easy choice to recommend. If you want to buy it then click here.
Any downsides? Well, if you’re not going to use the grill element at all then you’re paying extra for a feature you won’t use. I’d recommend you check out this article here to see what the top brands are in microwaves at the moment.
Panasonic and Sharp are two big names in the world of microwaves and you’re in the right place for a full comparison of the two companies. Whatever type of appliance you need for your home and kitchen, you can guarantee that our advice will lead to happy defrosting and reheating.
We’ve researched and reviewed each of these respective brands’ flagship line of microwaves to provide the best consumer recommendation. We’ve analyzed buying factors like reliability, ease of use, features, and range of options to enable you to choose the best microwave to purchase.
Panasonic’s newest range of microwave ovens offer an outstanding array of features along with power output that’ll give you rapid cooking times. Throw in fantastic reliability backed up by a comprehensive one-year warranty and you’ve got a microwave that will last and last.
Panasonic‘s standout feature in its microwaves is its patented Inverter Technology. This delivers a steady stream of low heat when using low power modes.
Compare this to normal microwaves that turn on and off again continuously to approximate low power.
Put your Panasonic microwave on a 30% defrost mode and it will actually apply 30% power, giving you more evenly and consistently heated foods.
This is just one in a long line of superb additions that make Panasonic the top of the range when it comes to any brand of microwave. Here are a number of other features you can expect with a Panasonic:
– Sensor reheat that automatically cooks using a humidity sensor. – Turbo Defrost which speeds up thawing and defrosting times. – Popcorn button with three different levels. – Smart controls combined with a beautiful LED interface. – Ten different power levels for low power modes.
Sharp occupies the more budget end of the spectrum when compared to Panasonic so its features are less diverse and robust, although that’s not to say without merit.
The Sharp line of microwaves spans a wide range of options so features are not always consistent so we’ll examine the typical features you can expect.
One excellent feature found with Sharp microwaves is a sensor heating function. This modern advancement takes all the guesswork out of cooking, defrosting and reheating.
Rather than select a time, simply choose the type of food you are heating, the microwave will use its humidity sensor to detect when the food is perfectly cooked. No guessing how much time is needed!
Other features you see in Sharp microwaves are:
– Ten different power levels for low power modes. – Preset modes including “popcorn”, “pizza”, “potato” and more. – Kitchen timer on the LED display to conveniently time anything you want. – Auto defrost function. – “+30 seconds” button.
WINNER: Panasonic
The extraordinary array of features offered with Panasonic microwaves makes it a clear winner in this category.
Power and size options
The Panasonic range of microwaves occupy the higher end of the market. They are big, powerful, expensive and packed with extras.
A consequence of this is there are no budget options or microwave suitable for small spaces in the Panasonic line up.
The models of countertop microwave ovens offered by Panasonic are as follows. They also sell a modest range of over-the-range microwaves as well.
Sharp offer a wide range of size options with specific names for each type like “compact” or “XL Family”.
These come with an equally wide range of power outputs so the larger microwaves will cook super quick but the smaller budget microwaves are low on power and less quick cooking times.
All their microwaves come in a range of different colors with white, stainless steel and black being the common options.
While the Panasonic microwaves are big and powerful, the Sharp microwaves offer a wide range of sizes and powers along with some cheaper options. It’s hard to pick a winner here so I’m calling this one a tie.
Ease of use
Panasonic microwaves differ quite a lot across the range, much more so than other brands, so you should check out the model you want to buy in particular.
General themes are a sleek modern look with most microwaves being offered in that stainless steel/black look that seems to be in right now.
Using Panasonic microwaves is a dream. The user interface is loaded with functions but without feeling too packed. It’s simple to choose every option and the labeling is nice and simple.
Sharp microwaves are workmanlike and unspectacular. The brand eschews the sleek, modern look you see in many modern microwaves and goes for an aesthetic that reminds you of electronics in the 80s, for better or worse.
Using Sharp microwaves is simple enough. The keypad may not be pretty to look at but options are clearly marked and there are not clear errors. This kind of simple “no frills” style could definitely appeal to the right person.
Winner: Panasonic
Both brands’ microwaves offer excellent ease of use with clear keypads that outline their features, Panasonic takes this by a nose.
Reliability
Panasonic has a fantastic reputation when it comes to reliability of its microwaves. This is evidenced in thousands of user reviews on Amazon with little in the way of complaints or reports of commonly occurring faults or breakdowns.
This is all backed up by a 1-year warranty on all parts and a 5-year warranty on the magnetron itself.
Sharp have an equally solid record on reliability with complaints and other reports of faulty parts of breakdowns being relatively rare. Sharp offers a 1-year warranty on their microwaves.
Winner: Tie
These two brands are arguably the two frontrunners on the market when it comes to reliability and longevity of their microwaves. The occurrences of breakdowns and faulty parts that plague many other companies are simply not in evidence here so, happily, this is a draw where both of them win!
Overall
It’s nice to be able to do a comparison like this and say that both options are good and worth having.
Sharp microwaves have a lot to be enthusiastic about, and might be the right choice for those looking for a simpler or budget microwave.
In the end though, Panasonic knocks it out of the park with its wide array of excellent features and easy to use microwaves which makes it the winner in this particular battle.
Looking for a new microwave oven for your home? Every kitchen needs one of these appliances for cooking, reheating, defrosting. These days, modern microwaves come with tons of extra features that’ll make your culinary life that much easier like timers, dedicated popcorn, soften butter of melt chocolate functions. There’s also one big feature that we’re going to discuss in this article.
Today we’re looking at the Samsung brand and their line of microwave ovens. This article will analyze the unique features of Samsung microwaves including their trademark convection element along with other buying factors such as reliability, ease of use and size and power options to help you make the best consumer decision.
Grill element works brilliantly in combination with the microwave function.
Large list of helpful and varied features.
Gorgeous design while also being simple to understand and use.
What We Didn’t Like
Relatively narrow range of microwaves.
Moderate reliability issues.
Grill Element
Samsung’s trademark feature you find on all of its microwaves is a grill element that allows you to crisp, brown and melt just like a traditional broiler. So you basically get two appliances in one.
You have three options to use this. A normal microwave option and a standalone grill option, as you would expect. The third option is where things get really interesting though, and that’s the combination microwave and grill mode.
With this mode, you can reheat things like you would in a microwave but with the grill at the same time.
So let’s say you’re reheating pizza. Put the combination grill mode on and you’ll get a delicious browning of the bread and melting of the cheese without messing around with a normal oven.
Of course, this works even better for those who either don’t own or don’t have enough space for a normal broiler or grill.
Other features
The Samsung microwaves are filled with useful “quality of life” features. Here’s a list. Bear in mind that different models of microwave have different features, but broadly, the following is what to expect.
Ten different power levels to give you full control of low power modes.
Array of preset options to automatically cook foods like popcorn, potato, pizza, veggies and more. (check photo)
Scratch-resistant and easy to clean exterior.
Sound on/off button to eliminate noisy beeps when your food has finished cooking.
Eco mode that reduces electricity usage when in standby.
Dedicated “soften/melt” function to easily soften butter or melt chocolate.
Kitchen timer you can use for timing other foods that you are cooking.
High quality ceramic plate turntable that is suitable for grilling.
“+30 seconds” button for quickly and easily setting an amount of time.
Size and power options
The Samsung line of microwaves that are sold in this country is disappointingly narrow, with only two main options offered at major retailers.
The models offered by Samsung are:
Samsung MG14H3020CM microwave with grill – 950W with 1.4 cu. ft. Samsung MG11H2020CT microwave with grill – 1000W with 1.1 cu. ft.
The models that are sold occupy the mid-range for microwave size with both 1.1 and 1.4 cubic feet being about average for a microwave oven. Fine for most consumers but not best if you’re hard pushed for space or just love microwaving large amounts at a time.
On a happier note, the power offered in its microwaves is impressively high. The traditional range for wattage in home microwaves is 700-900W so anything above that will offer rapid cooking and reheating times.
Ease of use
The Samsung microwaves are beautiful to look at, offering a stainless steel colored shiny exterior that is scratch resistant and “easy to clean”. The interior is nice too, offering a high quality ceramic plate rather than the usual glass plate for a turntable.
The input for Samsung is a keypad with all options clearly marked. You have an LED display that shows the time, a countdown to when microwaving is finished and also the option of using the display as a kitchen timer for other cooking needs.
Overall, this makes using the microwave a cinch thanks to its clear layout and user-focused design.
Reliability
The Samsung microwaves are well regarded in reliability issues, scoring highly and receiving relatively few issues of breakdowns or other faulty part related issues. This is all backed up with a full 1-year warranty on all parts.
The poor reviews that do exist suggest that breakdowns can happen out of the blue. This is of course outweighed by the many good reviews. As always, it pays to do your own research and make sure you’re happy with the risk.
Overall
The Samsung line of microwaves have well earned their excellent reputation in the microwaves arena. The trademark grilling element is super useful in the kitchen for a variety of reasons especially in the unique microwave/grill combination mode.
This is backed up by tons of extra quality of life features and a microwave that is as easy to use as it is beautiful. Like the sound of it? You can check it out on Amazon here.
Any downsides? Well, if you don’t plan to use the grilling element at all then you are paying a premium for that.
These days, almost every kitchen will have a microwave oven. These appliances can heat, reheat, defrost and a whole lot more including softening butter, popping popcorn or melting chocolate! Especially newer models can do fancy stuff like sensor reheating or using inverter technology.
Panasonic and Samsung are two big names for microwave ovens and they’re going head to head here. This article will review and compare the two brands to give the best consumer choice for your money. We’ve researched areas like features, ease of use, reliability and safety to give you the best deal possible.
Panasonic’s newest range of microwave ovens offer an outstanding array of features along with power output that’ll give you rapid cooking times. Throw in fantastic reliability backed up by a comprehensive one-year warranty and you’ve got a microwave that will last and last.
The Panasonic line of microwaves offers a whole bunch of features that’ll make cooking easier than ever.
First in line is the brand’s patented Inverter Technology which delivers a steady stream of low power. Most microwaves on low power actually just turn off and on over and over again to simulate it. The Inverter Technology can improve reheating and defrosting modes giving more consistent and reliable heat.
The Genius Sensor is another super useful trick in modern microwaves which uses humidity to automatically cook and reheat food – no guesswork to work out a time to key in, just set it off and come back to perfectly heated food. Throw in the Turbo Defrost which can defrost in much quicker times than normal and you’ve got a whole lot to be thankful for.
Full list:
– sensor reheat – turbo defrost which thaws food faster – 3-level popcorn button – smart controls + LED interface – 10 power levels
Samsung microwaves are gorgeous and come with a scratch resistant exterior which, with its “Easyclean” surface, will keep the microwave looking beautiful for years to come. The interior is just as nicely thought out with a solid feeling ceramic turntable as opposed to the more normal glass turntable.
Another common features with many Samsung microwaves is a built in grill element that can be used on its own as a replacement for your broiler, or in tandem with the microwave oven. This second option gives you an “all-in-one” package that can get crispy textures on bread and melt gooey cheese while you’re heating or reheating in the microwave.
Other features are:
– many auto cook presets – soften / melt function – auto defrost – turn off clock button – sound on/off button
Winner: Panasonic
Both brands of microwaves are chockablock with useful features but the Panasonic edges this one with the more practical and useful ones.
Power / Size Options
Panasonic have a consistent high wattage for all their microwaves of 1200-1250W. This blows most home microwave ovens (typically in the 700-900W range) out the water with super fast cooking times.
This is the same for all its microwaves too. The only disappointment in the Panasonic line is there is no option for a small microwave with the smallest model offered at 1.1 cubic feet which is of medium size.
Samsung, on the other hand, aims for the middle of the range.The microwaves occupy the power output range of 900-1050W, solid if unspectacular cooking times. And size-wise you’re looking at between 1.1 to 1.4 cubic feet. All quite narrow really and not ideal if you like microwaving large amounts or you simply don’t have much space.
Winner: Panasonic
This category is a clear victory for the Panasonic microwaves which are much more powerful (=fast cooking times) than the Samsung range and also have more variety in size of microwaves too.
Ease Of Use
The Panasonic microwaves use a standard keypad input with LED display for a timer although some models do offer a dial input if that’s what you prefer so you can spin to add time rather than press buttons.
You have lots of “quality of life” additions including a “quick 30” button for adding 30 seconds to the time with just a button press and a button to switch between the standard microwave clock but also a timer that you can use for other cooking purposes.
Samsung microwaves are a joy to use with their gorgeous black mirror aesthetics and ceramic interior. The keypad user interface is simple but clear, entering what you want is very easy. Lots of extra buttons to help you around the kitchen including a “+30s button”, kitchen timer and even a sound on/off button.
Winner: Draw
Both microwaves come out well in terms of ease of use, the Panasonic edging ahead with its dial input but the Samsung clawing things back with a sound on/off button. Overall, both are so good that it’s impossible to separate them on this one.
Reliability
Panasonic has a stellar reputation when it comes to microwave ovens and this is backed up by a superb average 4.3 rating on Amazon with a reassuringly few number of breakdowns, faulty parts or other issues.
Panasonic offer a 1-year warranty on parts and labour with a 5-year warranty on the magneton itself. The warranty can be “mail in” or “carry in” depending on what you prefer.
Samsung have a decent if disappointing reputation with it comes to its microwaves with surprisingly large amount of issues. This can be seen through a total average rating on Amazon of 3.8 stars – not terrible, but this is one of those appliances you’d prefer to be rock solid for years and years.
Winner: Panasonic.
Another clear victory for Panasonic in the reliability stakes with far fewer consumer reports of issues with their microwave ovens.
Overall
Putting it all together, we can see that Panasonic wins three of the categories and the other category is a draw making the Panasonic microwaves a clear winner.
While the Samsung are no slouches, it’s simply a huge range of useful features combined with a stellar reputation for reliability that make Panasonic the right choice in this instance.
Check out their range here, I’ve linked to the most popular model but you may like to browse around the choices of size, power, dial input etc.
