Microwave

We bought a combination microwave oven a few years ago its still going strong but honestly I've only used the grill part of it once or twice and now I only ever use the microwave part but I can cook cakes and puddings in it. If I were buying a new one I'd buy a simple micro-wave oven. I do think the combi ones are bigger than just a basic micro-wave.

Maybe they are a way of charging more for microwaves. Added features that no one actually uses, Like the other 17 programs on the washing machine. (not programmes jess, those are on the TV)

When I had a fancy one I found that I never used the grill or the convection. It came with an enormous metal construction that held the food up near the grill - I had to store that somewhere (mostly in a faraway cupboard)

What I have found very useful is an automatic setting for fresh or frozen veg or fish. You put in the food, suitably covered and with a small amount of water, press the right button, adjust to fresh or frozen, veg or fish, press "start" and it comes out perfectly cooked. There is a + or - button if you prefer it a lottle over or under done. Even DH could cook fish in it.

That is on my Panasonic, but I think other makes have it. Sometimes you need to dial in the weight of the food, which is a bit of a faff, but this works it out for itself (don't ask how - I think it times how long it is until it detects steam, then calculates how much longer it will need)

Oh Elegran, is that how you use those functions on the Panasonic? I've had it for five years and never used them.

Oh! Me too, anno - we've had ours for even longer and I've never used those functions (because I didn't know how, or why ).

And, as far as I'm concerned, the instruction manual might as well be in Chinese.

I first had a microwave in about mid 80s it died about 4 or 5 yrs ago with a big bang!
We have had two since then. They don't make things to last nowadays! Mine has two turnable knobs, for power setting and timing. Very easy to use. I have encountered all singing, all dancing ones at work that had lots of buttons and were really complicated to operate.

I would always go for a simple version. I do find it very useful for heating thawing and cooking a wide range of stuff. Vegetables cook well and taste better as you can virtually steam them. Try carrots in a lidded Pyrex with just a little bit of hot water to steam them in. They taste so much better than when boiled in water. I would not bother with a grill as I have a gas cooker with an effcien eye level grill.
The last Microwave I bought probably cost about third of the price the first one did.

Anno and Ana Why do they tell you things you don't need to know so long-windedly that you can't be bothered fighting through it to find the useful stuff? We all know by now not to use metal containers or cook things for hours, and to cover food if it is likely to dry out.

Dig out the instruction book and find the pages on "Auto Sensor Cook Programme" In mine it is on page 27-30. That bit is pretty comprehensible.

When my all-singing all-dancing microwave packed in, I did not miss the grill or convection, but I did make sure that the next one had the veg/fish autosensor. Does yours have the chaos defrost? That is mostly excellent, though I have sometimes had to give things a bit longer. I don't use many of the other things though.

If you can't find the instruction book, I can copy those pages and send you them (or maybe a summary of the text)

Thanks, Elegran, I've dug out my instruction book and must admit I have never taken any notice of the Auto Sensor instructions (mine start on page 14) because it all seemed too complicated, but it actually seems quite straightforward! I suppose I just didn't trust a microwave to 'know' how long something needs cooking.

Mine has cyclic defrost, which is perhaps an earlier version of chaos?

I'll definitely give the Auto Sensor programme a go this week.

Hope it all works ana

I need want a new microwave, a smaller, stainless steel effect one to fit in my new kitchen. The old one is all singng and dancing, but the only extra I use is for baked potatoes, where it uses convection and grill to produce lovely crisp potatoes. I think a basic one would do fine, and I do have time now to bake them in the oven, I suppose. Not a hardship, just a question of remembering!

Ariadne if you do the potatoes half in the microwave and finish off in a hot oven, then it doesn't take long at all.

My Panasonic combination slimline microwave has become unreliable, it still works a bit, but sometimes doesn't heat properly, so have been looking for a replacement.

We mainly use it for jacket potatoes a lot, like Ariadne, + normal microwave heating. Having read reviews, the new Panasonic slimline has changed, seems to now have a grill in roof, instead of heat from back, and people seem to say it's not as good and top gets very hot. Also people have had fires from heating pop corn etc. I never do this, but I DO heat my wheat bag when we have a pulled muscle/backache etc. Apparently the new Panasonic says you mustn't heat low moisture items - not covered by guarantee and can cause fires.

I may reluctantly go back to a basic microwave, and just nuke my spuds a little and finish them off in oven for crispiness.

Can anyone recommend a make/model, I will look for chaos defrost (not sure what it is)

Just get a bog standard one that you like the look of Sunflower. Lots of them are made by the same manufacturer, anyway. I got one that matched my kitchen last time - it was only £50 and completely reliable.

I'd never touch a Morphy Richards one again they seem to have a built in program to stop working as soon as the gaurentee run's out,happened twice to me,I've now bought a bog standard one from Argos for £45.00.