Microwave ovens

Forgot to add, I'm looking for a fairly compact model as there's just the 2 of us.

What do you use your microwave for? I rarely do more than cook frozen peas and packet rice and bough a Samsung in Sainsbury's for about £80. It's a bit like my tumble drier - I hardly use it but wouldn't like not to have one!

We don't spend much on ours either, as we know they won't last more than a couple of years due to misuse. The last one went up in a puff of smoke when DH accidentally switched it on when it was empty. My aluminium foil senior moment did for the previous one.

We got our cream retro one from Wilkos for its looks, but it does all we need (mainly heating up my porridge without it boiling over).

Hi kitty I use it mainly for defrosting and for cooking porridge.

Morning Mapleleaf, we had to replace ours a little while ago and now have a Panasonic, from John Lewis.( other stores are available). It is small and compact, but does a good job, porage exceptional. Dimensions, H= 30.5 cm; W= 50 cm; D= 33 cm.
The push buttons are tiny, but you soon remember what/ where they are. Happy shopping.

Mine is an earlier model of that one, Auntie. Panasonic, and very reliable. I have still to change the clock to British Summer Time!

I got a very cheap one from john lewis about £70 I think. It's small and has a grill which I don't use. I steam nearly all our veg in the microwave. I also bake spuds and peel them afterwards for mash and reheat soup as I make several days at once.

Anno, I, (note the I), also have to change the clock , Spring and Autumn, but I can do it without getting out the book. DH just thinks it's a clever machine!

www.wilko.com/microwaves+mini-ovens/wilko-colourplay-microwave-cream-20l/invt/0414305

This is mine. Only £50 and it comes in different colours to brighten up your kitchen (should you want to!). It gets lots of 5 star reviews.

I like Panasonic too. They are not the cheapest but well made. Mine have lasted well so far (fingers crossed). We chose a combination one, as I like the oven option - the baked potatoes come out more crispy.

My first ever microwave (when they were a new invention) was an all singing all dancing, including a grill. The only time I used the function was when making a rice pudding on the basic mode and finishing the skin with the grill - the best I have ever tasted! Most of us have a grill in our ovens, so I don't see the point in paying more for another in the microwave. My current model is a turn-the-knob type and cost around £30 from Asda, had it for years, does a great job.

I am really pleased with my Neff microwave, I bought it to match my Neff oven, but find the interior which does not have a turntable is so much better than the old turntable designs. It is very fast as well, custard as an example cooks in half the time it took in my old one.
There are only two of us but I use it for so many things, I would not be without it.

Mine was about £40 from Comet or Currys a few years ago. It's a Samsung touch pad and I use it all the time.

Thank you for all your replies. I've been looking at some comparison sites and the ones you've mentioned seem to get good reviews. I'm leaning towards a Panasonic at the moment!

Panasonic too Ive had 3!

Panasonic here too. Very good.

I also have a Panasonic - only the second one in over 30 years. It is an all-singing, all-dancing one though - with a flat bed - no turntable, and I'm very pleased with it.

Always had Panasonic. Think they are wonderful!

We got a DeLonghi from Homebase about six years ago. It wasn't expensive, not very sophisticated, and it's been excellent. My last one - a Hitachi - had a grill function but I only ever used it once or twice so decided not to bother when I replaced it.

Just checked - mine is Panasonic too.

Ours is Panasonic. So far so good. Simple to use.

Panasonic combination for me too. I have had two now - the first lasted about 15 years. The convection oven in it is brilliant and I hardly ever use my 'normal' oven. I guess it is cheaper to use too. Although it has some features I never use it is very simple to use. I would never go back to just a microwave.

I use the grill function in the microwave a lot. It's smaller than the oven one so it must use less electricity - perfect for 2 or 4 slices of toast. (Toast is toasted more evenly under a grill than in the toaster.)

What you use it for is a question of getting into the habit, really. It's so much cleaner and simpler with the microwave because you can cook things in the serving dish. But you have to remember that before you put the saucepan of water on the boil (e.g. for cooking the veg).

And many dishes just come out better in the microwave, is my personal view: Porridge, of course, and scrambled eggs, and my particular favourites: Potato gratin and even a casserole. For a nice cheesy topping on the gratin you can use the grill, too.

Grill and microwave both at the same time by the way is only possible in mine with a microwave value of up to 380 Watts.

I don't call £70 cheap mine came from Asda and was about half that price and works fine