Which style microwave?

"Wayne Boatwright" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

We're trying to decide whether to buy a new countertop microwave or
install
an over-the-range model in our new house/kitchen. We've had both before
and
like both. This kitchen has ample counter space to handle a microwave.
We
would only need the vent under the o-t-r micro to handle vapors and steam,
as
we do practically no frying indoors. We're also not interested in combos
of
any kind, just a micro.

Which would you choose and why?

If I had the counter space, I'd go with the counter top model. I don't have
the space so we went for the OTR convection oven/micro. We like it and have
our second one in about 18 years. Only advantage of OTR is saving space and
the disadvantage of costing a lot more. You can get a very good counter
model for less than $100. Performance is not an issue either way.

We also chose the convection oven too as it is very handy to have a second
oven at times. If you have two ovens already, it would be a waste of the
extra money.
--
Ed
http://pages.cthome.net/edhome/

On Sat 01 Oct 2005 08:50:35p, Edwin Pawlowski wrote in rec.food.cooking:

Quoted message said:

"Wayne Boatwright" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

We're trying to decide whether to buy a new countertop microwave or
install an over-the-range model in our new house/kitchen. We've had
both before and like both. This kitchen has ample counter space to
handle a microwave. We
would only need the vent under the o-t-r micro to handle vapors and
steam, as we do practically no frying indoors. We're also not
interested in combos of any kind, just a micro.

Which would you choose and why?

If I had the counter space, I'd go with the counter top model. I don't
have the space so we went for the OTR convection oven/micro. We like it
and have our second one in about 18 years. Only advantage of OTR is
saving space and the disadvantage of costing a lot more. You can get a
very good counter model for less than $100. Performance is not an issue
either way.

We also chose the convection oven too as it is very handy to have a
second oven at times. If you have two ovens already, it would be a
waste of the extra money.

Thanks, Ed, all good points. We currently have a small Panasonic
countertop micro that has the newer variable power technology rather than
the cycling method of varying the cook speed, and we've become rather
spoiled by it. I'd like a bigger one. AFAIK, there are very few of this
type in o-t-r models.

We also have a small commercial convection oven, so that gives us the
second oven as well.

I think we might be leaning toward a countertop model.

--
Wayne Boatwright *¿*
_____________________________

http://tinypic.com/dzijap.jpg

Popie-In-The-Bowl

Wayne Boatwright said:

We're trying to decide whether to buy a new countertop microwave or install
an over-the-range model in our new house/kitchen. We've had both before and
like both. This kitchen has ample counter space to handle a microwave. We
would only need the vent under the o-t-r micro to handle vapors and steam, as
we do practically no frying indoors. We're also not interested in combos of
any kind, just a micro.

Which would you choose and why?

TIA

I have one of each, a counter unit in the house and an over the
range model in the recreation vehicle. Both are about the same size
and power, so on a level playing field for deciding which would be
better suited for my use. I find that the high level of the over the
range unit is an obstruction to keeping tabs on what is going on in
there. I'm sure that there are innovative designs out there that
would allow one to have a microwave over a conventional oven and
revert to a counter top cooking range. I do not think that in the
long range you would be taking up any more counter or kitchen floor
space. Any way the large kitchens seems to be coming back as
preferred more than the kitchen nooks.

--
BILL P.
Just Dog
&
ME

Wayne Boatwright wrote on 01 Oct 2005 in rec.food.cooking

Quoted message said:

Which would you choose and why?

I have a large counter top combo microwave

--
The eyes are the mirrors....
But the ears...Ah the ears.
The ears keep the hat up.

On Sat 01 Oct 2005 09:49:27p, Mr Libido Incognito wrote in rec.food.cooking:

Quoted message said:

Wayne Boatwright wrote on 01 Oct 2005 in rec.food.cooking

Quoted message said:

Which would you choose and why?

I have a large counter top combo microwave

Thanks, Alan. I think I'm heading toward a larger countertop model. I don't
need the combo.

--
Wayne Boatwright *¿*
_____________________________

http://tinypic.com/dzijap.jpg

Popie-In-The-Bowl

Wayne Boatwright wrote on 02 Oct 2005 in rec.food.cooking

Quoted message said:

On Sat 01 Oct 2005 09:49:27p, Mr Libido Incognito wrote in
rec.food.cooking:

Quoted message said:

Wayne Boatwright wrote on 01 Oct 2005 in rec.food.cooking

Quoted message said:

Which would you choose and why?

I have a large counter top combo microwave

Thanks, Alan. I think I'm heading toward a larger countertop model.
I don't need the combo.

I only have one oven so the combo works for me. My large unit is a
Panasonic Genius combo...it doubles as my second oven my microwave and my
toaster oven. I dumped my regular toaster oven because I used to eat more
toast than use it as a oven, and a toaster oven makes crappy toast. So
using the combo cleared enough counter space for a regular toaster.

--
The eyes are the mirrors....
But the ears...Ah the ears.
The ears keep the hat up.

On Sat 01 Oct 2005 10:27:38p, Mr Libido Incognito wrote in
rec.food.cooking:

Quoted message said:

Wayne Boatwright wrote on 02 Oct 2005 in rec.food.cooking

Quoted message said:

On Sat 01 Oct 2005 09:49:27p, Mr Libido Incognito wrote in
rec.food.cooking:

Quoted message said:

Wayne Boatwright wrote on 01 Oct 2005 in rec.food.cooking

> Which would you choose and why?
>

I have a large counter top combo microwave

Thanks, Alan. I think I'm heading toward a larger countertop model.
I don't need the combo.

I only have one oven so the combo works for me. My large unit is a
Panasonic Genius combo...it doubles as my second oven my microwave and my
toaster oven. I dumped my regular toaster oven because I used to eat more
toast than use it as a oven, and a toaster oven makes crappy toast. So
using the combo cleared enough counter space for a regular toaster.

Is your Panasonic the type where the microwaves function at different
intensities rather than cycling? That's the way my current small one works
and it really is a nice difference.

--
Wayne Boatwright *¿*
_____________________________

http://tinypic.com/dzijap.jpg

Popie-In-The-Bowl

Wayne Boatwright said:

We're trying to decide whether to buy a new countertop microwave or install
an over-the-range model in our new house/kitchen. We've had both before and
like both. This kitchen has ample counter space to handle a microwave. We
would only need the vent under the o-t-r micro to handle vapors and steam, as
we do practically no frying indoors. We're also not interested in combos of
any kind, just a micro.

Which would you choose and why?

TIA

I live in a house that was old when I bought it 30 years ago and the
kitchen has only been updated, not remodeled, so decisions like where
to put a microwave has never been a problem. It goes on the counter.
Currently, I have a Sharp Half-Pint. It's less powerful than what I'm
used to, but I don't need nuclear power to heat a cup of water or
reheat food - and I love the fact that it doesn't hog counter space.

On Sat 01 Oct 2005 11:14:29p, sf wrote in rec.food.cooking:

Quoted message said:

Wayne Boatwright said:

We're trying to decide whether to buy a new countertop microwave or
install an over-the-range model in our new house/kitchen. We've had
both before and like both. This kitchen has ample counter space to
handle a microwave. We would only need the vent under the o-t-r micro
to handle vapors and steam, as we do practically no frying indoors.
We're also not interested in combos of any kind, just a micro.

Which would you choose and why?

TIA

I live in a house that was old when I bought it 30 years ago and the
kitchen has only been updated, not remodeled, so decisions like where
to put a microwave has never been a problem. It goes on the counter.
Currently, I have a Sharp Half-Pint. It's less powerful than what I'm
used to, but I don't need nuclear power to heat a cup of water or
reheat food - and I love the fact that it doesn't hog counter space.

I'm thinking now that I will just stick with the Panasonic I have right
now, at least for a while, although I'd like one a bit larger. It has
plenty of power (1350 watts), and I like its features. The new kitchen has
24 lineal feet of open counter space, plus a moderate size island, so I can
afford to give up the counter space. It's not a really big house, but it
does have a well-designed if not extravagant kitchen.

--
Wayne Boatwright *¿*
_____________________________

http://tinypic.com/dzijap.jpg

Popie-In-The-Bowl

Wayne Boatwright said:

We're trying to decide whether to buy a new countertop microwave or
install an over-the-range model in our new house/kitchen. We've had
both before and like both. This kitchen has ample counter space to
handle a microwave. We would only need the vent under the o-t-r
micro to handle vapors and steam, as we do practically no frying
indoors. We're also not interested in combos of any kind, just a
micro.

Which would you choose and why?

TIA

If I had my druthers, which I don't and neither do you! I'd choose the old
1980's RCA counter-top microwave I had, back in the 1980s. That sucker was
fantastic! It had a removeable shelf for dual level cooking; it had a
temperature probe. It was programmable for up to 100 stored recipes AND a
memory chip so even when unplugged it stored the info up to 5 years. I
actually had a chance to test this out and sure enough, 4 years later all
the stuff I programmed in there was still there. Dayum.

I hate my "new" microwave. It's small and has a turntable I can't turn off.
Granted, it was cheap. But considering I only paid $250 for the old RCA
with all the bells and whistles (sans turntable, and I bought a separate
removeable turntable) the hundred bucks I saved on this Sharp model is
nothing. I don't use it for cooking; pretty much just reheating or nuking
frozen veggies. I used to use my old one for actual "cooking". (sigh)

Good luck in your hunt.

Jill

On Sun 02 Oct 2005 12:03:26a, jmcquown wrote in rec.food.cooking:

Quoted message said:

Wayne Boatwright said:

We're trying to decide whether to buy a new countertop microwave or
install an over-the-range model in our new house/kitchen. We've had
both before and like both. This kitchen has ample counter space to
handle a microwave. We would only need the vent under the o-t-r
micro to handle vapors and steam, as we do practically no frying
indoors. We're also not interested in combos of any kind, just a
micro.

Which would you choose and why?

TIA

If I had my druthers, which I don't and neither do you! I'd choose the
old 1980's RCA counter-top microwave I had, back in the 1980s. That
sucker was fantastic! It had a removeable shelf for dual level cooking;
it had a temperature probe. It was programmable for up to 100 stored
recipes AND a memory chip so even when unplugged it stored the info up
to 5 years. I actually had a chance to test this out and sure enough, 4
years later all the stuff I programmed in there was still there. Dayum.

I hate my "new" microwave. It's small and has a turntable I can't turn
off. Granted, it was cheap. But considering I only paid $250 for the
old RCA with all the bells and whistles (sans turntable, and I bought a
separate removeable turntable) the hundred bucks I saved on this Sharp
model is nothing. I don't use it for cooking; pretty much just
reheating or nuking frozen veggies. I used to use my old one for actual
"cooking". (sigh)

Good luck in your hunt.

Jill

Thanks, Jill. I guess we've all had different experiences. My first micro
was an Amana back in the early 1970s. Granted, it was built like
battleship, as heavy as my car, had a probe, etc., but it really didn't
hold a candle to the various units I had since. I've had a GE at the top
of a hi-lo range, two GE over-the-range models, a small Emerson contertop,
and currently a smallish Panasonic. Having all of these micros were due to
moves and not problems. The Panasonic I have now beats them all hands
down. The only two drawbacks is size and a turntable that I can't turn
off. I'll probably take the Panasonic with me to the new house and then
look for a larger model of same. The larger ones allow you to turn off the
turntable. It doesn't have a probe, doesn't really need one, as it has
well-designed sensor cooking.

--
Wayne Boatwright *¿*
_____________________________

http://tinypic.com/dzijap.jpg

Popie-In-The-Bowl

Wayne Boatwright said:

On Sun 02 Oct 2005 12:03:26a, jmcquown wrote in rec.food.cooking:

Quoted message said:

Wayne Boatwright said:

We're trying to decide whether to buy a new countertop microwave or
install an over-the-range model in our new house/kitchen. We've had
both before and like both. This kitchen has ample counter space to
handle a microwave. We would only need the vent under the o-t-r
micro to handle vapors and steam, as we do practically no frying
indoors. We're also not interested in combos of any kind, just a
micro.

Which would you choose and why?

TIA

If I had my druthers, which I don't and neither do you! I'd choose
the old 1980's RCA counter-top microwave I had, back in the 1980s.
That sucker was fantastic! It had a removeable shelf for dual level
cooking; it had a temperature probe. It was programmable for up to
100 stored recipes AND a memory chip so even when unplugged it
stored the info up to 5 years. I actually had a chance to test this
out and sure enough, 4 years later all the stuff I programmed in
there was still there. Dayum.

I hate my "new" microwave. It's small and has a turntable I can't
turn off. Granted, it was cheap. But considering I only paid $250
for the old RCA with all the bells and whistles (sans turntable, and
I bought a separate removeable turntable) the hundred bucks I saved
on this Sharp model is nothing. I don't use it for cooking; pretty
much just reheating or nuking frozen veggies. I used to use my old
one for actual "cooking". (sigh)

Good luck in your hunt.

Jill

Thanks, Jill. I guess we've all had different experiences. My first
micro was an Amana back in the early 1970s. Granted, it was built
like battleship, as heavy as my car, had a probe, etc., but it really
didn't hold a candle to the various units I had since. I've had a GE
at the top of a hi-lo range, two GE over-the-range models, a small
Emerson contertop, and currently a smallish Panasonic. Having all of
these micros were due to moves and not problems. The Panasonic I
have now beats them all hands down. The only two drawbacks is size
and a turntable that I can't turn off. I'll probably take the
Panasonic with me to the new house and then look for a larger model
of same. The larger ones allow you to turn off the turntable. It
doesn't have a probe, doesn't really need one, as it has
well-designed sensor cooking.

I hate the can't turn off turntable. Hello! I can rotate a dish without
automatic help. You can't use rectangular baking dishes in the dang thing
because it wants to *turn* them. Um. STOP already.

Believe it or not I used to make perfect lasagna in my old microwave. Can't
even fit the 13X9 baking dish in this newer one. All it does it take up
space and heat up some frozen veggies. I've threatened many times to rid
myself of it. I probably should.

Jill

"Wayne Boatwright" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > Thanks, Jill.
I guess we've all had different experiences. My first micro

Quoted message said:

was an Amana back in the early 1970s. Granted, it was built like
battleship, as heavy as my car, had a probe, etc., but it really didn't
hold a candle to the various units I had since. I've had a GE at the top
of a hi-lo range, two GE over-the-range models, a small Emerson contertop,
and currently a smallish Panasonic. Having all of these micros were due
to
moves and not problems. The Panasonic I have now beats them all hands
down. The only two drawbacks is size and a turntable that I can't turn
off. I'll probably take the Panasonic with me to the new house and then
look for a larger model of same. The larger ones allow you to turn off
the
turntable. It doesn't have a probe, doesn't really need one, as it has
well-designed sensor cooking.

I don't think you can go wrong with Panasonic (anything) 🙂 I have a combo
and love it. We don't use it a lot but it is always there if we need the
extra cooking space

Quoted message said:

--
Wayne Boatwright *¿*
_____________________________

http://tinypic.com/dzijap.jpg

Popie-In-The-Bowl

On Sun 02 Oct 2005 01:33:37a, Ophelia wrote in rec.food.cooking:

Quoted message said:

"Wayne Boatwright" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > Thanks,
Jill. I guess we've all had different experiences. My first micro

Quoted message said:

was an Amana back in the early 1970s. Granted, it was built like
battleship, as heavy as my car, had a probe, etc., but it really didn't
hold a candle to the various units I had since. I've had a GE at the
top of a hi-lo range, two GE over-the-range models, a small Emerson
contertop, and currently a smallish Panasonic. Having all of these
micros were due to moves and not problems. The Panasonic I have now
beats them all hands down. The only two drawbacks is size and a
turntable that I can't turn off. I'll probably take the Panasonic with
me to the new house and then look for a larger model of same. The
larger ones allow you to turn off the turntable. It doesn't have a
probe, doesn't really need one, as it has well-designed sensor cooking.

I don't think you can go wrong with Panasonic (anything) 🙂 I have a
combo and love it. We don't use it a lot but it is always there if we
need the extra cooking space

Thanks, Ophelia, I agree. I'm very happy with the one I have also, but I
would buy another just to have a larger one. I have a number of Panasonic
appliances and they all work well.

--
Wayne Boatwright *¿*
_____________________________

http://tinypic.com/dzijap.jpg

Popie-In-The-Bowl

"Mr Libido Incognito" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Wayne Boatwright wrote on 02 Oct 2005 in rec.food.cooking

Quoted message said:

On Sat 01 Oct 2005 09:49:27p, Mr Libido Incognito wrote in
rec.food.cooking:

Quoted message said:

Wayne Boatwright wrote on 01 Oct 2005 in rec.food.cooking

> Which would you choose and why?
>

I have a large counter top combo microwave

Thanks, Alan. I think I'm heading toward a larger countertop model.
I don't need the combo.

I only have one oven so the combo works for me. My large unit is a
Panasonic Genius combo...it doubles as my second oven my microwave and my
toaster oven. I dumped my regular toaster oven because I used to eat more
toast than use it as a oven, and a toaster oven makes crappy toast. So
using the combo cleared enough counter space for a regular toaster.

Not responsive to OP, but: responsive to previous poster:
I have a toaster oven taking up space, too. It gets use as seldom as the
microwave (although I'm looking at the microwave book)!
My toaster oven gets used mainly for heating up (home-made) lasagna that I
frozen in aluminum foil for about 50 minutes instead of using the stove
oven. I wonder how much money one would save not heating the regular oven
for an hour and using the toaster oven. Not much I would imagine. I should
put it away for the winter.
Dee Dee

"Wayne Boatwright" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Sun 02 Oct 2005 12:03:26a, jmcquown wrote in rec.food.cooking:

The only two drawbacks is size and a turntable that I can't turn

Quoted message said:

off. > Wayne Boatwright *¿*

Wait a little while and the turntable might stop working. Mine did. But I
think if the turntable were working, it might be better. Because now I have
more hot and cold spots and have to move the dish around. I know I could
get a wind-up thingie, but I haven't and this microwave just keeps on
tickin'.
Dee

"Ophelia" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Wayne Boatwright" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > Thanks,
Jill. I guess we've all had different experiences. My first micro

Quoted message said:

was an Amana back in the early 1970s. Granted, it was built like
battleship, as heavy as my car, had a probe, etc., but it really didn't
hold a candle to the various units I had since. I've had a GE at the top
of a hi-lo range, two GE over-the-range models, a small Emerson
contertop,
and currently a smallish Panasonic. Having all of these micros were due
to
moves and not problems. The Panasonic I have now beats them all hands
down. The only two drawbacks is size and a turntable that I can't turn
off. I'll probably take the Panasonic with me to the new house and then
look for a larger model of same. The larger ones allow you to turn off
the
turntable. It doesn't have a probe, doesn't really need one, as it has
well-designed sensor cooking.

I don't think you can go wrong with Panasonic (anything) 🙂 I have a
combo and love it. We don't use it a lot but it is always there if we
need the extra cooking space

Quoted message said:

--
Wayne Boatwright *¿*

Wayne, I agree with you about Panasonic. To me, anymore, it's about the
only brand name that's most reliable. I'm fed up with some things I've
bought that weren't Panasonic -- like my Black & Decker (smallish) rice
maker. It isn't the electronics on the B&D, so far, but the cheap [censored] of a
rice maker bowl lost the bottom coating in about 5 times of cooking. No
excuse for this type of thing.
Dee Dee

jmcquown said:

Granted, it was cheap. But considering I only paid $250 for the old
RCA with all the bells and whistles (sans turntable,

My first microwave was the Radar Range, purchased in the 70's and it was
over $800. My first VCR was an RCA, it was $1,100 and it had no
features, except for the remote control, which was attached by a cord. LOL

Becca

Wayne Boatwright wrote on 02 Oct 2005 in rec.food.cooking

Quoted message said:

Is your Panasonic the type where the microwaves function at different
intensities rather than cycling? That's the way my current small one
works and it really is a nice difference.

Yes it is

--
The eyes are the mirrors....
But the ears...Ah the ears.
The ears keep the hat up.