Microwave without Carousel?

Quoted message said:

The Ranger said:

After a decade of daily use, my GE convection-microwave crapped
out. We're looking for another to take its place. In hitting the
different appliance stores and local dept. stores, all we saw were
vent/exhaust-microwaves and carousel microwaves. Do they no longer
make non-carousel microwaves? If so, is there one that's durable
enough for daily use like models or yore?

Many thanks for any leads.

The Ranger

The poorest performing nukes use a stirrer and no turntable. A stirrer
is a rotating metal flapwheel either in the ceiling or floor of the
machine, and it bounces the radio waves around at various angles.

These machines are best avoided. They require turning the food by hand
during cooking, and produce the highest incidence of food poisoning,
due to giving the least even cooking. They are also quite prone to
stirrer failure. These machines were popular in the 70s.

The next best type uses a turntable to rotate the food. Better results
than the stirrer, but you cant put as big a dish in. In practice one
can sometimes turn the turntable upside down so it doesnt turn, or on a
few of them swtch it off, and use the space fully. But heating tends to
be very uneven like this, and its not recommended.

The best machines use both stirrer and turntable. If you can afford a
good microwave, ensure it has both stirrer and tt. These really are
much better than the usual turntable types, but for some reason theyre
quite a bit more money.

If youre extra lucky, you might even find one where you can switch the
tt off and use large dishes, but you will get more basic performance in
this mode.

Most folks don't actually cook with their microwave oven, mostly they
heat and reheat small quantities. The typical microwave oven user
dosen't need any super-duper high priced commercial unit as you've
described and are typically found at restaurants. No body needs a
three hundred dollar nuker to reheat a slice of pizza or a cup of
cawfee. For those who actually cook at home with their microwaves the
best buy are the multi-function units, those that also include a
conventional convection oven function. Prices have come way down on
microwave ovens over the years but the commercial types are still
rather costly for what they are and for typical home use are totally
unnecessary.

Sheldon

Boron said:

If you are replacing it with a convection-microwave, I recommend the
Panasonic. I have had mine well over a year now and so far it is
flawless. I cannot say that about the two Sharps C/M ovens that
preceded it (ptui. pieces of [censored]).

Their manufacturing standards must have fallen off. I've had my Sharp C/M
oven for almost twenty years and it's still going strong.

Bob

Ranger,

This doesn't help with the turntable problem, but since you're on the
subject of microwaves, ....

I have a Panasonic that I got specifically because it has true power
settings, not full power that goes on and off. At the 5 setting, it's
on half power all the time, not full power half the time.

I'm not touting any particular brand, but the true power setting works
much better IMHO.

I believe the commercial type microwave in the lunchroom at work does
not have a turntable. But it doesn't have power settings, just super
high. I'm on vacation right now, but may stop in at work during the
next week. If my memory is working that day, I'll try to remember to
check the microwave there and get you a company name and model number.
If it will keep peace in your house, maybe try commercial kitchen
suppliers for a microwave without a turntable.

I know there are professional chefs out there in this n.g. Any
suggestions?

Ken

Dee Randall said:

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

Quoted message said:

OmManiPadmeOmelet said:

In article <[email hidden]>,
The Ranger <[email hidden]> wrote:

> After a decade of daily use, my GE convection-microwave crapped
> out. We're looking for another to take its place. In hitting the
> different appliance stores and local dept. stores, all we saw were
> vent/exhaust-microwaves and carousel microwaves. Do they no longer
> make non-carousel microwaves? If so, is there one that's durable
> enough for daily use like models or yore?
>
> Many thanks for any leads.
>
> The Ranger

You WANT the carousel!!! :-)
It keeps you from having to turn stuff half-way thru microwaving.

Things cook a lot more evenly.

Cheers!!!

Not if you need to use a rectangular pan that doesn't "fit" and you
can turn
it yourself. I am perfectly capable of turning a pan myself. I do
it all the time in my regular "irregular" apartment oven. No need
to have special
skills to turn a dish around in a microwave 🙂

Jill

I wish my microwave were at straight-out-arms-length. It's too high
to reach up and turn easily. I need special arms that not only bend
at the elbow, but bend between the elbow and wrist.
:-)
Dee Dee

Too funny! That's one reason I wouldn't do what my parents did and have the
microwave built in above the cooktop *above* the vent-a-hood. Mom is only
5'2" (probably 5-foot now) and is almost 80... what were they thinking?!
Well, they weren't thinking they'd live to be 80-something, that's for sure
😉 Guess what, they don't use the microwave anymore. And at their age it
would probably be a really helpful tool, but not if you have to stand on a
step stool to reach a hot bowl of whatever and are likely to break a hip
trying to get back down!

Jill

The Ranger said:

After a decade of daily use, my GE convection-microwave crapped
out. We're looking for another to take its place. In hitting the
different appliance stores and local dept. stores, all we saw were
vent/exhaust-microwaves and carousel microwaves. Do they no longer
make non-carousel microwaves? If so, is there one that's durable
enough for daily use like models or yore?

Many thanks for any leads.

The Ranger

Several years back we had a microwave with just a plain try, no
carousel. We upgraded to a Sharp carousel model that I liked until
lightening took out some of the LED display. We now have a Kenmore,
bigger & better 1100 watt, also with the carousel. When we were
microwave shopping, we found no larger models without the carousel. We
found one very small off brand about a .6 cu foot model that had only
the tray. DS had a similar one with no carousel but the thing wouldn't
cook very well. He took our old microwave since not having the LED
display didn't bother him. My feeling on microwave ovens is I want the
thing to work so higher wattage is a plus. I'm not really concerned
about the carousel but I do think it helps distribute the heat better.
I would rather have less of the fancy buttons but the higher end models
all come with a lot of them. Using the carousel is almost a non-issue
but learning how to use all the buttons is a real issue. My main
concern was power and maintenance when buying this model and I wanted a
company that would provide good service. Sears does that 🙂 If your DW
is really against a carosel model, you might have to look at the small,
low power, off brands.

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

Quoted message said:

After a decade of daily use, my GE convection-microwave crapped
out. We're looking for another to take its place. In hitting the
different appliance stores and local dept. stores, all we saw were
vent/exhaust-microwaves and carousel microwaves. Do they no longer
make non-carousel microwaves? If so, is there one that's durable
enough for daily use like models or yore?

Many thanks for any leads.

Some have carousels to turn the food in the waves
- others have microwave-reflective stirrers to move the waves going through
the food.
(I would think that because of the power density and the way it cooks,
those ovens in the 1500 watt-and-up range probably have both.)

---My old 1500 watt Amana just has a stirrer, under the upper cover, to move
the waves inside the cooking area. - (it is moved by the air pushed into the
cooking area by the fan.) Works just fine at cooking evenly.

---My daughter's microwave has a carousel that is to be removed for some
kinds of cooking.

FWIW, My guess would be that any middlin-to-upper microwave has both, and
they can be used without the carousel just fine for most foods.

Quoted message said:

The Ranger

The Ranger said:

After a decade of daily use, my GE convection-microwave crapped
out. We're looking for another to take its place. In hitting the
different appliance stores and local dept. stores, all we saw were
vent/exhaust-microwaves and carousel microwaves. Do they no longer
make non-carousel microwaves? If so, is there one that's durable
enough for daily use like models or yore?

Many thanks for any leads.

The Ranger

I haven't see one without a carousel in a while. Maybe in higher end
machines.

Why don't you want a carousel? I find mine gives me more uniform cooking
than my old non-carousel one. I use to have to "turn a quarter"; heat
some; "turn a quarter" etc. It was a pain.

Elaine, too

Elaine Parrish said:

Why don't you want a carousel? I find mine gives me more uniform cooking
than my old non-carousel one. I use to have to "turn a quarter"; heat
some; "turn a quarter" etc. It was a pain.

Elaine, too

this is why its generally rock bottom price & quality ovens that dont
have one.

NT

Ken said:

I have a Panasonic that I got specifically because it has true power
settings, not full power that goes on and off. At the 5 setting, it's
on half power all the time, not full power half the time.

I'm not touting any particular brand, but the true power setting works
much better IMHO.

This is a boon for items that rise and set during cooking. When power
cycles on and off, the food rises, then collapses, rises, collapses,
and you end up with a collapsed result.

Quoted message said:

I believe the commercial type microwave in the lunchroom at work does
not have a turntable. But it doesn't have power settings, just super
high. I'm on vacation right now, but may stop in at work during the
next week. If my memory is working that day, I'll try to remember to
check the microwave there and get you a company name and model number.
If it will keep peace in your house, maybe try commercial kitchen
suppliers for a microwave without a turntable.

I know there are professional chefs out there in this n.g. Any
suggestions?

Ken

why pay more for something that does less? The advantage of commercial
nukes is larger size, high duty cycle, ruggedness and long MTBF. Theyre
quite out of place for domestic use, as they dont have the features
that are useful at home, and they have the features that are no use at
home.

TBH I think the OP is looking for something ill suited to the job out
of misinformation. What is needed is a nuke with a tt switch, and one
with both tt and stirrer, as performance with the tt off and no stirrer
would be poor.

NT

On Mon 19 Dec 2005 07:57:06p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it ?

Quoted message said:

Ken said:

I have a Panasonic that I got specifically because it has true power
settings, not full power that goes on and off. At the 5 setting, it's
on half power all the time, not full power half the time.

I'm not touting any particular brand, but the true power setting works
much better IMHO.

This is a boon for items that rise and set during cooking. When power
cycles on and off, the food rises, then collapses, rises, collapses,
and you end up with a collapsed result.

Quoted message said:

I believe the commercial type microwave in the lunchroom at work does
not have a turntable. But it doesn't have power settings, just super
high. I'm on vacation right now, but may stop in at work during the
next week. If my memory is working that day, I'll try to remember to
check the microwave there and get you a company name and model number.
If it will keep peace in your house, maybe try commercial kitchen
suppliers for a microwave without a turntable.

I know there are professional chefs out there in this n.g. Any
suggestions?

Ken

why pay more for something that does less? The advantage of commercial
nukes is larger size, high duty cycle, ruggedness and long MTBF. Theyre
quite out of place for domestic use, as they dont have the features
that are useful at home, and they have the features that are no use at
home.

TBH I think the OP is looking for something ill suited to the job out
of misinformation. What is needed is a nuke with a tt switch, and one
with both tt and stirrer, as performance with the tt off and no stirrer
would be poor.

In our old office break room we had a large Panasonic with a turntable. It
was an older model, but it cooked very well and cooked evenly.

In our new office break room (we moved in last month), we have 3 brand
spanking new Amana microwave ovens, each with large capacity but no
turntables. These are commercial models, all stainless steel, power dial
from 10% to 100%. Compared to the old Panasonic, they don't cook worth a
damn. The unit cycles to maintain the power setting and there are hot and
cold spots which definitely require turning.

--
Wayne Boatwright *¿*
_____________________________________________

A chicken in every pot is a *LOT* of chicken!

NT,

If you read Ranger's posting of December 17th, you'll see why he wants
a microwave without a turntable. The other cook in the house doesn't
want it. So logic seems to have nothing to do with it. Peace in the
kitchen and household seem to be the reason. I was just trying to
point him in a direction that reduces the problems in his house, but
not in his food.

Ken

The Ranger said:

After a decade of daily use, my GE convection-microwave crapped
out. We're looking for another to take its place. In hitting the
different appliance stores and local dept. stores, all we saw were
vent/exhaust-microwaves and carousel microwaves. Do they no longer
make non-carousel microwaves? If so, is there one that's durable
enough for daily use like models or yore?

Many thanks for any leads.

The Ranger

Ranger,

I finally went back to work and here's the info on a microwave without
a turntable:

Amana Commercial
RCS 10D
1000 watts USA

I don't recommend getting this model because its only feature is one
power setting and a dial for a timer. That's it. But if you need to
keep peace in the house and not have a turntable, this one will fit the
bill. It has a black glass window and a brushed metal exterior. I have
no idea how much it is or where to get one.

Hope this helps,

Ken

We bought a Kenmore a couple of years ago. Model # is 721.63652300 and it
has a turntable on/off button.

NancyJaye

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

Quoted message said:

The Ranger said:

After a decade of daily use, my GE convection-microwave crapped
out. We're looking for another to take its place. In hitting the
different appliance stores and local dept. stores, all we saw were
vent/exhaust-microwaves and carousel microwaves. Do they no longer
make non-carousel microwaves? If so, is there one that's durable
enough for daily use like models or yore?

Many thanks for any leads.

The Ranger

Ranger,

I finally went back to work and here's the info on a microwave without
a turntable:

Amana Commercial
RCS 10D
1000 watts USA

I don't recommend getting this model because its only feature is one
power setting and a dial for a timer. That's it. But if you need to
keep peace in the house and not have a turntable, this one will fit the
bill. It has a black glass window and a brushed metal exterior. I have
no idea how much it is or where to get one.

Hope this helps,

Ken

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

Quoted message said:

The Ranger said:

After a decade of daily use, my GE convection-microwave crapped
out. We're looking for another to take its place. In hitting the
different appliance stores and local dept. stores, all we saw were
vent/exhaust-microwaves and carousel microwaves. Do they no longer
make non-carousel microwaves? If so, is there one that's durable
enough for daily use like models or yore?

Many thanks for any leads.

The Ranger

you could remove the turntable then place a micro-safe plate upside down
over the spindle. this way you have a few more options regarding which model
to get, and you get to use the turntable if you want ;-)
--
lampy

Without deviation,
Progress is not possible. ( Frank Zappa )

lightlady said:

you could remove the turntable then place a micro-safe plate upside down
over the spindle. this way you have a few more options regarding which model
to get, and you get to use the turntable if you want ;-)
lampy
Without deviation,
Progress is not possible. ( Frank Zappa )

ooooooo, that's good. it's not like the carousel really has to go to
town 🙂