Does anyone have a good microwave?

[ilovelibraries]

Boring, boring, I know.

I need to buy a new one after our old (rather rubbish Panasonic one) gave up the ghost. I’ve sat looking at reviews on Amazon and Argos and am still none the closer. I’m losing the will to live.

I don’t need anything more than something that can defrost, heat, fit in a dinner plate and Is tall enough for a packet of microwaveable rice.

Does anyone have one that they like and fits the bill? I will be eternally grateful!

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MNHQ

Currently looking for a new one.

The one we have is brilliant but there is always so much condensation after use that the bottom, where the turntable wheels go round, has rusted and now started coming away. I figure it can’t be safe to use.

Do any of you have issues with condensation in your microwaves?

Don't get one with a grill function. Too annoying to clean and means they don't fit tall things in well.

I'd just buy the cheapest with the features you want if you want a simple one. No use getting one that does wi-fi or whatever if you're never going to use it.

@RandomMess same here. Great to have some recommendations from rl. Thanks all!

We had a cheap retro styled one from wilko and it rusted inside fairly quickly

@PostThenGhost

Currently looking for a new one.

The one we have is brilliant but there is always so much condensation after use that the bottom, where the turntable wheels go round, has rusted and now started coming away. I figure it can’t be safe to use.

Do any of you have issues with condensation in your microwaves?

You need a steel inner one. The ones that are painted flake and rust really quickly. The steel lined ones last years.

@ilovelibraries

Boring, boring, I know.

I need to buy a new one after our old (rather rubbish Panasonic one) gave up the ghost. I’ve sat looking at reviews on Amazon and Argos and am still none the closer. I’m losing the will to live.

I don’t need anything more than something that can defrost, heat, fit in a dinner plate and Is tall enough for a packet of microwaveable rice.

Does anyone have one that they like and fits the bill? I will be eternally grateful!

We have an ancient panasonic one that is at least 30 years old and we cannot bear to get rid of it !!

My friend and I mourned the death of her microwave a couple of years ago. We shared it a uni some 30 years ago, it was her Mum and Dad's old one most have been cracking on for 40 when it died!!

Same as @Babyroobs - we're still using the Panasonic that was a wedding present in 1993

When we had a new kitchen a couple of years ago I toyed with the idea of getting a new, snazzy compact one but after all the years of service I couldn't bring myself to bin it so it is still going strong - a sturdy workhorse eyesore in my lovely kitchen!

Do you need to replace them when the inside rusts? Ours is about 9 years old now. We neglect to clean it but I gave it a wipe down the other day and some of the paint came off with the dried on food, exposing the metal. It doesn't seem to spark when in use but I will keep an eye out for rust in that area if that means it needs to be replaced.

You always get condensation on the inside as it basically steams things. You could try wiping it down after use or leaving it open between uses?

I have the slightly more upmarket Asda one that was £49. (Digital :o you just twist the knob to get the time you want...)

Fits a dinner plate which is 30cm wide in. Not sure about rice but never had any problems microwaving things. I can measure the height if you want!

We used to have flatbed microwaves at work and they were fab, so I definitely wouldn't discount them as an option.

@BertieBotts you shouldn’t use if the interior is damaged. We wiped the condensation off after each use and left the door open. We’ve still found that it’s rusted, we didn’t realise at first as it was under the plate wheel. Never had previous microwaves have so much condensation tbh.

As long as the interior of the microwave oven remains sealed and intact, microwave radiation poses no threat to humans

Thanks so much for the suggestions everyone!

@LeftieLucy

I have this one. So far so good! Fits uncles bens rice, but the best is that it beeps every minute after ending so I never forget my coffee that I’ve heated up!

I had that one.

The inside rusted within 15 months despite never being cleaned with anything abrasive and not being left wet. Looking back, I think it began to bubble within about six months (I don't use the things often, it's DP's area).

Replaced it with www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01C5HNUJI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?th=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8 as a damaged box one, so was about £45.

Still a Swan, but it's been two and a half years so far without any issues. And 800W is fine for heating stuff up - never did get much benefit from the 950W one I had twenty years ago, so no need to pay out more in my opinion. It fits full size plates and sits quite happily in the dead space at the corner of the countertops.

If money had been no object, I'd have been looking at one that could be used as a proper oven as well, but when the most it's used for is reheating a cuppa, defrosting the odd thing DP's forgotten to take out the freezer and the odd steamed veg/jacket potato, it's not worth spending hundreds of pounds out.

@RandomMess well, a quick update. I bit the bullet and got a Hotpoint Curve. It came today and, as you say, does everything I want it to (basically take a full plate and defrost). It’s a revelation - it’s so small and takes up so little room!

I was worried about the low wattage but it boiled a mug of water in just 90 seconds - my older, higher wattage one took 2 mins in the end.

Thanks 😊

Glad you joined the corner microwave revolution 🤣🤣🤣

I love mine!

Well it's not unsealed in the sense it is leaking radiation! Just a bit of exposed (not painted) metal on the inside of the door.