Microwave Advice

[GeorginaA]

Okay, so I've just been cleaning my microwave (for the first time in ages ... cough) and have noticed that the metal roof inside has all bubbled and warped. I'm assuming this is Not Good[tm].

So, can anyone recommend a good microwave? That's not too expensive, has an automatic defrost, preferably a baked potato button (don't laugh - we use that loads!) and a nice brush chrome look to match the rest of the kitchen...

I take it that means no-one likes their microwave enough to recommend one

We have a nice simple Sharp one that cost about £60, in the brush chrome look. It does have auto defrost but I don't think I have used it, nor have I used the auto cook buttons either. It's not too big either which was important for us.

We have a sharp one too. One with all the preset buttons. Think its about 80 quid

Oooo... thanks. Liked the look of the Sharp and the Panasonic (both at around 80 quid - although I've found somewhere online that makes them around 70 quid including P&P) but have been dithering. The Sharps been fairly reliable then?

My vote goes for Sharp too - I had a great one for ages until we had our kitchen done and we got a Neff one - its rubbish compared to the Sharp IMHO.

Got the Sharp microwave when DD was first being weaned for defrosting her food. Had it about 14 months now and not had any probelsm so far.

I have a sanyo powerwave which has a grill as well as a button for potatoes

I have a Panasonic that has auto defrost (3 settings), 14 auto cook settings including the jacket potato one, and a grill - so you can do frozen gratins and pizzas in it, up to a point, and the spuds come out less soggy.

However in my experience they're not too reliable - this is my second, the first died after only 2 years and had to be replaced because the part required was obsolete, and on this one the bulb went after a few months, can't change it yourself and I'm not paying someone £30 to come and do it for me so we microwave in the dark!

A friend had a Sharp one for at least 10 years. I think Panasonic are better for tellies!

Which usually recommend Matsui - cheap and cheerful (Dixons).

HTH!

Ive had my sharp one for 4 years

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First panasonic lasted 11 yrs and new one doing OK so far (6 months).

We love our new Panasonic one that comes in a chrome / silver version. It's about £90.
LG also do a funky chrome one for about £60. Not sure about the potato button, but it's in the Argos sale at the moment.

Can't afford one with a grill at the moment, which is a shame, as I can see they'd be really handy

How much can you spend, Georgina? this one's only (only!) £79 with free delivery from Comet. It is white though.

Click on the microwaves link above it and they list the lot by price. "Silver" appears to mean brush chrome. I bought a tumble dryer from Comet last month and was v pleased with both website and delivery service.

Blimey - there is a Neff one at the bottom of the list - £960!!!!!!

Thank you for all your help, just a little update...

Well our microwave finally gave up the ghost this morning and refused to work at all. My mother-in-law very generously gave us some money towards a new one so we managed to stretch our budget to a combination microwave/oven/grill (a Sharp R874SL) - have only used it to defrost mince so far though (very exciting!) so can't give it a thorough review yet

Thanks again.