Recommendation for new do-everything microwave oven

Stan Horwitz said:

I am looking to replace my nearly 20 year old Panasonic microwave oven
and a four year old toaster oven. The toaster oven barely toasts any
more. The microwave oven has some life left in it, but its really gotten
weathered looking over the years, so I figured this would be a good time
to replace it.

I would also like to add functionality to my kitchen by getting a
convection oven. My kitchen is not much bigger than a phone booth so I
would love to get a model that offers all three features.

A few weeks ago I saw a Sharp oven at Wal-Mart that is a convection oven
and microwave oven built into the same unit. I am not sure, but I think
it was the Sharp R930-CS model that I saw.

I am wondering if the convection oven feature can be used to toast items
such as english muffins and if Sharp is a brand worth considering. I
have looked around at various stores in the Philadelphia area where I
live, but I have not seen anything that fits this description, only at
Wal-Mart. If anyone has any suggestions on a brand I should consider or
feedback on Sharp's products, please let me know.

Thanks,

Stan

Stan, our last mw was a Sharp Carosel. It wasn't convection just
microwave. The first power outage blip - off on within seconds - took
out some of the display lights. Over time this gradually got worse but
not consistently. Sometimes most would work, then some would work, then
none and back to most. It was most frustrating. This is a known
problem with Sharp mw ovens so unless they've fixed that I would be
leary. In general the Sharp was adequate as a mw since we don't use it
for much anyway but could be pissy sometimes. My concern about the conv
component of the model you are looking at would just add one more thing
to go wrong. IIRC there are some reviews on epinions regarding Sharp
mw. BTW we replaced our Sharp with a Kenmore heavy on the bells and
wistles model but no convection. At the time we were shopping for ours,
there were a couple others that offered convection so if you could find
a review site comparing the different manufactures it would give you a
better idea as to who is putting out the better and more dependable
model. Off the top of my head I think some of the manufacturers are
Emerson and Panasonic but there are likely others. Sam's Club and
Costco both were selling the mw/cov combo so you might be able to find
out more info on their websites.

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

Quoted message said:

I am looking to replace my nearly 20 year old Panasonic microwave oven
and a four year old toaster oven. The toaster oven barely toasts any
more. The microwave oven has some life left in it, but its really gotten
weathered looking over the years, so I figured this would be a good time
to replace it.

I would also like to add functionality to my kitchen by getting a
convection oven. My kitchen is not much bigger than a phone booth so I
would love to get a model that offers all three features.

A few weeks ago I saw a Sharp oven at Wal-Mart that is a convection oven
and microwave oven built into the same unit. I am not sure, but I think
it was the Sharp R930-CS model that I saw.

I am wondering if the convection oven feature can be used to toast items
such as english muffins and if Sharp is a brand worth considering. I
have looked around at various stores in the Philadelphia area where I
live, but I have not seen anything that fits this description, only at
Wal-Mart. If anyone has any suggestions on a brand I should consider or
feedback on Sharp's products, please let me know.

Thanks,

Stan

I don't have the convection oven one, but I have the Sharp microwave that
grills and bakes too (with infrared top and bottom.) It is excellent, does
everything it is supposed to, you can set tasks to run consecutively with
different functions. I rarely use my stove oven or broiler anymore.

I've had it three years, never a problem.
Lefty

Life is for learning
The worst I ever had was wonderful

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

Quoted message said:

I am looking to replace my nearly 20 year old Panasonic microwave oven
and a four year old toaster oven. The toaster oven barely toasts any
more. The microwave oven has some life left in it, but its really gotten
weathered looking over the years, so I figured this would be a good time
to replace it.

I would also like to add functionality to my kitchen by getting a
convection oven. My kitchen is not much bigger than a phone booth so I
would love to get a model that offers all three features.

I went shopping for microwaves recently. I was shocked to find models with
built-in TOASTERS and built-in COFFEEMAKERS. I was wondering who the frick
would want to buy such a monstrosity? And if it breaks, who would service
it? But, since you asked . . .

Sears sells a few models that are convection/microwaves and at least ONE
model that is a toaster oven and microwave in one unit (but not convection).

With toaster ovens costing about 20 bucks, I'd probably go for a new toaster
oven and set it on top of a convection oven/microwave combo. That would be
the best bang/buck that would still save space in your kitchen.

If you could find one with all three, it would be wicked expensive, I
believe. Oh, and I'm not even sure that puppy exists. -Dave

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

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

I am looking to replace my nearly 20 year old Panasonic microwave oven
and a four year old toaster oven. The toaster oven barely toasts any
more. The microwave oven has some life left in it, but its really gotten
weathered looking over the years, so I figured this would be a good time
to replace it.

I would also like to add functionality to my kitchen by getting a
convection oven. My kitchen is not much bigger than a phone booth so I
would love to get a model that offers all three features.

I went shopping for microwaves recently. I was shocked to find models

with

Quoted message said:

built-in TOASTERS and built-in COFFEEMAKERS. I was wondering who the

frick

Quoted message said:

would want to buy such a monstrosity? And if it breaks, who would service
it? But, since you asked . . .

Sears sells a few models that are convection/microwaves and at least ONE
model that is a toaster oven and microwave in one unit (but not

convection).

Quoted message said:

With toaster ovens costing about 20 bucks, I'd probably go for a new

toaster

Quoted message said:

oven and set it on top of a convection oven/microwave combo. That would

be

Quoted message said:

the best bang/buck that would still save space in your kitchen.

Quoted message said:

If what you mean by "Toaster oven" is having infrared elements in the top
and bottom, you might change your mind if you used one.

Mine is a Mircro/Grill/Oven. These things are programmed as well as manual
so a lot of tasks are just a button push, they grill chicken breasts etc.
well, and they are the best thing for baking. Mine has a revolving
pedestal --it revolves in any cooking mode --very even heat, up to 400°.
You can set it for defrost (microwave) then program Bake to follow with all
of the times and temperatures set --has a cooling cycle with a fan. It is
insulated so that the exterior gets nowhere near as hot as a toaster oven
does. I rarely use my stove oven anymore unless I am baking a lot at a time.

Ones with convection probably don't have the grill function because mine
shares the infrared heat source with the oven mode.
--
Lefty

Life is for learning
The worst I ever had was wonderful

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

I am looking to replace my nearly 20 year old Panasonic microwave oven
and a four year old toaster oven. The toaster oven barely toasts any
more. The microwave oven has some life left in it, but its really gotten
weathered looking over the years, so I figured this would be a good time
to replace it.

I would also like to add functionality to my kitchen by getting a
convection oven. My kitchen is not much bigger than a phone booth so I
would love to get a model that offers all three features.

A few weeks ago I saw a Sharp oven at Wal-Mart that is a convection oven
and microwave oven built into the same unit. I am not sure, but I think
it was the Sharp R930-CS model that I saw.

I am wondering if the convection oven feature can be used to toast items
such as english muffins and if Sharp is a brand worth considering. I
have looked around at various stores in the Philadelphia area where I
live, but I have not seen anything that fits this description, only at
Wal-Mart. If anyone has any suggestions on a brand I should consider or
feedback on Sharp's products, please let me know.

Thanks,

Stan

I have a Sharp micro/convection oven. I love it. I've had this one for at
least 7 years and probably 8. I use the convection as much as the
microwave. I've never tried it for toasting though.

Ms P

Stan Horwitz <[email hidden]> wrote in news:stan-93F04C.12294129032006
@news.giganews.com:

Quoted message said:

I am looking to replace my nearly 20 year old Panasonic microwave oven
and a four year old toaster oven. The toaster oven barely toasts any
more. The microwave oven has some life left in it, but its really

gotten

Quoted message said:

weathered looking over the years, so I figured this would be a good

time

Quoted message said:

to replace it.

I would also like to add functionality to my kitchen by getting a
convection oven. My kitchen is not much bigger than a phone booth so I
would love to get a model that offers all three features.

A few weeks ago I saw a Sharp oven at Wal-Mart that is a convection

oven

Quoted message said:

and microwave oven built into the same unit. I am not sure, but I think
it was the Sharp R930-CS model that I saw.

I am wondering if the convection oven feature can be used to toast

items

Quoted message said:

such as english muffins and if Sharp is a brand worth considering. I
have looked around at various stores in the Philadelphia area where I
live, but I have not seen anything that fits this description, only at
Wal-Mart. If anyone has any suggestions on a brand I should consider or
feedback on Sharp's products, please let me know.

We bought a Sharp microwave (non-convection) at work. It is wonderful.
The sensor cooking works great. It senses steam from the item and then
throttles the cooking. Food is cooked even. We bought the one recommended
by Consumer Reports. You should also look at epinions.com

Good luck on your search.

--

Charles
The significant problems we face cannot be solved
at the same level of thinking we were at when we
created them. Albert Einstein

In article <[email hidden]>,

Mike T. said:

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

Quoted message said:

I am looking to replace my nearly 20 year old Panasonic microwave oven
and a four year old toaster oven. The toaster oven barely toasts any
more. The microwave oven has some life left in it, but its really gotten
weathered looking over the years, so I figured this would be a good time
to replace it.

I would also like to add functionality to my kitchen by getting a
convection oven. My kitchen is not much bigger than a phone booth so I
would love to get a model that offers all three features.

I went shopping for microwaves recently. I was shocked to find models with
built-in TOASTERS and built-in COFFEEMAKERS. I was wondering who the frick
would want to buy such a monstrosity? And if it breaks, who would service
it? But, since you asked . . .

Sears sells a few models that are convection/microwaves and at least ONE
model that is a toaster oven and microwave in one unit (but not convection).

With toaster ovens costing about 20 bucks, I'd probably go for a new toaster
oven and set it on top of a convection oven/microwave combo. That would be
the best bang/buck that would still save space in your kitchen.

If you could find one with all three, it would be wicked expensive, I
believe. Oh, and I'm not even sure that puppy exists. -Dave

Yeh, all three features would be ideal. I am interested in a combined
function oven because of a severe lack of counter space in my kitchen.
Even putting a toaster oven on top of my microwave oven would not be an
optimum situation for me because I prefer to keep other items there
instead. If I have to chose between a microwave oven with a convection
oven and a microwave oven with a toaster oven built-in, I will go with
the toaster oven option.

I will definitely check out Sears this weekend.

Thanks for all the feedback.

Stan Horwitz said:

I am looking to replace my nearly 20 year old Panasonic microwave
oven and a four year old toaster oven. The toaster oven barely
toasts any more.

What do you use the toaster oven for? I can see how those things
would be useful for making hot, open-faced sandwiches, but it's
never been clear to me what else, if anything, they're useful for.

Why would one use a toaster oven instead of a conventional toaster
for toasting English muffins (or any other sort of sliced bread)?

Geoff

--
"All the boys think she's a spaz; she's got Betty Davis eyes"
-- Kim Carnes

Mike T. said:

I went shopping for microwaves recently. I was shocked to find models
with built-in TOASTERS and built-in COFFEEMAKERS. I was wondering who
the frick would want to buy such a monstrosity? And if it breaks, who
would service it? But, since you asked . . .

Presumably the service center of the manufacturer would service it.
Which, along with moving, is an excellent reason to save the cartons
that appliances come in. (Is there such a thing as independent
appliance-repair shops anymore?)

I'm more curious about why anyone would want to buy such a thing. If,
say, the toaster broke, you'd be out a coffeemaker and a microwave oven
while the whole unit was in the shop.

The same disadvantage applies to those small TVs with built-in VCRs, and
othe "combined" appliances and gizmos. A friend of mine has one of those
cell phones with a built-in PDA, the display of which broke when she
dropped a heavy Cross pen onto it (point-down, of course) -- so she was
lost the use of her cell phone while the PDA part was being repaired.
It's much better to buy separate, dedicated applicances for that reason.

Geoff

--
"All the boys think she's a spaz; she's got Betty Davis eyes"
-- Kim Carnes

Quoted message said:

I went shopping for microwaves recently. I was shocked to find models with
built-in TOASTERS and built-in COFFEEMAKERS. I was wondering who the frick
would want to buy such a monstrosity?

Probably those who like toast and coffee and don't want to take up
additional counter or cabinet space.

Wayne said:

Quoted message said:

Why would one use a toaster oven instead of a conventional toaster
for toasting English muffins (or any other sort of sliced bread)?

I like it for toasting bagels and oversized bread. Some breads that I
toast would not fit in any toaster.

Take one flour tortilla and liberally spread Nutella on it. Cover with
another flour tortilla. Toast in toaster oven.

Bob

In article <[email hidden]>,

(Geoff Miller) said:

Stan Horwitz said:

I am looking to replace my nearly 20 year old Panasonic microwave
oven and a four year old toaster oven. The toaster oven barely
toasts any more.

What do you use the toaster oven for? I can see how those things
would be useful for making hot, open-faced sandwiches, but it's
never been clear to me what else, if anything, they're useful for.

Why would one use a toaster oven instead of a conventional toaster
for toasting English muffins (or any other sort of sliced bread)?

I use my toaster oven all the time to toast sliced english muffins and
to cook small items such as chicken pieces, lamb chops, etc. If I were
to use a traditional toaster, it would take up yet more space, plus the
crumbs from the bread would fall off easier and I would still need the
other features that a toaster oven offers.

On Thu 30 Mar 2006 09:17:51a, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it Geoff
Miller?

Quoted message said:

Stan Horwitz said:

I am looking to replace my nearly 20 year old Panasonic microwave
oven and a four year old toaster oven. The toaster oven barely toasts
any more.

What do you use the toaster oven for? I can see how those things
would be useful for making hot, open-faced sandwiches, but it's
never been clear to me what else, if anything, they're useful for.

I use the broiler feature for "grilling" hot dogs, thin pork chops, pounded
chicken breasts, etc. It's faster and more convenient than my conventional
oven broiler. It also makes a nice extra oven for small casseroles, etc.

Quoted message said:

Why would one use a toaster oven instead of a conventional toaster
for toasting English muffins (or any other sort of sliced bread)?

I like it for toasting bagels and oversized bread. Some breads that I
toast would not fit in any toaster.

--
Wayne Boatwright @¿@¬
_____________________

Mike T. said:

Oh, and I'm not even sure that puppy exists.

Isn't there somewhere in the FAQ for r.f.cooking where it says that we
are not supposed to use the words "puppy" or "kitty"?

Quoted message said:

-Dave

--Bryan

On Thu 30 Mar 2006 12:00:17p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it Food Snob?

Quoted message said:

Mike T. said:

Oh, and I'm not even sure that puppy exists.

Isn't there somewhere in the FAQ for r.f.cooking where it says that we
are not supposed to use the words "puppy" or "kitty"?

Quoted message said:

-Dave

--Bryan

It depends entirely on the cooking method.

--
Wayne Boatwright @¿@¬
_____________________