I've got a microwave on my xmas list, for deployment in a relatively small
kitchen. I'd like something with lots of volume, but that will probably eat
a lot of counter space. (My current one is on top of the fridge, but I'm
tall and I have a utility step to look in the window.) I'm considering
getting one integrated into a range hood. There's a couple like that at
Sears in the $250-400 range.

So what do you think? What should I get?

I don't see myself using the presets. I normally just dial in the time and
power I want. The 5-speed fan on the range hood combo I looked at is nice,
but I don't know that it's worth $100 more.

If only I could find a unit with no clock. Yet another thing to set twice a
year.

On Tue, 21 Oct 2003 01:46:18 -0500, ScratchMonkey
> wrote:

>I've got a microwave on my xmas list, for deployment in a relatively small
>kitchen. I'd like something with lots of volume, but that will probably eat
>a lot of counter space. (My current one is on top of the fridge, but I'm
>tall and I have a utility step to look in the window.) I'm considering
>getting one integrated into a range hood. There's a couple like that at
>Sears in the $250-400 range.

While "built-in" or integrated with another appliance, counter, or
cupboard seems attractive, it means more difficulty and expense if one
part should fail.

I just looked at the Sears site and didn't see anything like you
describe. A m'wave (except in the case of disasters) doesn't require
an exhaust system; an exhaust system over a regular stove would be a
poor place to mount heat- and contamination-sensitive electronics.

ScratchMonkey > wrote in message > ...
> I've got a microwave on my xmas list, for deployment in a relatively small
> kitchen. I'd like something with lots of volume, but that will probably eat
> a lot of counter space. (My current one is on top of the fridge, but I'm
> tall and I have a utility step to look in the window.) I'm considering
> getting one integrated into a range hood. There's a couple like that at
> Sears in the $250-400 range.
>
> So what do you think? What should I get?

If you're tall, you might consider very carefully what that combo
microwave/hood is going to do to your cooktop clearance. I'm 6'3", and
just did exactly the opposite -- ripped out the combo unit and
installed a very good quality range hood -- best thing I've ever done
for my kitchen, and much, much quieter than any combo I've seen.

I wish I could use your refrigerator top solution, but my 5'9" wife
wouldn't accept that.

The days of the fantastic quality Amana RadarRanges are long gone --
these days they're pretty much all alike if you only want basic
defrosting and heating capability. I just bought a throw-away 1 cf,
1100 watt unit and put it on a top corner of a work table.

-- Larry

"ScratchMonkey" > wrote in message
.. .
> I've got a microwave on my xmas list, for deployment in a relatively small
> kitchen. I'd like something with lots of volume, but that will probably
eat
> a lot of counter space. (My current one is on top of the fridge, but I'm
> tall and I have a utility step to look in the window.) I'm considering
> getting one integrated into a range hood. There's a couple like that at
> Sears in the $250-400 range.
>
> So what do you think? What should I get?
>
> I don't see myself using the presets. I normally just dial in the time and
> power I want. The 5-speed fan on the range hood combo I looked at is nice,
> but I don't know that it's worth $100 more.
>
> If only I could find a unit with no clock. Yet another thing to set twice
a
> year.

If all you want is a basic over-the-range microwave, then about anything
will do. If you look closely at the various models available, you will see
that they are all made by about two manufacturers so one oven is about the
same as the next. You can get one at Home Depot for about $200. I recently
got a microwave/convection oven and it has become my primary oven. I
thought that I might not use the convection feature much and could do
without the senor cook feature and so on. Now that I have used it for a few
months I rarely fire up the full size range. In a way, the more
sophisticated controls and technology makes using the oven easier. You can
put in the food and press sensor cook or senor reheat and the oven does the
rest of the work, calculating the temperatures, microwave power levels, and
timing. The combination of the convection heat and turntable assures that
cooking will be uniform. I would recommend that you look at the Sharp
microwaves.
http://www.sharpusa.com/products/Fun...1050,2,00.html They are
priced well and have a lot of features. But, if you really don't think you
will use any of the advanced features, then I would get a basic unit like
the E-wave microwaves from Home Depot.

"Frogleg" > wrote in message
...
> On Tue, 21 Oct 2003 01:46:18 -0500, ScratchMonkey
> > wrote:
>
> >I've got a microwave on my xmas list, for deployment in a relatively
small
> >kitchen. I'd like something with lots of volume, but that will probably
eat
> >a lot of counter space. (My current one is on top of the fridge, but I'm
> >tall and I have a utility step to look in the window.) I'm considering
> >getting one integrated into a range hood. There's a couple like that at
> >Sears in the $250-400 range.
>
> While "built-in" or integrated with another appliance, counter, or
> cupboard seems attractive, it means more difficulty and expense if one
> part should fail.
>
> I just looked at the Sears site and didn't see anything like you
> describe. A m'wave (except in the case of disasters) doesn't require
> an exhaust system; an exhaust system over a regular stove would be a
> poor place to mount heat- and contamination-sensitive electronics.

I had a GE over the range microwave. About a year ago I had a grease fire
on the range. The microwave was all melted and black, but it continued to
work! The new Sharp unit is very sophisticated. It turns on automatically
when the temperature rises below and also has internal fans that cool the
electronics. The ovens that I have seen are of a uniform size and mount to
the wall with a back plate. The electronics can be accessed from the front
and if the unit needs to be replaced it is just a matter of removing four
screws and tilting it forward. I have put in four (JennAir, GE, Whirlpool,
and Sharp), and they all were very easy to install and remove.

ScratchMonkey > wrote:

> So what do you think? What should I get?

The Whirlpool Gold ones are fabulous. Really. You can easily cook
whole meals in them. Or do the rice...or baked potato...or frozen
(gasp) veggies. I'd kill for one of those here. Literally.
--
'Tis Herself

"ScratchMonkey" > wrote in message
.. .
> I've got a microwave on my xmas list, for deployment in a relatively small
> kitchen. I'd like something with lots of volume, but that will probably
eat
> a lot of counter space. (My current one is on top of the fridge, but I'm
> tall and I have a utility step to look in the window.) I'm considering
> getting one integrated into a range hood. There's a couple like that at
> Sears in the $250-400 range.
>
> So what do you think? What should I get?
>
> I don't see myself using the presets. I normally just dial in the time and
> power I want. The 5-speed fan on the range hood combo I looked at is nice,
> but I don't know that it's worth $100 more.
>
> If only I could find a unit with no clock. Yet another thing to set twice
a
> year.

The prices of Microwaves have come down so much - If you have a Costco near
by take a look at your choices before spending that kind of money.

AKA is the counter space really worth $150.00 to $300.00?

Dimitri

In rec.food.cooking ScratchMonkey > wrote:

> If only I could find a unit with no clock. Yet another thing to set twice a
> year.

I found that if I pushed the "clock set" button on my
microwave twice, without setting the clock, then the
clock function goes away. Don't need it as I have
two or three other clocks in the kitchen already.

Bill Ranck
Blacksburg, Va.

On Tue, 21 Oct 2003 15:20:46 GMT, "Vox Humana" >
wrote:

>
>"Frogleg" > wrote

>> A m'wave (except in the case of disasters) doesn't require
>> an exhaust system; an exhaust system over a regular stove would be a
>> poor place to mount heat- and contamination-sensitive electronics.
>
>I had a GE over the range microwave. About a year ago I had a grease fire
>on the range. The microwave was all melted and black, but it continued to
>work! The new Sharp unit is very sophisticated. It turns on automatically
>when the temperature rises below and also has internal fans that cool the
>electronics. The ovens that I have seen are of a uniform size and mount to
>the wall with a back plate. The electronics can be accessed from the front
>and if the unit needs to be replaced it is just a matter of removing four
>screws and tilting it forward. I have put in four (JennAir, GE, Whirlpool,
>and Sharp), and they all were very easy to install and remove.

I went back to the Sears site and found hooded m'waves under
'microwave,' not 'range hood.', although I'm still not sure what
they're supposed to do.. My own gadget sits on a cantilevered(?) shelf
I had someone build over the stove, since I *don't* have a hood or
exhaust arrangement.

I still don't care for built-in or combo appliances -- who knows when
one part will break, or current models be unavailable?
>

"Frogleg" > wrote in message
...
> On Tue, 21 Oct 2003 15:20:46 GMT, "Vox Humana" >
> wrote:
>
> >
> >"Frogleg" > wrote
>
> >> A m'wave (except in the case of disasters) doesn't require
> >> an exhaust system; an exhaust system over a regular stove would be a
> >> poor place to mount heat- and contamination-sensitive electronics.
> >
> >I had a GE over the range microwave. About a year ago I had a grease
fire
> >on the range. The microwave was all melted and black, but it continued
to
> >work! The new Sharp unit is very sophisticated. It turns on
automatically
> >when the temperature rises below and also has internal fans that cool the
> >electronics. The ovens that I have seen are of a uniform size and mount
to
> >the wall with a back plate. The electronics can be accessed from the
front
> >and if the unit needs to be replaced it is just a matter of removing four
> >screws and tilting it forward. I have put in four (JennAir, GE,
Whirlpool,
> >and Sharp), and they all were very easy to install and remove.
>
> I went back to the Sears site and found hooded m'waves under
> 'microwave,' not 'range hood.', although I'm still not sure what
> they're supposed to do.. My own gadget sits on a cantilevered(?) shelf
> I had someone build over the stove, since I *don't* have a hood or
> exhaust arrangement.
>
> I still don't care for built-in or combo appliances -- who knows when
> one part will break, or current models be unavailable?

I can see the drawback of combination appliances like one those Pullman type
things that have a sink, cooktop,and refrigeration built into one box. It's
not ideal but it may be the best overall solution for some situations I
think that is a different situation than an over the range microwave with an
exhaust fan built in. The fan is a really reliable device. The one in mine
actually is designed to channel the air round the oven cavity to cool it.
As I pointed out, changing out an OTR microwave is very simple. They plug
into a receptacle and there are four screws holding it in place. They are
all made to uniform dimensions and most of them, regardless of the brand
name stamped on the front, are made in the same factory. The oven is at eye
level which makes it very convenient for adults and out of the reach of
children and it frees up counter space. These OTR units have been around
for year and are reliable.

> wrote in message
om...
> ScratchMonkey > wrote in message
> ...
> > I've got a microwave on my xmas list, for deployment in a relatively
small
> > kitchen. I'd like something with lots of volume, but that will probably
eat
> > a lot of counter space. (My current one is on top of the fridge, but I'm
> > tall and I have a utility step to look in the window.) I'm considering
> > getting one integrated into a range hood. There's a couple like that at
> > Sears in the $250-400 range.
> >
> > So what do you think? What should I get?
>
> If you're tall, you might consider very carefully what that combo
> microwave/hood is going to do to your cooktop clearance. I'm 6'3", and
> just did exactly the opposite -- ripped out the combo unit and
> installed a very good quality range hood -- best thing I've ever done
> for my kitchen, and much, much quieter than any combo I've seen.
>
> I wish I could use your refrigerator top solution, but my 5'9" wife
> wouldn't accept that.
>
> The days of the fantastic quality Amana RadarRanges are long gone --
> these days they're pretty much all alike if you only want basic
> defrosting and heating capability. I just bought a throw-away 1 cf,
> 1100 watt unit and put it on a top corner of a work table.
>
> -- Larry

Yeah, this 5'4" person sure wouldn't want the microwave on top of the
fridge! LOL! I can barely reach on top of my fridge as it is!

I like my Sharp, but it's a countertop version.

Dawn

"Herself" > wrote in message
...
> ScratchMonkey > wrote:
>
> > So what do you think? What should I get?
>
> The Whirlpool Gold ones are fabulous. Really. You can easily cook
> whole meals in them. Or do the rice...or baked potato...or frozen
> (gasp) veggies. I'd kill for one of those here. Literally.
> --
> 'Tis Herself

Yeap, my Sharp does all those quite well, too! Also the popcorn button is
nice, too.

Dawn

In article >,
ScratchMonkey > wrote:
>If only I could find a unit with no clock. Yet another thing to set twice a
>year.

Put a piece of tape over it.

--
Mark Shaw contact info at homepage --> http://www.panix.com/~mshaw
================================================== ======================
"This time I think the Americans are serious. Bush is not like
Clinton. I think this is the end." - Uday Hussein, April 2003

ScratchMonkey > wrote in
:

> I've got a microwave on my xmas list, for deployment in a relatively
> small kitchen. I'd like something with lots of volume, but that will
> probably eat a lot of counter space. (My current one is on top of the
> fridge, but I'm tall and I have a utility step to look in the window.)
> I'm considering getting one integrated into a range hood. There's a
> couple like that at Sears in the $250-400 range.
>
> So what do you think? What should I get?
>
> I don't see myself using the presets. I normally just dial in the time
> and power I want. The 5-speed fan on the range hood combo I looked at
> is nice, but I don't know that it's worth $100 more.
>
> If only I could find a unit with no clock. Yet another thing to set
> twice a year.


Ken,

Hummmmmmmm...you need to get your list together if you want Santa to get it
in time!!

Huggies and Magic.

Mrs. Santa!! <gggggggggg>

"DawnK" > wrote in news:vpber1bdb0t3c4
@corp.supernews.com:

> Yeah, this 5'4" person sure wouldn't want the microwave on top of the
> fridge! LOL! I can barely reach on top of my fridge as it is!

Well, it's a relatively short fridge, and I'm 5'10 with long arms, so I can
get stuff in and out easily enough. Except that the fridge and door is
balanced to shut on its own, so it's tricky if I have my hands full. The
only problem is when I want to watch something while cooking to catch it
before it starts frothing, and then I use a step-like toolbox to get high
enough to look inside.

"DawnK" > wrote in
:

> Yeap, my Sharp does all those quite well, too! Also the popcorn
> button is nice, too.

Is that a sensor thing? Does it know when to kill power just before the
corn starts to scorch?

I'm suddenly envisioning a microphone that measures time between pops!

"Dimitri" > wrote in news:C1dlb.18018$Na5.11088
@newssvr31.news.prodigy.com:

> AKA is the counter space really worth $150.00 to $300.00?

I believe it is. ($150, not $300.) It's a tight kitchen and I spend a lot
of time there, so the comfort has value to me.

(Mark Shaw) wrote in
:

>>If only I could find a unit with no clock. Yet another thing to set
>>twice a year.
>
> Put a piece of tape over it.

The same area usually displays the cook time remaining, so that wouldn't
work.

wrote in :

> I found that if I pushed the "clock set" button on my
> microwave twice, without setting the clock, then the
> clock function goes away. Don't need it as I have
> two or three other clocks in the kitchen already.

Slick! Which model does that?

"Vox Humana" > wrote in
:

> I thought that I might not use the convection feature much and could
> do without the senor cook feature and so on. Now that I have used it
> for a few months I rarely fire up the full size range. In a way, the
> more sophisticated controls and technology makes using the oven
> easier. You can put in the food and press sensor cook or senor reheat
> and the oven does the rest of the work, calculating the temperatures,
> microwave power levels, and timing. The combination of the convection
> heat and turntable assures that cooking will be uniform. I would
> recommend that you look at the Sharp microwaves.

Thanks for the recommendation. I've got a toaster oven that does a lot of
my baking for me (undercounter mounted) but a convection combo could
potentially eliminate that footprint.

Much of my nuking is reheating coffee and warming up pasta so the sensor
thing sounds really attractive.

I don't see any value in simple time/power presets as I can as easily enter
those by hand on the rare occasions I'd use them. But a smart oven with
feedback sounds much more like something I'd use a lot.

Now if only it had WiFi so I could monitor the cooking from my computer....

ScratchMonkey wrote:
>
> (Mark Shaw) wrote in
> :
>
> >>If only I could find a unit with no clock. Yet another thing to set
> >>twice a year.
> >
> > Put a piece of tape over it.
>
> The same area usually displays the cook time remaining, so that wouldn't
> work.

I just don't bother to set the time on mine.
--
Kate XXXXXX
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

On Fri, 24 Oct 2003 06:34:26 GMT, ScratchMonkey
> wrote:

>"DawnK" > wrote in
:
>
>> Yeap, my Sharp does all those quite well, too! Also the popcorn
>> button is nice, too.
>
>Is that a sensor thing? Does it know when to kill power just before the
>corn starts to scorch?
>
>I'm suddenly envisioning a microphone that measures time between pops!

My "new" m'wave has a popcorn button (as well as half a dozen others),
but they're just some kind of programmed time/power cycle settings.
The automatic button burns popcorn. And this after years of getting
the settings exactly right on my old (lower-powered) machine. :-(

Frogleg > wrote:

> My "new" m'wave has a popcorn button (as well as half a dozen others),
> but they're just some kind of programmed time/power cycle settings.
> The automatic button burns popcorn. And this after years of getting
> the settings exactly right on my old (lower-powered) machine. :-(

My parents m/wave doesn't burn popcorn..okay, maybe 1 kernel. But
that's it. Heaven.
--
'Tis Herself

"ScratchMonkey" > wrote in message
...
> "Vox Humana" > wrote in
> :
>
> > I thought that I might not use the convection feature much and could
> > do without the senor cook feature and so on. Now that I have used it
> > for a few months I rarely fire up the full size range. In a way, the
> > more sophisticated controls and technology makes using the oven
> > easier. You can put in the food and press sensor cook or senor reheat
> > and the oven does the rest of the work, calculating the temperatures,
> > microwave power levels, and timing. The combination of the convection
> > heat and turntable assures that cooking will be uniform. I would
> > recommend that you look at the Sharp microwaves.
>
> Thanks for the recommendation. I've got a toaster oven that does a lot of
> my baking for me (undercounter mounted) but a convection combo could
> potentially eliminate that footprint.
>
> Much of my nuking is reheating coffee and warming up pasta so the sensor
> thing sounds really attractive.
>
> I don't see any value in simple time/power presets as I can as easily
enter
> those by hand on the rare occasions I'd use them. But a smart oven with
> feedback sounds much more like something I'd use a lot.
>
> Now if only it had WiFi so I could monitor the cooking from my
computer....
>

I think that is coming. Sharp has a new model (I'm not sure it is available
here yet) that downloads the cooking programs for food. It's only a matter
of time before you can access the controls from the computer.

In rec.food.cooking ScratchMonkey > wrote:
> wrote in :

> > I found that if I pushed the "clock set" button on my
> > microwave twice, without setting the clock, then the
> > clock function goes away. Don't need it as I have
> > two or three other clocks in the kitchen already.

> Slick! Which model does that?

Hmm, I don't know right off. It was about $125 at
WalMart a couple years ago. I'll look at it and post
the make/model info when I get home this evening.

I assume some other microwaves will do the same thing.

Bill Ranck
Blacksburg, Va.

On Fri, 24 Oct 2003 14:26:12 GMT, "Vox Humana" >
wrote:

>
>"ScratchMonkey" > wrote in message
. ..
>> "Vox Humana" > wrote in
>> :
>>
>> > I thought that I might not use the convection feature much and could
>> > do without the senor cook feature and so on. Now that I have used it
>> > for a few months I rarely fire up the full size range. In a way, the
>> > more sophisticated controls and technology makes using the oven
>> > easier. You can put in the food and press sensor cook or senor reheat
>> > and the oven does the rest of the work, calculating the temperatures,
>> > microwave power levels, and timing. The combination of the convection
>> > heat and turntable assures that cooking will be uniform. I would
>> > recommend that you look at the Sharp microwaves.
>>
>> Thanks for the recommendation. I've got a toaster oven that does a lot of
>> my baking for me (undercounter mounted) but a convection combo could
>> potentially eliminate that footprint.
>>
>> Much of my nuking is reheating coffee and warming up pasta so the sensor
>> thing sounds really attractive.
>>
>> I don't see any value in simple time/power presets as I can as easily
>enter
>> those by hand on the rare occasions I'd use them. But a smart oven with
>> feedback sounds much more like something I'd use a lot.
>>
>> Now if only it had WiFi so I could monitor the cooking from my
>computer....
>>
>
>I think that is coming. Sharp has a new model (I'm not sure it is available
>here yet) that downloads the cooking programs for food. It's only a matter
>of time before you can access the controls from the computer.
>

Yeah, and wait until some virus gets in and causes your roast to burn
up that was supposed to be cooking while you're at work!

......Alan. <laughing>


--
Curiosity killed the cat -
lack of it is killing mankind.

"A.T. Hagan" > wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 24 Oct 2003 14:26:12 GMT, "Vox Humana" >
> wrote:
>
> >
> >"ScratchMonkey" > wrote in
message
> . ..
> >> "Vox Humana" > wrote in
> >> :
> >>
> >> > I thought that I might not use the convection feature much and could
> >> > do without the senor cook feature and so on. Now that I have used it
> >> > for a few months I rarely fire up the full size range. In a way, the
> >> > more sophisticated controls and technology makes using the oven
> >> > easier. You can put in the food and press sensor cook or senor reheat
> >> > and the oven does the rest of the work, calculating the temperatures,
> >> > microwave power levels, and timing. The combination of the
convection
> >> > heat and turntable assures that cooking will be uniform. I would
> >> > recommend that you look at the Sharp microwaves.
> >>
> >> Thanks for the recommendation. I've got a toaster oven that does a lot
of
> >> my baking for me (undercounter mounted) but a convection combo could
> >> potentially eliminate that footprint.
> >>
> >> Much of my nuking is reheating coffee and warming up pasta so the
sensor
> >> thing sounds really attractive.
> >>
> >> I don't see any value in simple time/power presets as I can as easily
> >enter
> >> those by hand on the rare occasions I'd use them. But a smart oven with
> >> feedback sounds much more like something I'd use a lot.
> >>
> >> Now if only it had WiFi so I could monitor the cooking from my
> >computer....
> >>
> >
> >I think that is coming. Sharp has a new model (I'm not sure it is
available
> >here yet) that downloads the cooking programs for food. It's only a
matter
> >of time before you can access the controls from the computer.
> >
>
> Yeah, and wait until some virus gets in and causes your roast to burn
> up that was supposed to be cooking while you're at work!
>
> .....Alan. <laughing>

If your roast does burn, the cake falls, or the bread doesn't rise, you can
always blame it on a virus.

Vox Humana wrote:
>
> "A.T. Hagan" > wrote in message
> ...
> > On Fri, 24 Oct 2003 14:26:12 GMT, "Vox Humana" >
> > wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >"ScratchMonkey" > wrote in
> message
> > . ..
> > >> "Vox Humana" > wrote in
> > >> :
> > >>
> > >> > I thought that I might not use the convection feature much and could
> > >> > do without the senor cook feature and so on. Now that I have used it
> > >> > for a few months I rarely fire up the full size range. In a way, the
> > >> > more sophisticated controls and technology makes using the oven
> > >> > easier. You can put in the food and press sensor cook or senor reheat
> > >> > and the oven does the rest of the work, calculating the temperatures,
> > >> > microwave power levels, and timing. The combination of the
> convection
> > >> > heat and turntable assures that cooking will be uniform. I would
> > >> > recommend that you look at the Sharp microwaves.
> > >>
> > >> Thanks for the recommendation. I've got a toaster oven that does a lot
> of
> > >> my baking for me (undercounter mounted) but a convection combo could
> > >> potentially eliminate that footprint.
> > >>
> > >> Much of my nuking is reheating coffee and warming up pasta so the
> sensor
> > >> thing sounds really attractive.
> > >>
> > >> I don't see any value in simple time/power presets as I can as easily
> > >enter
> > >> those by hand on the rare occasions I'd use them. But a smart oven with
> > >> feedback sounds much more like something I'd use a lot.
> > >>
> > >> Now if only it had WiFi so I could monitor the cooking from my
> > >computer....
> > >>
> > >
> > >I think that is coming. Sharp has a new model (I'm not sure it is
> available
> > >here yet) that downloads the cooking programs for food. It's only a
> matter
> > >of time before you can access the controls from the computer.
> > >
> >
> > Yeah, and wait until some virus gets in and causes your roast to burn
> > up that was supposed to be cooking while you're at work!
> >
> > .....Alan. <laughing>
>
> If your roast does burn, the cake falls, or the bread doesn't rise, you can
> always blame it on a virus.

Oh, well, if you WILL cook on-line... ;P
--
Kate XXXXXX
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

"ScratchMonkey" > wrote in message
...
> "DawnK" > wrote in
> :
>
> > Yeap, my Sharp does all those quite well, too! Also the popcorn
> > button is nice, too.
>
> Is that a sensor thing? Does it know when to kill power just before the
> corn starts to scorch?
>
> I'm suddenly envisioning a microphone that measures time between pops!

It never burns it! It's a sensor that measures the amount of water vapor in
the microwave. I can't even remember the last time it burned popcorn. I
think it has happened a few times.

Dawn

"Vox Humana" > wrote in message
...
>
> "ScratchMonkey" > wrote in message
> ...
> > "Vox Humana" > wrote in
> > :
> >
> > > I thought that I might not use the convection feature much and could
> > > do without the senor cook feature and so on. Now that I have used it
> > > for a few months I rarely fire up the full size range. In a way, the
> > > more sophisticated controls and technology makes using the oven
> > > easier. You can put in the food and press sensor cook or senor reheat
> > > and the oven does the rest of the work, calculating the temperatures,
> > > microwave power levels, and timing. The combination of the convection
> > > heat and turntable assures that cooking will be uniform. I would
> > > recommend that you look at the Sharp microwaves.
> >
> > Thanks for the recommendation. I've got a toaster oven that does a lot
of
> > my baking for me (undercounter mounted) but a convection combo could
> > potentially eliminate that footprint.
> >
> > Much of my nuking is reheating coffee and warming up pasta so the sensor
> > thing sounds really attractive.
> >
> > I don't see any value in simple time/power presets as I can as easily
> enter
> > those by hand on the rare occasions I'd use them. But a smart oven with
> > feedback sounds much more like something I'd use a lot.
> >
> > Now if only it had WiFi so I could monitor the cooking from my
> computer....
> >
>
> I think that is coming. Sharp has a new model (I'm not sure it is
available
> here yet) that downloads the cooking programs for food. It's only a
matter
> of time before you can access the controls from the computer.
>
>

Yeah, but it can't put the food in there for you! LOL!

Dawn

On Fri, 24 Oct 2003 21:20:05 +0100, Kate Dicey
> wrote:

>Vox Humana wrote:
>>
>> "A.T. Hagan" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > On Fri, 24 Oct 2003 14:26:12 GMT, "Vox Humana" >
>> > wrote:
>> >
>> > >
>> > >"ScratchMonkey" > wrote in
>> message
>> > . ..
>> > >> "Vox Humana" > wrote in
>> > >> :
>> > >>
>> > >> > I thought that I might not use the convection feature much and could
>> > >> > do without the senor cook feature and so on. Now that I have used it
>> > >> > for a few months I rarely fire up the full size range. In a way, the
>> > >> > more sophisticated controls and technology makes using the oven
>> > >> > easier. You can put in the food and press sensor cook or senor reheat
>> > >> > and the oven does the rest of the work, calculating the temperatures,
>> > >> > microwave power levels, and timing. The combination of the
>> convection
>> > >> > heat and turntable assures that cooking will be uniform. I would
>> > >> > recommend that you look at the Sharp microwaves.
>> > >>
>> > >> Thanks for the recommendation. I've got a toaster oven that does a lot
>> of
>> > >> my baking for me (undercounter mounted) but a convection combo could
>> > >> potentially eliminate that footprint.
>> > >>
>> > >> Much of my nuking is reheating coffee and warming up pasta so the
>> sensor
>> > >> thing sounds really attractive.
>> > >>
>> > >> I don't see any value in simple time/power presets as I can as easily
>> > >enter
>> > >> those by hand on the rare occasions I'd use them. But a smart oven with
>> > >> feedback sounds much more like something I'd use a lot.
>> > >>
>> > >> Now if only it had WiFi so I could monitor the cooking from my
>> > >computer....
>> > >>
>> > >
>> > >I think that is coming. Sharp has a new model (I'm not sure it is
>> available
>> > >here yet) that downloads the cooking programs for food. It's only a
>> matter
>> > >of time before you can access the controls from the computer.
>> > >
>> >
>> > Yeah, and wait until some virus gets in and causes your roast to burn
>> > up that was supposed to be cooking while you're at work!
>> >
>> > .....Alan. <laughing>
>>
>> If your roast does burn, the cake falls, or the bread doesn't rise, you can
>> always blame it on a virus.
>
>Oh, well, if you WILL cook on-line... ;P

On second thought, it would be a good way to be *certain* that you
really did turn the stove off after you've left for work if you're the
type who worries about such things.

Of course, back to the virus and hackers again, what if they turned
the stove on after you left?

Hmmm...

......Alan ;-)


--
Curiosity killed the cat -
lack of it is killing mankind.

On Fri, 24 Oct 2003 17:10:00 -0500, "DawnK" >
wrote:

>
>"Vox Humana" > wrote in message
. ..
>>
>> "ScratchMonkey" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > "Vox Humana" > wrote in
>> > :
>> >
>> > > I thought that I might not use the convection feature much and could
>> > > do without the senor cook feature and so on. Now that I have used it
>> > > for a few months I rarely fire up the full size range. In a way, the
>> > > more sophisticated controls and technology makes using the oven
>> > > easier. You can put in the food and press sensor cook or senor reheat
>> > > and the oven does the rest of the work, calculating the temperatures,
>> > > microwave power levels, and timing. The combination of the convection
>> > > heat and turntable assures that cooking will be uniform. I would
>> > > recommend that you look at the Sharp microwaves.
>> >
>> > Thanks for the recommendation. I've got a toaster oven that does a lot
>of
>> > my baking for me (undercounter mounted) but a convection combo could
>> > potentially eliminate that footprint.
>> >
>> > Much of my nuking is reheating coffee and warming up pasta so the sensor
>> > thing sounds really attractive.
>> >
>> > I don't see any value in simple time/power presets as I can as easily
>> enter
>> > those by hand on the rare occasions I'd use them. But a smart oven with
>> > feedback sounds much more like something I'd use a lot.
>> >
>> > Now if only it had WiFi so I could monitor the cooking from my
>> computer....
>> >
>>
>> I think that is coming. Sharp has a new model (I'm not sure it is
>available
>> here yet) that downloads the cooking programs for food. It's only a
>matter
>> of time before you can access the controls from the computer.
>>
>>
>
>Yeah, but it can't put the food in there for you! LOL!
>
>Dawn
>

But when the technology does get around to being able to do that...

Seems to me that Ray Bradbury did a story long, long ago about an
automatic house this reminds me of.

It was a sad story though...

......Alan.


--
Curiosity killed the cat -
lack of it is killing mankind.

(A.T. Hagan) wrote in news:3f9c5927.18068453
@news.atlantic.net:

> Yeah, and wait until some virus gets in and causes your roast to burn
> up that was supposed to be cooking while you're at work!

"Honey, come home quick! The kitchen just crashed!"

(Borrowed from a column I read a few years ago in some popular computer
magazine.)

I recall some guy in Europe who had his whole house wired to his website.
He scanned his food in as he loaded it into the fridge and pantry, and out
before he dumped it in the trash. He had webcams all over, and a flush
counter (but no camera) in the bathroom. There was a photobeam-activated
webcam at the cat's bowl to see when it was eating.

On Fri, 24 Oct 2003 09:51:22 +0100, Kate Dicey
> wrote:

> ScratchMonkey wrote:
> >
> > (Mark Shaw) wrote in
> > :
> >
> > >>If only I could find a unit with no clock. Yet another thing to set
> > >>twice a year.
> > >
> > > Put a piece of tape over it.
> >
> > The same area usually displays the cook time remaining, so that wouldn't
> > work.
>
> I just don't bother to set the time on mine.

You just reminded me that I have a clock on my microwave!

It was never set to begin with, so I don't even know if it
automatically adjusted the time, like my computer and
dvd/vcr player did.

Anyway, the microwave clock was very easy to set.. and it
was certainly easier than resetting the digital clock by my
bed.

In rec.food.cooking wrote:
> In rec.food.cooking ScratchMonkey > wrote:
> > wrote in :

> > > I found that if I pushed the "clock set" button on my
> > > microwave twice, without setting the clock, then the
> > > clock function goes away. Don't need it as I have

> > Slick! Which model does that?

> WalMart a couple years ago. I'll look at it and post
> the make/model info when I get home this evening.

It's a Panasonic model NN-L727BA. Again, I bought
it a couple years ago at Walmart so I have no idea
if the same model still exists, but the controller
chips that run the clock/timer functions probably is
used in other models.

Bill Ranck
Blacksburg, Va.

On Sun, 26 Oct 2003 20:45:41 GMT, sf > wrote:

>> > (Mark Shaw) wrote
>> >
>> > >>If only I could find a unit with no clock. Yet another thing to set
>> > >>twice a year.
>
>You just reminded me that I have a clock on my microwave!
>
>It was never set to begin with, so I don't even know if it
>automatically adjusted the time, like my computer and
>dvd/vcr player did.
>
>Anyway, the microwave clock was very easy to set.. and it
>was certainly easier than resetting the digital clock by my
>bed.

^_^ Something's gone wonky in mine. When you let go of the 'set'
button, it jumps to a time of its own choosing. Right now, until I get
a new one (or the power fails again), I simply add 3 hours and
subtract 2 minutes from the time displayed. It's amazing what one can
get used to.

wrote in :

> It's a Panasonic model NN-L727BA. Again, I bought
> it a couple years ago at Walmart so I have no idea
> if the same model still exists, but the controller
> chips that run the clock/timer functions probably is
> used in other models.

Thanks, I'll check it out. I just wish I had a Walmart close by. I've got a
Costco but the nearest Walmart's a fair distance.

ScratchMonkey > wrote in message > ...
> I've got a microwave on my xmas list, for deployment in a relatively small
> kitchen. I'd like something with lots of volume, but that will probably eat
> a lot of counter space. (My current one is on top of the fridge, but I'm
> tall and I have a utility step to look in the window.) I'm considering
> getting one integrated into a range hood. There's a couple like that at
> Sears in the $250-400 range.
>
> So what do you think? What should I get?
>


Microwaves usually have only one power setting in reality. If you set
it for a power setting of 5, it's on high power 50% of the time, a
setting of 2 is on high for 20% of the time, etc., and the heat is
supposed to radiate throughout the food. But I saw a 1,300 watt
Panasonic microwave that advertised a "true" high, medium, and low.
If true, this would be a big step up in my estimation.

Ken

(Ken) wrote in
:

> Microwaves usually have only one power setting in reality. If you set
> it for a power setting of 5, it's on high power 50% of the time, a
> setting of 2 is on high for 20% of the time, etc., and the heat is
> supposed to radiate throughout the food. But I saw a 1,300 watt
> Panasonic microwave that advertised a "true" high, medium, and low.
> If true, this would be a big step up in my estimation.

Funny, I just saw a Panasonic like that yesterday at Costco, a 1.6 CF unit
(deep sucker). It claimed to use "inverter power".

I'm aware that traditionally microwaves use "pulse width modulation", in
which one cycles the power on and off and changes the duty cycle (ratio of
on time to off time) to achieve fractional power settings.

I'm still trying to find a suitably technical description of the inverter
technology. I'm guessing it's a programmable "switcher" power supply that
provides high-efficiency low-voltage DC to the tube.

I just bought a Sharp over the range convection/microwave combo on Ebay.
It's new in the box from Sharp themselves. The sell old models that way.
This is an 1850A. I got it for $286 which includes shipping, insurance and
tax. I've never bought anything like that through Ebay. Hopw I am satisfied.

Bonnie in NJ