anyone have a Panasonic microwave?

[vacuumfreeeke]

Hey everyone. My 3 year old Cooks Essentials talking bread making microwave just bit the dust. I was heating up a country fried steak for boyfriend and when I got back to the microwave after it had been about 5 minutes since the timer stopped, the thing was still humming. The magnetron tube stayed on and the only way to get it off was to unplug the appliance completely. I waited overnight to see if it was still like that and it was. I threw it out and spent all of yesterday shopping for a new microwave. Came home with a 268 dollar GE convection/microwave combo. At first I loved it.... it looked great, heated great, and had lots of versatility. The control panel was very intuitive, and I just knew that it was going be great. Well, I was heating up some frozen fish fillets on the convection setting when all of a sudden (about 15 minutes after it had been running), the machine shut down. Display and interior light went off and none of the buttons worked. I tired my vacuum sealer in the same outlet to confirm that nothing was wrong there... the vacuum sealer worked perfectly so that meant the silly microwave had broken after only 2 uses on the 2nd day!

Really wanting that machine, I called GE to see if it was something simple. The jerk that answered the phone didn't even want to help me until I gave her all kinds of personal info (I'm quite surprised she didn't demand the social security number)... Then she instructed me to go online to ge.com and diagnose my own problem because if she had to send a service rep out I would have to pay for it (the warranty doesn't cover actually getting a broken machine fixed apparently). I told her I'd never buy another GE product again for the rest of my life and she told me to have a nice day.

I marched that sucker back to Lowe's and got a refund. Got a Panasonic that is JUST a microwave. It's a little too big, but I think I'm going to like the Inverter technology and the keep warm feature. Plus the sensor reheat and cook. I don't like the control panel though... the quick start option isn't very quick, and it's not simple to change the power level like it was on the GE. It's been a long time since I've had a microwave that was just a microwave, now I need to get a toaster oven, rotisserie, and bread maker to have all the functionality I used to have with the old machine.

Anyway, thanks for listening to me vent... what better place to share appliance happenings?! Does anyone have a Panasonic microwave (or the GE convection combo)? If so, what do you think?

thanks )

 

[brisnat81]

We've got the 44L Panasonic Micro Convection and find it great.

Very even defrosting, with a combo of heat and microwave.

Easy start, just push start to get 1min intervals, or spin the knob for time and then push go.

Adjusting the power level, you push micro and cycle through the range, set the time and push go.

The only thing I dont like, is the screen is a little dim and the Cooling fan for the inverter may run for a couple of minutes after the micro stops.

Convection is simple, combo isnt quite as flexible as others i've used, but still quite good.

Lots of room to fit everything in. The only thing I need is a big 35cm Bessemer dutch oven so I can roast in their without dirtying it.

 

[appnut]

I have had a 2.0 cu. ft. 1300 watt Panasonic microwave for almost 4 years, if not longer, with inverter technology. Personally I think the power is too much, but then again, I'm still using a lot of recipes from cookbooks based on 650 watt microwaves so I ahve to do the recalculating to figure out what Panasonic power level approximately equals the wattage of the older power settings. I really like it, especially the size for defrosting the value-size packs of meat or poultry I buy as well as it handles all my Visions coikware. The turbo defrost is the most accurate auto defrost I've ever had. And I like the inverter technology too. Last ight, I made sweet & sour pork from my 1977 Litton Microwave cookbook. Came out wonderful!!

 

[gansky1]

I have the Panasonic 1300 watt microwave oven (no convection) and really like it. It's easy to use and was a good buy at only $100 at Costco.

Anyone remember these? The Panasonic Sky-Lite. I took this pic at John's warehouse in MD this summer. I always thought these were too cool for words.

 

[bellalaundry]

I've been looking...

to buy one of these Panasonic Sky-Lite microwaves! If anyone ever finds one to sell, let me know!

Guy

 

[DADoES]

 
Yes, saw those back in the day at the Whirlpool dealer of my history, who sold Panasonic micros. They used one at the house in town, standard cabinet model, with a rotating chart integrated into the linear timer for various functions/foods that also selected the power level.

 

[sudsmaster]

I've had a Panasonic inverter (1.6 cu ft, 1300 watts) for about eight years now. It's a solid machine. I'm not overly fond of the membrane pad - hard to read in low light - but I made black on white labels for all the buttons and that helps.

I did try to upgrade to another Panasonic - one with real raised buttons, but it died after just a year (Costco took it back without any fuss).

I also have a Kenmore I got about 10 years ago. It's good too but doesn't have the inverter. Sometimes I use both at the same time if I'm in a rush.

 

[spookiness]

i like mine

I have a 1250 model inverter, dunno what cf size it is.

I like it a lot, because all the "automatic" settings, such as defrost, and automatic programs for things like potatoes, frozen veg, reheating leftovers, etc. are dead-on accurate. I rarely entire a time anymore, I just use the automatic functions.

My only concern is there is a spot where the paint is chipping, in the front just inside the door. Has anyone ever repainted or touched-up the inside of a microwave?

 

[hunter]

Sharp

I have two Sharp convection microwaves. For some reason, most retailers don't carry them anymore, but they are available.

You can bake, broil, or microwave in them and they are top notch.

Your mileage may vary

Hunter

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

Hey guys... thanks for the responses. That Sky-lite is really neat!

I don't really like the Panasonic... It's too deep to fit well, and the GE was easier to use as far as the control panel was concerned. I usually use the microwave at full power anyway, unless defrosting, so I decided to give the GE another try thinking that I just got a lemon. I went to Lowes and bought one, but they only had the display model left. They gave me a 70 dollar discount and told me that it still had the same return policy and warranty as a new one if it doesn't work out. I got a space heater the same way last year and it's been great! I don't have to fool around with taking it out of the box, so it is actually a good thing! Apparently, this model is being discontinued.

The thing is when I have the microwave set on convection, it pops my GCIF? circuit on the actual plug. I have it plugged into an entirely different outlet, but it still pops the GCIF thing by the sink! I live in an apartment, so rewiring isn't an option. Does anyone have a way around this? I'd really like to be able to use this thing!

Thanks!

 

[sudsmaster]

I think your GFCI is trying to tell you something... the convection circuit in that microwave has a ground fault. I'd return it and forget about getting another one of that brand/model.

PS-GFCI outlets can protect other outlets "downstream" from them. I have one in my master bedroom that protects all the bedroom outlets plus those in the master bath. They are all on the same circuit.