Buying advice on new microwave oven

[agiflow]

Hi guys and gals,....just wanted some advice on what is a good microwave to buy. I have went through 2 in the last ohh say 6 or 7 yrs.

The full size Sharp i have now is starting to cut out in the middle of operation. I have model: R-530. Sharp does not seem to make a good microwave or should i say long lasting mic these days...( but then again who really does? ).

Are the Kenmore models any good? I may go to KM next for a new oven. It is a shame to go through 2 microwaves in under 10 years,...but oh well.

Any advice on a mid to full size oven would be appreciated, thanks.

Pat

 

[runematic]

Very few companies even make microwaves any more. You basically have LG, Samsung, & Sharp (there may be 1 or so more). Most companies (Maytag, Kenmore etc) just license one of these compaines & put their name on it. For us, we have a H$LL of a time getting Sharp parts.

 

[frigilux]

I just bought a stainless steel Kenmore (don't know the model, but it was just a shade over $100); it's medium-sized. Anyway, I love it! It defrosts more quickly and evenly than the Panasonic it replaced (which I purchased in 2000). It also seems to heat more evenly. And it was inexpensive!

 

[48bencix]

Commercial Quality

Go to a resturant supply house and look at the current Commercial Amana units. They are stainless inside and have simple controls. Plan on spending about $400.00. No longer made here in the USA, but the quality seems good.

http://www.instawares.com/2.77-0.1.2029-1-0-7312-3-3.htm

 

[veg-o-matic]

Wouldn't buy another new microwave if you paid me. (Pardon the mixed metaphor!)

Had an Admiral (Sharp) that was great, but so tinny sounding I couldn't stand it any more.

Don (jetaction) hooked me up with an Amana Radarange and I've never looked back.

veg

 

[toggleswitch]

ooooh i'm gonna get thrown out....

Homo-Depot has Korean/Chinese ones for $40.

They work just fine and can be disposed-of without guilt when they fail in less than 5 years.

As was stated above all, are Japanese or Korean.
Maybe you should cook more rice and fewer potatoes!

 

[whirlcool]

We actually still have

a Litton Model 402 we bought back in 1977, and it still works. I think I paid $379.00 for it back then. But it is sitting in the garage as this house already had a KM over the stove microwave built in and we didn't need two of them.
Since thirty years have passed since the mass introduction of home microwaves by Litton and Amana, we now have vintage microwaves available to us.
While the Litton was a very nice model and worked fine, I find the newer models much smoother in operation and definitely more even in their cooking ability.

 

[agiflow]

Maybe you should cook more rice and fewer potatoes!

I think i will nix the rice....seeing as it sets up shop for a day or 2 ;-)

 

[toggleswitch]

TMI TMI TMI

 

[rayjay]

Hi Pat. I have a GE over the range microwave with the exhaust vented out. I have it for over 13 years. It still works great. I do not do a look of cooking in it, just a lot of reheating.

Ray

 

[petek]

I dunno what's a good new make, we still use our full size GE for nearly 20 years and I also have the Radarange. Thrift stores around here are brimming with microwave ovens of every vintage and size, the usual asking price is about $7. Some appear to be in excellent condition, like the 3 Radaranges I've picked up. Whenever I see the tiny ones like the Sharp Half Pints or mini Littons I always grab those because I can resell them at the market easily for about $15. People like them for the basement or in an RV. Danby makes a nice mid size that is all stainless on the inside and outside priced here at about $89, a real bargain for full stainless steel oven.

 

[knitwits1975]

Well whatever you do, don't buy one from Wal Mart. I bought one (A GE) in May of 2001. It was a good performer, But I had a large share of trouble with it. If the sides got a little dirty, it would arc inside. Then the paint on the bottom under the turntable peeled off. In June of 2005, it just flat ass quit. Only 4 years old. I replaced it with a Panasonic I bought from Costco, so far, I really like it.

 

[whirlcool]

Litton Industries

Does anyone know what ever happened to Litton and the MW market? It seems that they were one of the early on manufacturers, their products always seemed right up there near the TOL. Then they disappeared. I know Litton Industries is a HUGE congomlorate, but what happened to their consumer branch?

 

[whirlcool]

Litton Industries

Does anyone know what ever happened to Litton and the MW market? It seems that they were one of the early on manufacturers, their products always seemed right up there near the TOL. Then they disappeared. I know Litton Industries is a HUGE congomlorate, but what happened to their consumer branch?

 

[petek]

re Litton; I think they found it was more profitable in the arms race supplying missile guidance systems and such.

 

[agiflow]

Thanks all for the replies. My first microwave was a Litton "prestige" compact microwave bought around christmas 1988. Litton went out of the microwave business soon after that IIRC.

 

[Brneyedgrl80]

I have a 6 year old Sharp that still works great and I also have a GE microwave that we got back in 1993.

Does GE still make microwaves? I haven't bothered checking.

Here's the model # of the GE according to the tag inside the oven: J ES1030TW 001
I would list the model number of my Sharp, but it's at home and I'm at work! Maybe I can look it up on the internet.

 

[whirlcool]

Litton:

I didn't think they lasted as long as 88', it seems that their exit was a little earlier, maybe around 1983 or so...

GE:
All the original GE Microwaves were always designated JETXXX or JET-XXX where XXX was a model number. I think that when they stopped using that designation is when they started buying Chinese and Korean microwaves and putting their name brand on them. At least that's my take on it.