It was fun while it lasted - Panasonic "Genuis" MW Oven

[launderess]

To be totally fair

Microwave ovens are yet another tool for those who cook to have in their kitchen. Just as with say a double boiler, there are things a MW is good for, others not so much, and or if one knows what one is doing can get things done regardless.

As often stated things like veggies, potatoes, and certain other things do up well in a MWO. If one is willing to bother rice can be done as well, but since have been cooking rice on stove top since *dot*, don't see the need. Have never tried but am willing to bet certain casseroles will do well in a MWO.

Do a wonderful pork roast, and favorite bit around here is the nice crispy top skin. You just won't get that from inside a MWO.

 

[wayupnorth]

I am still using my Whirlpool RFM 7800 microwave since 1979. Knock on wood, I can still push the keypad for 1 minute to reheat whatever even though it came with a 2 inch thick cookbook, temp probe and 6 different cycles. Cycle one, 1 minute, start is all I do. No way I would cook anything in it as microwave cooking is way far from tasty.

 

[panthera]

Tim,

Microwave cooking can be very tasty. I look at it the same way as I do cooking foods in a steamer basket in a pressure cooker ('live' steam doesn't carry taste). You're steaming the food.

Here's some microwaved things that taste great:

Chocolate pudding.

Fresh egg omelettes.

Garlic cloves.

Baked apples/pears

Fatty fish.

There's much more. 

Cheese tamales.

Potatoes.

Stuff which needs a crust or development of the Maillard process, of course, doesn't come out well.

 

For many individual steps in recipes, using a microwave makes a difference between having to watch the food like a hawk and getting reliable results. One of them is 'browning onions until transparent and slightly caramelized'. We  all know that the recipes which say to brown onions and garlic for five minutes are <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">bullsh</span> horse-feathers. It takes at least 20 minutes to brown onions that way and the garlic would long since be burnt and bitter.

If you put the onions in a covered container and nuke them for three minutes first, then put them in hot oil, wow - consistent, predicable delicious results.

Garlic shouldn't be treated like onions, sheesh. No wonder so many people think it's bitter.

 

Anyway, milk sauces and fish like flounder come out far better in a microwave than 'conventionally'. 

 

[wayupnorth]

My Whirlpool, being nearly 40 years old, does not cook anything evenly. Even reheating needs a few rotations of the dish. You figure this model was invented before microwave popcorn was. Although I got the not so bright idea shortly after buying it to try and pop regular popcorn in a pyrex bowl. Popcorn did not pop but the pyrex bowl shattered.

 

[mattl]

I'm enjoying this thread...

 

I do cook chicken legs and thighs in the MW, and they are a quick easy meal that way.  I also make stuffed green peppers in the MW too, another quick meal, though I do end up browning the meat first. 

 

I have used standard cake mixes in the MW also.  I'd use the large glass bowl that I mixed it in and insert a large glass tumbler in the middle to act as sort of a bunt pan.  Made a  light airy cake, nothing you could frost, but a sprinkle of powdered sugar was a nice finish.

 

The Whirlpool I had previously in the kitchen that now resides in the garage had both halogen and infrared browsers that did work very well.  You can combine those with MW power to get a good meal.  I wish the current MW/convection oven I'm using had that option.  Maytag used to make a 3 in one, but it's long gone from the market.

 

[panthera]

Part of the reason Europe has got away with

the super underpowered microwave ovens is because we have the power over there to run browners and convection ovens with microwaves.

A 230V circuit at 16amps means you can run a constant 3200 Watts with no difficulty and more for short times.

(And no, I'm not interested in playing the stupid 'but that doesn't count with AC games. The difference comes out to less than 1%).

Here, we're lucky if we can run a 20Amp circuit at the wimpy 120VAC.  Pitiful.

 

[sudsmaster]

I consider microwaves to be an inferior source of heat for most cooking. Even for steaming veggies, I've found the MW tends to char broccoli buds, which gives them a bitter taste and unpleasant appearance. 

 

It's OK for microwave popcorn and reheating mostly liquid based foods. I also use the lower power levels on the inverter to warm things like hoagie rolls and burger buns (30% power). A setting of 10% could be used as a keep warm setting (haven't tried that yet, though). 

 

It's also OK for heating up most prepackaged entrees that are designed for the microwave. Some, though, do poorly, like fried chicken (Swanson's Hungry Man). The problem there is that even with turning the pieces around, bits tend to get overcooked, dried out, tough, while other bits are undercooked. The best stuff has ample moisture in it to start the steaming process instead of singing the food. I've found that for bagged entrees like Fried Rice and Yakitori noodles, cutting a small notch in the face of the bag with scissors, adding a tablespoon or so of tap water, and microwaving with the notched side up, tends to avoid uneven heating and its attendant problems. Otherwise the noodles, rice, or chicken bits can get dry and tough.

 

Cooking a roast or whole chicken in the microwave? No thanks, been there done that. For rice I prefer the Zojirushi rice cooker, which gives good, consistent results, even on brown rice. For roasting chicken or turkey I prefer the outdoor BBQ/Rotisserie. And for tough cuts the slow cooker or crock pot generally works best. Steaming veggies? Takes less than 10 minutes in a stovetop lidded pan. Often a covered frypan can be used for single pan meals, like stir fry: cook the meat pieces in hot oil until they are browned, remove. Add the sliced veggies (bagged frozen ok too), sear in hot oil, add enough water to steam, before they are al dente add back the meat pieces and any other ingredients that only need heating. Serve of the noodles or rice prepared in advance. Delicious!

 

 

[launderess]

Well unless something moves me otherwise

Panasonic will go out this week on recycling day.

Have too many other projects that need doing, and again the experience of having that Sharp MWO repaired is still fresh in one's memory.

There is also as one keeps repeating no shortage of microwave ovens here locally on CL going for very little money.

Have the vintage Sharp microwave that suits needs for now. No, it doesn't have sensors or any of the other bells and whistles of modern microwave ovens, perhaps that is why it has lasted so long! *LOL*

 

[lordkenmore]

No bells and whistles might well be a reason why it lasted so long. I'm a firm believer in this equation:

 

Features=More Things To Break

 

LOL

 

But...shouldn't there be at least be a bell to announce "I'm Done!"? At least, it seems like those ones with mechanical timers had a bell, rather than electronic  beep.

 

As far getting rid of the Panasonic, it makes sense. I admit...I'm a bit torn on such decisions. I hate throwing things away. I like getting full use out of something. But...it's not like there is a huge shortage of microwaves. And the cost of repair is probably not worth it, unless the microwave is something special.

 

[launderess]

Yes, there is a bell

This Sharp rings it only once when timer is done, and that is all you need. *LOL*

You wouldn't think that such a little microwave oven would have such a loud bell tone.

 

[brisnat81]

I found this ad in a 1984 National Geographic. I had no idea that the "Genius" had been around that long. If only mum and dad had sprung for this model when they bought the model below in 1985.

The 8 auto programs were just time and power based. You pick a food type and enter the weight. That is what mums microwave has. The auto sensor humidity programs are what was missing from mums.

 

[launderess]

It's gone

Today was recycling/appliance rubbish pick-up for our street, and the microwave got the push.

Know it may seem like sacrilege to some but quite honestly have neither the time nor patience at the moment to dig into the thing, and or repair. Also quite honestly CL, thrifts and FleaPay are over flowing with microwave ovens including Panasonic. Some used but a surprising number are NIB and all at such low prices that unless someone *gave* one the parts to fix the old Panasonic it just didn't make sense.

Meanwhile do not need another appliance lying about here here haunting me. Still haven't gotten to the Maytag wringer and now the AEG Lavamat is playing up.