Potential Problem With Older Microwaves

[retropia]

The 1978 Popular Science article was interesting. I remember when microwave ovens became widely available, there was a lot of concern about radiation escaping. People would try to avoid standing directly in front of one while it was on.

Further in the magazine, I also enjoyed the ad for the 1978 Ford Fairmont! While not a particularly exciting car, it was sensibly sized, fairly roomy inside and it was easy to park.

And I also enjoyed the ad for Winston Light cigarettes!

 

[irishwashguy]

I had my 1976 Radar range serviced

i had it checked for leaks and fixed a broken spring. 40 dollars later, I still have a microwave oven that works like a charm. Even better, it works as well as my Mom's new kenmore . They are built sturdy.

 

[launderess]

Fairmont Easy To Park?

Well yes, if you are used to docking the Ille de France for a living! *LOL*

 

[launderess]

Ah the 1970's!

 

That  hair, those outfits!

 

[launderess]

People Carrier of 1978

Kind of looks more stylish as a wagon, no?

 

[retropia]

If you've ever driven one of these, you would agree that by comparison, a Fairmont is a breeze to park, LOL. In 1978, the Fairmont was positively petite. From there you got bigger with the Granada, then huge with the LTD II, and then gargantuan with this LTD Landau 4-door pillared hardtop.

 

[launderess]

Combi Units

Was reading through an older issue of the CR Buying Guide (1983) and in general they panned combination microwave/convection ovens of the day. Of the choices (Sharp, Amana, Panasonic, Quasar), the Radarange (RMC-30) came in dead last in both microwave cooking and combi roasting beef. Apparently according to CR's tests neither the Quasar nor Amana produced even cooking with microwave power only (note these were the only two models tested without turn tables), and had various drawbacks to their convection/combi modes as well. The Amana for instance had only one preset temperature, 300F.

From reading vintage microwave service information on the web, Amana knew for awhile it's combi ovens had too low power for browning/baking. The initial models (RMC-20****) had heating elemets of only about 1300 or 1400 watts. By the time Amana changed from the Cookmatic series with dials to the Touchmatic, the new combi oven (RMC-30) had wattage bumped up to about 1500 watts.

 

[launderess]

Nabbed A Bunch of Vintage Consumer Reports Buying Guides

According to their testing, which counters what one finds here in the group, Amana microwaves weren't the best for even cooking and other criteria. It's not until about the mid 1980's that Radaranges start to pick up in ratings. Have not read everything, but it appears MCs with turntables out scored those without for even results.

Indeed Amana's "Radarange Plus RMC-30" micro/convection oven came in dead last after Sharp (top rated) and Panasonic.

CR also panned much of the "cooking" one was supposed to be able to do in a microwave oven. Cakes, meats, roasts, etc all sometimes were less than what one would expect, even when using browning devices and or coatings designed to give that effect.

 

[sudsmaster]

As I recall, one could purchase spring-wound turntables for use in MW's without turntables. I had a small one for my mid-1980's 1 cu ft Amana (it was made by Hitachi). It cooked ok without the turntable, though - never noticed much of a difference with or without it.

The Kenmore Elite microwave I got around 1998 is fairly impressive in its attempts to even the cooking rays. There's a huge translucent amber plastic cover - about the size of a teacup saucer - with a visible rotating impeller, on the side of the cabinet where the magnetron lives. There is also a turntable. I like the impeller/magnetron cover because it's so easy to clean, and it provides some entertainment value as well.

 

[launderess]

I Remember Those Turn Tables

But as rarely used microwaves back then for more than reheating left overs,or heating water or milk never really bothered.

Again am going to wager that the reason so many of those huge work-horse microwaves from the 1980's and 1990's are still out there (by and large) in good shape is they never got much of a workout.

Housewives and whomever else tried to "cook" things in them probably reached the same conclusion as CR and moved on. For most things CR stated they got better results in their GE convection electric range/oven in the same or less time, and used less electric power than a microwave. The only exceptions would be things like baked potatoes and certain other foods.

Personally cannot imagine a meatloaf, roast beef or any other meat cooked by microwave alone. Convection/microwave yes, but not nuking by itself.

Oh for what it was worth both the Amana convection/micro and Panasonic did not fare well in CR's roasting tests. Both produced roast beef that was very rare in the center and over cooked every where else. This with the fact both ovens used temperature probes, while the Sharp didn't.

CR tested for even cooking same way as Whirlcool suggested; using slices of bread with a layer of cheese.

Strange thing: the first Amana Radarange Plus oven (with dial control) had three convection oven settings, low, medium and high. Low was really meant for using the oven as a dehydrator. Medium and high were for cooking. When the RMC-30 came out while the total watts for heating was increased, the oven temperature was set in all modes to about 300F in both convection only and combination. Both the Sharp and Panasonic could go up to 450F.

Am wondering if the "low" heating power was the reason for Amana's poor roasting results.