# Tell me about your microwave **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 26, 2023, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-microwave/983185 "2023-04-26T00:02:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2023, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-microwave/983185/21 "2023-04-27T19:49:15Z")
The thing that failed on our last microwave was the push-button that opened it. So I got a microwave whose door opens just by pulling on it. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2023, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-microwave/983185/22 "2023-04-27T19:56:20Z")
> [@FluffyBob](#): > > I second the inverter tech recommendation. Cooks much more effectively at partial power. Seriously improves defrosting functionality. If you only use full power though, I don’t think there is any advantage. Didn’t know these existed. Definitely want that feature now. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2023, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-microwave/983185/23 "2023-04-27T19:57:27Z")
[Our current microwave](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NXRHIO8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1) has a grilling element, which we have yet to use. We don’t bother with any of the autocook buttons, either The ceramic coating was what sold us. Our last microwave had started to rust inside. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2023, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-microwave/983185/24 "2023-04-27T21:47:12Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I guess if i were remodeling the kitchen i might build cabinets that came down lower above the microwave. We just put in a drawer microwave that goes _under_ the counter. So far, it’s been great. [https://www.subzero-wolf.com/wolf/microwave-ovens/24-inch-transitional-drawer-microwave](https://www.subzero-wolf.com/wolf/microwave-ovens/24-inch-transitional-drawer-microwave) ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2023, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-microwave/983185/25 "2023-04-27T21:59:13Z")
I’ve got a countertop Breville microwave, this one: > **[Amazon.com: Breville Compact Wave Soft-Close Microwave Oven, Silver, BMO650SIL](https://www.amazon.com/Breville-BMO650SIL1BUC1-Compact-Countertop-Microwave/dp/B084T9RVSB)** > > Amazon.com: Breville Compact Wave Soft-Close Microwave Oven, Silver, BMO650SIL We like it. At one point a few years back we went through three microwaves in a year so I went to Best Buy and bought the most expensive compact countertop microwave they had, which happened to be this one. It was worth the extra money. Haven’t had a problem with it at all. Doesn’t do anything besides microwave, but it works. And the soft-close is a feature I never knew I wanted until I had it. They have fancier models with all the extra stuff. I’ve not tried them but I’m sold on the brand. Helpful tip: if you’re getting about the same size microwave, save the glass plate out of the old one. Useful to be able to put one in the dishwasher and still use the microwave. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2023, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-microwave/983185/26 "2023-04-27T22:04:29Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > In particular, I just want a +30 seconds button that instantly starts the microwave as soon as you press it, no need to hit the start button afterwards. Probably 90% of my microwave usage is just that one button. I’ll second the advice to buy a UI you like. Mine has a “1 minute” button and an “add 30 seconds button” and I use them ALL the time. Also, mine is easy to set to cook 3 or 5 or 6 minutes, which is about how long I want to cook a block of frozen veggies, or a casserole of broccoli. I’ve used some microwaves that require a LOT of buttons to cook something for 2 minutes. Don’t get one of those. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2023, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-microwave/983185/27 "2023-04-27T22:09:18Z")
I had a convection microwave way back before some ad firm came up with the term ‘air fryer’. I think it was from the late 1980’s, but perhaps early 90’s. It was a Kenmore model and actually cooked very well, and I did use all 3 cooking methods, Microwave/convection& ‘microconvection’. That last one would get the thing up to temp and alternate the heat and the microwave. I actually cooked a thanksgiving turkey on that setting and it came out great. The biggest downside was that the interface was a royal PITA, and even for microwaving it was a series of button steps which should have been unnecessary and also was unintuitive. Overall I would consider another microwave/convection if my current one goes out, but also considering a convection oven which would make the former not needed. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2023, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-microwave/983185/28 "2023-04-27T22:14:34Z")
I’m happy with my basic, no-frills Insignia™ 0.7 ft³ model. Cheap, dependable (lasted 13 years so far) and it has the 30-second button I use almost every single day to warm up tortillas and flatbread for wraps and snacks. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2023, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-microwave/983185/29 "2023-04-28T00:36:52Z")
I recently bought [this](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B010RWYPBK/) Panasonic microwave when my old one suddenly died a few months ago. It is larger than I would prefer, but it was the highest rated unit on Consumer Reports’ list that was available. (For some reason I couldn’t find any of the top 5 or 6 models anywhere.) It does have inverter tech which was a requirement for me. I like the knob to select cook time rather than punching in numbers on a keypad. It does have the inexplicable and useless “popcorn” button that all microwaves seem to have. ---
**Author:** ![Blindmellowjelly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blindmellowjelly/32/13920_2.png) [@Blindmellowjelly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blindmellowjelly)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-microwave/983185/30 "2023-04-29T03:16:50Z")
My most recent microwave crapped out. It was a Kenmore model that I bought at K-Marts some 7 years ago. I put a dish in to heat up, and there was a loud pop.! The timer and the rotisserie plate and the light all went on, but the fish was cold. The microwave tube popped several times I tried to initialize… minutes on end it came out cold, without the modulation of the microwaves. Just threw it away. My friends gave me an oldeer model solid state Magic Chef that seems to make sense. Maybe a 900w to my 1100ww. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-microwave/983185.md?page=1)