Microwave ovens - am I right about this?

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Overcooking from excessive heating is bad and in most cases those high wattages aren't needed. Power cycling still heats up food super fast and lets it cool down but the damage is done. Food definitely tastes different between the two.

Over cooking is a problem no matter what you're cooking with and why you don't cook with a microwave in the first place.

 

[Fir]

Yes even at a 40% power level to defrost you're getting micro hotspots from the 1200W when only 480W CW is needed.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Yes even at a 40% power level to defrost you're getting micro hotspots from the 1200W when only 480W CW is needed.

You don't use a microwave to defrost either. Also, taste has nothing to do with "healthier."

 

[Fir]

You don't use a microwave to defrost either. Also, taste has nothing to do with "healthier."

Yes you can if you can't wait.
But go ahead and look it up if you don't believe me.
I've been using a radarrange since it was called one.
And my taste buds are the final judge. I hardly used the RR for anything until I tried an inverter oven at the advice of a friend. And I'm glad I did.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Yes you can if you can't wait.
But go ahead and look it up if you don't believe me.
I've been using a radarrange since it was called one.
And my taste buds are the final judge. I hardly used the RR for anything until I tried an inverter oven at the advice of a friend. And I'm glad I did.

You don't use a microwave to cook or defrost. You mentioned both taste and healthier. It's clear from your comments that you understand neither. Arguing the merits of different microwaves based on taste or health benefits is just plain silly. I've been a Chef for 35 years.

 

[who?]

Chicken roasted in the microwave is delicious.

 

[Muse]

No, to clarify, I got a random microwave from Home Depot (an LG iirc) that had good reviews when I pulled it up on my phone - instead, I wish I had researched it more & gotten that recommended GE from SweetHome instead, as their reviews are usually pretty spot-on.

Reading reviews of that model, the GE Model No: JES1656SRSS, I see two reviewers who say theirs had the door release button malfunction. It would stay depressed, no longer work. One of them was after just two months. Went through all kinds of hassles to get a replacement including sending the unit back via a shipper.

 

[Muse]

Get a Panasonic inverter microwave.
They can actually cook based on power level not power cycling the magnetron on and off at full power.

For example, a standard 1200W oven at full power has the magnetron running all the time for 10 minutes when you select 10 minutes. The same oven at 50% power will run the magnetron on and off (at 1200W) so its run time is approximately 5 minutes for those 10 minutes.

The inverter oven can actually produce 600W continuously for those 10 minutes. The difference in the end is quite amazing. And healthier.

I think this makes sense. Continuous energy instead of 1/2 the time on and 1/2 the time off would be a big bonus feature. I'll check that out.

I'm inclined to believe Fir in the assertion that continuous cooking at lower than max power level gives very noticeably superior results.

Regardless, the convenience of the controls and the ergonomics of a high quality open/close design are very important features to me. I have working MWs that lack these features and I refuse to use them (unless I have no better). My experience is that the great majority of MWs basically suck.

May as well also mention -- the great majority of MWs have the interior light on when the door is open. I don't like this and I always remove the bulb. I don't need a light inside a MW. Seeing the food cook through the door screen is ridiculous. First off, getting up close enough to "see" it exposes you to pretty high EMFs. Besides that, there's usually nothing to see. You can't tell how warm/hot your food is that way. After using an MW it's usually warm inside and the humidity is usually elevated. I therefore like to leave the door open so it dries out inside. That reduces bacterial and fungal growth and commensurate odors. Doing that with a MW with interior light that is on when the door is open just adds needless power usage. With the Goldstar that I'm using now that's 16 watts in addition to the 2 watts standby drain.

Edit: The Panasonic NN-SN651W 1200W 1.2 Cu. Ft. Countertop Microwave Oven with Inverter Technology has my interest. The convenience of the buttons isn't what I would want. Have to press "Start" to get things going, which I never had to do with my currently not-working Sharp MW. When it was first offered it only turned the light on when cooking, not when the door was open (which is very much what I prefer), but they responded to stupid customer complaints and the ones they sell now have the light on for both. If I buy it, I'll disable the bulb entirely. I won't buy it without at least trying to get my hands on one in a store somewhere just to see if I like the way it opens and closes. I'm fussy about that.

 

[Muse]

So, early this morning I decide to widen my search. I thought to myself, look up "programmable microwave ovens." I immediately saw a widened array of stuff... there's a ton around, I'm guessing there are something close to 1 billion MW ovens on the planet!

I start looking at commercial grade MWs. They can be had for prices similar to the more expensive consumer MWs, i.e. $200 or so and higher. I had a real good look (online!) at the Sharp R-21LCF and it's apparent similar Sharp R-21-LCFS (the only difference AFAIK is that it has not only stainless steel interior and door front, it also is stainless on the sides and likely back of the exterior... the other model is painted grey for that).

I read most of the 166 buyer reviews for the Sharp R-21LCF model at Amazon. The Sharp R-21LCFS model has only two reviews, but one includes a cool video.

So, I ordered the Sharp R-21-LCFS, which I found for $50 cheaper using a Pricegrabber search than the price at Amazon.

This is 1 cu ft and has a super simple feature set. None of the myriad nutty controls of the consumer MWs. Just a single knob and the second you turn it, it turns on full 1000w power and counts down from where ever you set the knob up to 6 minutes. 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 6, 75, 90, etc. No LCD, no clock, no sensors, I love it! Plus, the light doesn't come on unless it's cooking, just the way I like it so I can leave the door open to dry out the interior without it using juice. There's no turntable. Instead it has a radiation disbursion system and they say it's very good at evenly heating. The lack of a turntable means you can put more stuff inside the space. They say it's super well made and extremely durable, it's designed for much heavier duty cycles than the consumer MWs. I doubt I'll want another and can get rid of maybe all of the lousy MWs I have (though I may save the big Goldstar to have a backup just in case)!

 

[Carson Dyle]

it's too dumb to let you cook AND have a kitchen timer at the same time (I had no idea modern microwaves could even lack that feature).

My microwave is the same. I run into that problem all the time. I start a 15 minute timer, then I want to put something through the microwave for 3 minutes. But I have two other electronic timers in the kitchen, so I just offload the timer function to one of them.

Most people would be far too dumb to manage a system that worked any other way, with just one display.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I never actually use the timer on the microwave. I always use the one on the oven since chances are if I need the timer it's because I have something on or in the oven.

 

[feralkid]

I've been a Chef for 35 years.

Appeal to authority.
There are plenty of bad chefs out there...time at the job doesn't always make you good.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Appeal to authority.
There are plenty of bad chefs out there...time at the job doesn't always make you good.

Using microwave to cook ensures you'll be a poor cook. The Chef has spoken so, let it be written so, let it be done.

 

[Muse]

Using microwave to cook ensures you'll be a poor cook. The Chef has spoken so, let it be written so, let it be done.

I can think of no other cooking I do with a microwave oven than to cook potatoes. Cooking them otherwise is problematic for me. Boiling adds to much moisture to the interior air of the house, baking uses far too much energy (gas) and time. The microwave cooked potatoes are reasonable additions to my recipes. All my other usage is to heat food and drink. It does that well if you know what you're doing and it's very quick and doesn't make a mess. I have enough dishes to clean up as it is.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Some things are ok in microwave while some arn't. The point of a microwave is speed and being able to cook inside out. So it makes it great for defrosting. I try to avoid having to defrost anything and just put it in the fridge the day before but sometimes you still want to defrost something before you cook it in the oven or whatever.

Speaking of microwaves, if you put a glass of water in the microwave when you reheat pizza, it makes it better as it won't be all cardboard like. Oven is still the best for pizza but if you're at work or what not then the microwave may be the only option.

 

[Muse]

Speaking of microwaves, if you put a glass of water in the microwave when you reheat pizza, it makes it better as it won't be all cardboard like. Oven is still the best for pizza but if you're at work or what not then the microwave may be the only option.

Every time I make a pizza (I make them from scratch, including Italian sauce I make from my home grown vine ripened tomatoes and can and store), I eat the whole thing at once. I have been making them very very infrequently recently, but did make a couple 12 and 13 days ago on successive days. The second was, I swear, the best pizza ever in the history of man! The sauce included caramelized onions. It was topped by about 4 different gourmet cheeses, my homemade chorizo, Saag's Louisiana Brand hot sausage, onions, green pepper, pineapple. Just killer.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Lol wow I can't imagine eating a whole pizza in one sitting. If I'm starving, I might eat half a large.

 

[Muse]

Lol wow I can't imagine eating a whole pizza in one sitting. If I'm starving, I might eat half a large.

My pizzas aren't all that big. Eating a whole one does not leave me feeling stuffed by any means. I have several professional pizza pans purchased at a restaurant supply (aluminum). The ones I made 2 weekends ago were on the smallest of those pans. I'm guesstimating it at about 14" outside diameter. The pizza itself was maybe around 12.5" diameter when done. I cook pizzas in a hot oven turned up full blast. Probably reaches 500F or so.

 

[feralkid]

The point of a microwave is speed and being able to cook inside out.

That's a myth.

 

[Scarpozzi]

My parents had the same microwave for 30 years....it was in the house before I was. I eventually broke down and purchased them a Sharp Carousel because my dad had repaired the magnetron on the old one a few times. in the last 15 years, I think they're on their 3rd replacement. Things just don't last...

I'm always concerned about how safe microwaves are and assume that many 'leak'. The one that came with our house is an above-range model. It often arcs between the bottom and the door. Most importantly, it's at head-level and I can sense when it's on. I know they're still pretty safe...just stating that I don't like standing near them when they're in operation.

I prefer not to use a microwave unless I'm reheating leftovers. When I was in college, I did just about everything on a stove top....I didn't have an oven so I even resorted to tossing frozen chicken nuggets in a skillet and heating them that way. It's amazing the difference in food texture, opportunity to season and build flavor when you don't nuke things. I have a gas range these days, so it typically just takes a few more minutes.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I don't give a crap about any of this microwave nonsense, I just hope Chef Magnus will divulge some secrets so I can impress my wife in the kitchen!

 

[Linflas]

Yes you can if you can't wait.
But go ahead and look it up if you don't believe me.
I've been using a radarrange since it was called one.
And my taste buds are the final judge. I hardly used the RR for anything until I tried an inverter oven at the advice of a friend. And I'm glad I did.

Ahh the RadarRange. My father worked for Raytheon when they owned Amana, when we moved into a new house in 1968 we had brand new Avocado Green Amana appliances compliments of the employee purchase program but oddly enough no RadarRange.

 

[Muse]

That's a myth.

My impression, correct me if I'm wrong, is that a MW oven does heat the interior some but heats the exterior at a faster rate. In that way it is like a convection oven but a convection oven is strictly outside to inside while a MW does heat the interior at the same time, just not as fast as the exterior. Right?

 

[Muse]

I know they're still pretty safe...just stating that I don't like standing near them when they're in operation.

AFAIK, there are two radiation issues with MW ovens:

1. Possible leakage of MW radiation. Undoubtedly much rarer now, but workers in high use situations used to suffer some serious affects, I heard. Hair falling out, for instance.

2. EMF radiation, measured in milli-gauss. I measured that a couple of days ago coming from the one I'm using temporarily now until my new one comes (I have a sensor). It's pretty typical at around 2 milli-gauss at about 3 feet from the device. It falls off by the inverse square of the distance. 2 milli-gauss over protracted periods is considered the threshold of where it's safe. Getting 5-6 milli-gauss isn't going to affect you but if you are exposed to that for long periods of time it conceivably could. There have been a lot of studies. I wouldn't want to live in a house under high voltage power lines, which can expose you to pretty high levels, and of course for protracted periods. It's worse for growing kids, it affects them a lot more.

... we had brand new Avocado Green Amana appliances compliments of the employee purchase program but oddly enough no RadarRange.

I have an Amana refrigerator/freezer combo. Amana used to (I think still does) make the most delicious bacon! We used to get it shipped to us in big unsliced slabs.

 

[WilliamM2]

Yes even at a 40% power level to defrost you're getting micro hotspots from the 1200W when only 480W CW is needed.

Defrosting works fine, without cooking anything if you hava an inverter micrwave. Panasonic makes them, not sure if anyone else does. I only buy Panasonic for this reason.