Countertop Microwave


 
LMichaels

LMichaels

TVWBB 2-Star Olympian
So our old Panasonic has been groaning and protesting making very strange sounds when started. So we decided before it did something really bad time to replace it. We've got too many countertop appliances so while shopping I see this https://www.costco.com/panasonic-13-cu-ft-4-in-1-countertop-microwave.product.4000291051.html
It's not a cheapo. $249 at Costco, but pricing the same unit elsewhere it's $500. So we decided to give this a try as it replaces up to 3 appliances. A bit complicated but it can air fry, broil, bake, roast, microwave. Crazy the stuff it can do.
Now I have to figure out best way to dispose of old one
 
I'm afraid that when my $70 Magic Chef microwave goes out my wife is going to insist we get a KitchenAid one because all of our other kitchen appliances are now that brand. I'm still not over the price of the dishwasher I installed a week ago. I admit that it's a lot nicer than the still functional Frigidaire unit that I had prior, but ouch. I'm also getting ready to install a KitchenAid aid cooktop in place of the 30 year old Jenn Aire unit that also still works but is quite ugly at this point. I'm just trying to keep her happy. Anyway, that looks like a really nice microwave Larry. As far as getting rid of the old one, I always put stuff like that out for the scrappers and they always take it on garbage day.
 
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Steve Hoch said:
I'm afraid that when my $70 Magic Chef microwave goes out my wife is going to insist we get a KitchenAid one because all of our other kitchen appliances are now that brand.
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I have a KitchenAid microwave and I cannot recommend it. I bought it new in 2017 when I replaced all of my appliances. This one had a controller board fail. Whirlpool did not have a replacement part for it and told me I was out of luck.

I found a replacement board on eBay and it worked. I should have bought more than one because the the replacement board failed about 18 months later. I decided to suck it up and keep matching appliance brand because it is mounted in a cabinet right next to my double wall oven and I wanted to keep the look consistent. so far it is still working, but if it dies I will get a Panasonic.

Oh, the KA even with my "insider discount" was still over priced compared to a Panasonic.
 
DanHoo said:
Oh, the KA even with my "insider discount" was still over priced compared to a Panasonic.
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I know you're definitely paying a premium for the Kitchen Aid name over even the premium whirlpool equivalent. I've always been pretty happy with Whirlpool stuff though which is why I let my wife lead me down that path. She doesn't know that KitchenAid are just fancier Whirlpool appliances. We'll see what happens when this microwave goes out and I try and buy another Magic Chef, which I've been extremely happy with by the way.
 
Only issue on the MWave is Whirlpool is not making them or even engineering them. They're simply hiring out some trash Chinese company to make them with the name on them. Very dumb mistake on their part
 
LMichaels said:
Only issue on the MWave is Whirlpool is not making them or even engineering them. They're simply hiring out some trash Chinese company to make them with the name on them. Very dumb mistake on their part
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So true, most microwave ovens are manufactured by a couple of Chinese companies and then various names brands are slapped on them. That's why I've never been a brand snob on those.
 
LMichaels said:
Only issue on the MWave is Whirlpool is not making them or even engineering them. They're simply hiring out some trash Chinese company to make them with the name on them. Very dumb mistake on their part
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Yeah all the Whirlpool and KA are manufactured by Midea, and I believe many if not all GE microwaves are also made by Midea.
 
GE home appliance division is now owned by Haier and all their appliances are Haier. Don't know about their microwaves.
 
I had my first house built it 2010. I bought all GE appliances throughout the house. Every one of them has been replaced. I Guess thats typical but still ridiculous imo. Sadly I'll probably have to replace them all again before I sell that house 9 years from now.
 
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Good luck with your purchase; that looks like a nice unit. And it reminds me that I have one that I should put on Marketplace or elsewhere. It is a long story but I bought 2 at the same time two years ago.

One is a Panasonic with this display:
1737640516399.png

The other is a GE with this display:
1737640538073.png

My dislike about the Panasonic controls is the thumbwheel; it is like spinning to find my birth year. My like about the GE control is having buttons to take me to categories. My dislike about the GE display is that I need to bend down to see the top of the display (ours rests on a counter).

I have a log of 20 cooks between the two units. nearly all of my GE logs show that--for my non-scientific test--it worked perfectly. The majority of my Panasonic cooks were less than perfect.

I don't say any of that to start a debate and I emphasize it is based on my simple test approaches.

If I recall correctly, @timothy is the one who recommended the GE.
 
Actually I did not buy it because of the wheel. I actually liked the interface of our original Panasonic. Simple, clean to the point. Want to heat something for 30 seconds? Simple push 3 0 start. IDK why other companies insist on trying to second guess the intent of the operator. To where I have to read a manual to reheat a cup of coffee.
As for spinning the wheel.....................I don't find this one to be laborious at all. For a simple reheat, push microwave, turn dial to 30 sec and start EZPZ Yeah it's different but it's intuitive. I don't have to RTFM to reheat my coffee. Even my wife (VERY tech challenged), used it last night without even glancing at the instructions. If she can do it ANYONE can do it :D
 
BFletcher said:
If I recall correctly, @timothy is the one who recommended the GE.
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IDRC if that was me but I did have a GE over the range combo hood/MW.
Went with just a hood and use a Toshiba Invertor in a cabinet.
It does have a dial or you can push it for 30 sec bursts.
 
Well I've not tried any of the ancillary functions yet. But I have used it for microwave sensor cooking of veggies (frozen broccoli and green beans) and a couple other things. It's very quiet. Noticed that right off. Love the SS interior and how well it's lighted inside. Because of more functions it's not quite as intuitive to me as the old one (though to be fair I'd been living with that one for well over 10 years), but the menus are MUCH easier to use, and put to use by simply choosing a function with the button(s) and setting it with the dial. The LED menu pretty much walks you right through without needing to reference the owner's manual. So, I'd say "definite keeper", I'm only still torn on giving up our air fryer/toaster oven. (the Ninja Foodie)
 
We had a similar model a few years ago when we went through an attempted downsize into a rental home. I really liked it and loved that I could make quick toasted bread for my sandwiches and the kids could use the air fryer function (which is really just a small convection oven) to make frozen items like pizzas, chicken nugs, and french fries. I was pretty impressed with the functionality, especially the sensor cooking. I guess it can sense the amount of steam coming from the food to properly cook it, but unlike old models it has a power range that is actually accurate as opposed to the old tech of just "pulsing" full power for the lower power cooks.
 
Yes, one thing Panasonic is known for is actually doing power reduction rather than simply pulsing it. One reason is it's the only M/Wave I will buy. The other is it's intuitive to operate and unlike about every other brand doesn't try to "bully" me into trying to outsmart me
 
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