Kenmore Microwave Hood Combination Or Also Known As Living In The Lap of Luxury
Written: Jun 13 '01 (Updated Jun 16 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Nice Smooth features and easy cleanup.
Cons: Being mounted over your stovetop creates excess heat and steam.
The Bottom Line: Kenmore does it again. I'm extremely pleased with this appliance and highly recommend it.
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| fostrmom2mny's Full Review: Kenmore Elite Over the Range Microwave Oven Hood C... |
Two years ago this summer, we remodeled our kitchen. We have such a small space that we knew we needed to utilize every square inch that was possible. At the time, I owned a larger type microwave that took up one entire counter top. I needed an alternative to the microwave Mongol that we had.
We felt a microwave hood combination was the best option for us. It would give me the luxury of a microwave without loosing precious space. We took our time shopping around and considered several different brands.
Knowing the reliability and performance of the Kenmore brand led me to check it out before I made my final decision.
The Kenmore Microwave Hood Combination Model # 68610/1/2 has a beautiful clean, smooth look about it. The front is pretty much smooth across it, including the smooth push pad control panel. It has a display, which includes s clock, and indicators that tell you the time of day, cooking time settings, and cooking functions that you have chosen. It has a handle that goes from the top of the microwave to the bottom located on the right side front of the oven.
It has specific touch pads for popcorn, beverage, baked potato, frozen vegetable, frozen entrée, hold warm (which is a feature that is to keep foods hot. For up to 99 minutes, 99 seconds. It can be used by itself or as a follow up to other cooking cycles). It also has an automatic cook touch pad button, auto defrost, auto reheat, add one minute, clock, kitchen timer, cook time, power, turntable on/off, start/enter, off/cancel, exhaust fan high/low/off, Light on/night/off. These are as I stated each a touch pad setting button, which makes it very easy to use.
This microwave has both a turntable as well as a cooking rack. The turntable is tempered glass and sits in a groove at the bottom of the oven. It rests on a plastic ring, which easily comes out for cleaning. The cooking rack is mounted in the center of the oven and can be used when you more than one container to cook. It is also easily removed.
The light that is underneath the oven is a nice feature that helps illuminate food that are being cooked on your stovetop. The light has three settings. On is the brightest setting, night which is for use at night when you don’t want to illuminate so bright as to wake someone, then the off button. I have found that the display at night illuminates the stove top and even spills out into the floor area, which makes walking in the kitchen at night more safe and keeps the need for turning on your light switch unnecessary.
The exhaust fan has a setting for high speed, low, and off. To regulate the different speeds you push the touch pad once for high speed, twice for low speed, then again to turn it back off. Even though this exhaust fan is part of a microwave, I have found it very efficient at removing smokes odors and it helps to circulate the heat from the stovetop. We have an in house heat detector/smoke detector. I am terrible at cooking grill cheese sandwiches. Before we bought this microwave Hood combination, the smoke alarm would go off every time that I made grill cheese sandwiches. It’s never gone off a single time in the two years that we have had this. I just make certain that I turn the fan on at the beginning of my cooking.
Here are a few things that you need to take into consideration when choosing this microwave hood combination. The space where the oven will go needs to have 2”X4” wood studding and 3/8” thickness of wall. There must be enough support to hold up 150 pounds for the oven plus the weight of the food being cooked. It needs a minimum of 30” wide opening, and a 13 ½” clearance between the bottom of the microwave hood and the cook top of your stove. It must also have the access to a grounded electrical outlet.
The 13 ½” clearance from the microwave hood and the cooking surface is a minimum measurement. We actually opted for 20” clearance. I’m glad that we did because when I’m using both my stovetop and microwave, the steam from the stovetop gathers on the microwave. I can’t imagine how much steam would gather if it were any closer than the clearance that we have with ours.
The electrical requirement for the microwave hood combo is a 120-volt, 60 Hz, AC only, 15 or 20 amp fuse. It also recommends having an outlet and separate circuit to serve this appliance alone.
It comes with a one-year warrantee on the microwave oven hood combo. You can also purchase an extended warrantee for approx. $79 more a year.
I really like my MH/Combo and it has gotten much use since it was installed. It is easy to keep clean, and use. I’ve never had any maintenance problems with it, or any problems of any kind.
I would like to add though that I have often considered the fact that the microwave is head level for me, and when I am cooking on my stove top as well as using the microwave, I have wondered about the effects of the microwaves being harmful to my health. The booklet indicates that as long as the door is closed and sealed, nothing harmful is escaping.
I also have concern for my kids using the microwave when I’m using the stovetop since the steam from the stovetop travels upward and steam gathers on the microwave making it hot to the touch. Since they are shorter and have shorter arms, they are at greater risk of injury from food that is being cooked on my stove when they reach for the handle of the microwave. I also have shown them the correct way to open the door without hanging on it. Hanging on the door could cause the hinges to become sprained and then it wouldn't seal correctly. I simply do not allow my kids to use the microwave if I am using the stove.
UPDATE: Here it is Jan 1, 2003 and my microwave has lasted yet another year of use. It still looks as new as it did when we purchased it, and works like new as well. There have been no problems, no repairs and it still does a great job! This was worth every penny we spent on the purchase of this microwave!
Have a wonderful New Year!
UPDATE: It is June 2007, and we continue to use our microwave on a daily basis. It get's much more use than before because all of our kids are in their teens and busy running here and there. We still have had no repair issues, and no broken parts. We made a great choice in this microwave. I highly recommend this to others.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
fostrmom2mny
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Member: Gerri Mullendore
Location: Choctaw, OK
Reviews written: 84
Trusted by: 49 members
About Me:
I'm a foster mom for children with disabilities. I'm a PROUD American!
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