In November 1999, just before Thanksgiving, I purchased a Panasonic full size microwave oven (model NN-L829BA) from my local Wal-Mart Supercenter. It is a 1.7 cubic foot, 1100-watt oven with a built-in turntable.

The reason I purchased this microwave was because I had always wanted to buy one, but never got around to purchasing one. I also bought it because I had purchased other Panasonic products in the past (mainly CD players and other stereo equipment) and had good luck with them, so choosing a Panasonic microwave was really the only logical choice.

This particular microwave is loaded with features, so let me go over them in detail:

1. Popcorn Function

Like most microwaves sold today, this microwave has a popcorn button. There are three different settings based on the weight of the microwave popcorn bag--3.5 oz. (standard size), 3.0 oz., and 1.75 oz. For other odd sized bags, the manual recommends that you follow the directions on the package.

2. Auto Cook

The Auto Cook feature consists of pre-programmed settings for different foods, like frozen pizzas, bacon, frozen dinners and entrees, etc. Based on the serving size or weight of a particular food item, you press buttons on the keypad to get the desired serving size or weight.

3. Auto Reheat

The Auto Reheat feature allows you to prepare one to four servings of either room temperature or refrigerated food without setting power levels or time duration. In order to use this feature, the food must be previously cooked.

4. Turbo Defrost

The Turbo Defrost feature allows you to defrost meat, poultry and seafood by weight without setting time. You can defrost items like crabmeat, fish steaks, sea scallops, ground beef, ribs, T-bone steaks, sliced bacon, whole chicken, chicken cutlets, Cornish hens and turkey breast. The manual even includes a chart listing the appropriate defrosting times for different meats, seafood and poultry and even tells what to do both during and after defrosting.

5. Timer Settings

This microwave has both a clock and a timer, and timer has three important features: as an ordinary kitchen timer, as a way to set stand time when foods finish cooking, and the ability to delay the start of cooking.

The manual included with this microwave is very informative, and includes all sorts of tips and techniques to maximize enjoyment of this microwave oven. There are tips on what types of cookware and utensils work best with this microwave, a chart describing the function of each button on the keypad, and even includes cooking tips and techniques for different foods to achieve the best results. There is also a chart listing different shortcuts for preparing different foods, like separating slices of bacon, softening brown sugar, melting chocolate, browning ground beef, and so on.

All in all, I really like this microwave. I don't profess to be a cooking expert, but this microwave certainly makes cooking less of a hassle.



Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 129.96