Pros: I love the Custom Help - basic custom changes and a child lock.
Cons: Makes a few funny little noices once in a while when the turntable is turning.
The Bottom Line: From my first Sharp Carousel about thirty years ago to the new one I recently bought, Sharp Carousel is a trusted name in our family. Durable and easy to use.
When the manufacturer suggested not using harsh chemicals or abrasives it seems I should have listened. During the time I had my Panasonic microwave I would often give it a quick squirt with an all purpose cleanser and wipe it out with a sponge. The finish began wearing off, leaving small nicks, that eventually peeled and rusted. Then the inevitable happened!
I nuked some food for my 2-year old granddaughter in the microwave. The sparks began to fly - making quite the fireworks display. Though my granddaughter had enjoyed the show I wasn't ready for a repeat performance. It was my own fault this had happened and I don't have a bad word to say about the Panasonic microwave.
My first microwave was a Sharp Carousel. I was young, married but had no children yet. (Yes, this was a long time ago but nothing near prehistoric times.) Neither the stove nor oven worked in the rental house we lived in. To my knowledge, no other microwave had the turntable yet, except for the Sharp Carousel. I really enjoyed the turntable. The Sharp Carousel worked very well. The first one lasted several years. When I did replace the Sharp Carousel I did so because I needed a larger microwave and not because it didn't work. I replaced it with another Sharp Carousel. The Panasonic had been bought because at the time the only Sharp Carousel in town was big enough for a finger sandwich but nothing more.
After I had my firework show I headed to the different stores in Huron, South Dakota to look for a Sharp Carousel. The brand served us well for a good many years.
Living in a small town has its advantages however; shopping is not one of them. We looked in Kmart, Walmart and Lewis Drug Store. Lewis is kind of a neat place. It is usually where we end up when we can't find it elsewhere. But, not this time. Walmart is a joke in Huron. Kmart was here when we first moved to Huron. Shortly thereafter a Walmart was built. We were excited when Walmart opened but the honeymoon didn't last long. Many people have ended up back at Kmart because Walmart in their immense wisdom put in the smallest store they had. Every time you go to purchase something they don't have it or have quit carrying it.
We finally found a Sharp Carousel R-530EW (W for white, S for stainless, and K for black,) at Karl's in Huron, South Dakota. We paid around to $300 for the microwave. It was the size I was looking for but not the wattage. The output power my Panasonic microwave produced was a 1500. The output power on the Sharp Carousel R-530EW is only 1200. The oven capacity is 2.0 cubic feet quite comparable to the Panasonic. The weight of the Sharp Carousel is 46 pounds again comparable to the Panasonic. The turntable diameter is 16 inches a nice size for things you would normally cook in a microwave oven. I can easily put five good size potatoes around the outer edge of the microwave with plenty of space in between each potato.
The warranty is pretty normal for these days, one year parts and labor. There is an additional four years on the magnetron tube. But, only the magnetron tube - the labor is not included.
This is the first Sharp Carousel I have owned that the turntable is easy to place in the microwave. The previous microwaves it was a pain to line the turntable with the microwave. The turntable rotates clockwise then changes to counter clockwise for even cooking. The oven is not to be used without the turntable. The control panel is easy to use and understand. It seems like each microwave is set up differently in that regard. You get use to one and they change it on you.
A neat feature that I rarely use is sensor cooking. In fact, I rarely use any of the really neat features. I toss something in. Put in the appropriate time according to my infinite wisdom and push start. I have used each of the features however, all the extra features just seems unnecessary to me. My first microwave had a timer, a dial with low, medium, and high and a start. This is fine by me. You have a choice between the fancy options or plain old manual cooking.
The sensor cooking option detects moisture or vapor. During the beginning of this cycle the name of the food appears on the display. The microwave cannot be stopped at this time the measurement of vapor will be the interrupted. When the name disappears from the pad, you can then open and stir or whatever, if necessary.
Another of these neat features is the six convenience pads. For example, there is a breakfast option. You start by pushing the breakfast pad, enter the number for corresponding food such as hot cereal. Hot cereal is number two. Then the number of servings is entered and then start is pushed. Instructions are given for additional information. One item may need covering while it sets for a minute. Others may need turning over midway through the cooking cycle. In this case the microwave will stop and display this instruction. Also included on the convenience pad is 15 Minute Recipes and From the Pantry. This includes six recipes; saucy chicken, Hawaiian pork, fiesta chili, glazed salmon, and healthy frittata. All six are quite good and serves six people. From the Pantry is similar but requires more preparation work. The six recipes include, beef wraps, Mexican chicken, Italian salad, tuna macaroni, and garden medley.
The defrost center is something that had to be invented just for me. I am an artist with my head in the clouds and notorious about forgetting things. My memory isn't bad it is just a bit short. I write and also paint my own illustrations. I frequently forget to get something out for dinner. I also like to go out for dinner. If I forget to get something out, my husband will often say, let's go out or let's pick something up. This doesn't always work though. We usually buy a quarter beef to stock our freezer. We both hate shopping so we get it done in one big shopping trip. I have a beef tongue - I know - it's gross. However, this is always a great ploy to get to go out for dinner. Husband will ask, "What are we having for dinner".
I will answer with a sweet smile, "Beef tongue honey!"
"I have a good idea," husband says, "Let's go out for dinner."
"Sure," I answer as I slip the same old beef tongue back in the freezer.
Anyway, the Defrost Center automatically defrosts all food on the chart. For example, one pound of boneless poultry - touch the defrost center pad once select number two to select boneless poultry and press start. The Compu Defrost is a bit different in that you select the correct number for the food but you are also entering the weight of the food.
I like the beverage center. You can reheat coffee or heat up water for tea or coffee. I drink a lot of green tea and coffee. The green tea I drink because I have had cancer several times since the age of 23, and not just one type of cancer. I drink coffee because I love coffee. It saves money to drip brew the coffee, turn off the hot plate, and just warm up the coffee when you are ready for it. You don't get that taste the coffee has after it sits for a couple hours on the hot plate.
A feature that my husband loves is the Keep Warm Plus. He cooks the fish in the family. In fact, he can cook fish and keep it from falling apart when he takes it out of the pan. Mine always crumbles into little pieces. But, when he cooks fish he cooks a LOT of fish. He wants leftovers for "snacks." As he cooks pan load after pan load he puts the cooked fish in the microwave and it can be kept hot for up to thirty minutes. The Keep Warm Plus is selected, enter the time you wish up to thirty minutes and then push start. It really works well. ( I catch the fish in the family :)
One more feature will worth mentioning is the Custom Help. It is quite simple to use. I feel it is worth mentioning, because my two-year old granddaughter is the perfect height to open and possibly turn on the microwave. When Custom Help is selected, you will be offered four different options. The first is Child Lock. When this option is picked press one and the Child Lock is on. To turn it off again simply go back to the Custom Help, select the number one, and it is off again. When the child lock is on the microwave cannot be turned on. It does not keep the microwave from being opened. I find duct tape quite useful for this. A two inch strip on the top of the microwave holds the door closed. No more blankets, dishes with pretend food, or my metal frying pans in the microwave.
The additional three features in the Help Center are sound, auto start, and changing the language to Spanish, French, or English.
I am not using harsh chemicals on the new microwave. I am a freak about clean sponges, so I soak the sponge with lemon juice and nuke it for about 20 seconds. Then I simply wipe the inside of the microwave with a piece of paper towel or the same sponge. Any baked on grim was loosened by the lemon juice vapor. Though I liked the Panasonic - I love the Sharp Carousel R-530EW.
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