Consider the General Electric SpacemakerXL Microwave Oven JVM1440: UPDATE
Written: Jan 26 '02 (Updated Jan 18 '06)
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Pros: Lots of features and easy to clean.
Cons: You have to be taught or read the booklet to know how to use it.
The Bottom Line: If you are on this computer you can use this great priced, terrific microwave with wonderful features.
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| jo.com's Full Review: General Electric JVM1440 950 Watts Microwave Oven |
As of 1/2006, this microwave is alive and as good as it was the day I wrote this.
My mother has the General Electric SpacemakerXL Microwave Oven (JVM1440). I spend a couple of week in Florida a year and never felt comfortable writing a review on a microwave I didn’t own until now. The reason I feel comfortable now is that I recently got back from 2 weeks in a row using the microwave a lot. The last time I used it I said to myself “I love this microwave.” That is when I decided to write a review on it.
Features:
This microwave, although only $294 does so much. It does much more than my mom needs or uses but I loved using all the features. I won’t go into every single one, but I’ll pick out the ones I liked the most, especially those I don’t have on my microwave (I reviewed the Whirlpool Microwave Hood Combination).
Time features – With this microwave you can cook by time, temperature or with what they call convenience features. Let’s look at the time features first.
1. They include Time Cook I and II. Time Cook I is your regular feature where you just press time cook, the power level and start; but Time Cook II is so handy and one I used so often. On many frozen foods, it will say “cook on high for 4 minutes and then cook on medium for 3" (sometimes it says to stir but I never do!). Rather than doing that in 2 steps this feature allows you to plug in both times and after the 4 minutes it will change times and power levels.
2. Express Cooking. This is like the quick start on a treadmill. Rather than having to push cook, then putting in the time, you just press 1 of 6 express cook touch pads and that is how long your food will cook for. If you want your soup heated for 2 minutes just hit express cook 2!
3. Add 30 seconds. This feature is used to add 30 seconds to the time counting down and you can press it as many times as you want (Many times I have put something in the microwave and looked at it and it doesn’t look like it is boiling – let’s just say water- so you can hit 30 seconds and it will keep heating.) You can also use it if you want to cook something (butter is a good example) for a short time – for 30 seconds!
Convenience Features:
1. This is the one that made me say, “I love this microwave oven.” It is the Popcorn pad. If you hit popcorn it will start heating it right away. (This is for bagged popcorn made for a microwave only.) But it also pops according to the size of the bag so no guessing is required! If the bag is 3.5 oz., you press the popcorn pad once; if it is 3 oz., press it twice and 1.75 oz., press it 3 times. This feature also allows you to add extra time – you hit the #9 pad for an extra 20 seconds and you can press 9 again to add another 10 seconds. You can do this 3 times. The opposite can happen also with the express cook pad that has a 1 on it and it will subtract time. I found that the brand of popcorn I was using responded perfectly and I didn’t have to add or subtract, but some brands may need more or less.
2. There is a Beverage Feature so you can press the pads to heat 1-3 servings of any beverage. If you are heating 3 cups of water, you hit the 3 pad which says express cook pad that says #3.
3. The Reheat Feature works exactly like the popcorn feature so you can heat 3 dishes at a time easily and well.
4. The Defrost Auto/Time Feature: If you use the auto feature the defrosting time and power level will be set when you enter how much the food weighs and this can be in ounces or even tenths of a pound and is best used for meats, poultry and fish. Or you can use the Time Defrost feature, which is self-explanatory.
Other features:
1. This microwave displays “food is ready” and beeps once a minute until you either open the door or press clear/off. Mine keeps beeping also, but there is no display!
2. My mom’s microwave has a turntable. I know many do, but mine doesn’t so I think it is a nice feature to have.
3. Lights: You can either have a bright light or night light option, again one I have on my microwave also.
Cleaning the microwave:
This is a flat surfaced microwave so it is simple to just wipe down the outside of it. The inside is as easy to clean as the outside. The turntable easily comes off to be washed and can be washed in the dishwasher.
I looked closely at this microwave when I knew I was going to review it because of the vents. On my microwave I have a lot of vents on the top and they collect dirt. It is very difficult to clean. The design on the GE is much better with fewer vents that are placed so that they are easier to clean and/or just don’t collect as much dirt. In any case, this is really a very easy microwave to clean and keep clean.
Other information:
~The booklet that comes with this microwave is fairly easy to follow. My mom is 72, doesn’t have a computer and I think I was able to teach her how to dial 911 on the cell phone that was in a drawer when I was there! This booklet would be too complicated for her but it gives specific and for most people easy to follow directions as well as all sorts of cooking guides. Needless to say she doesn't use the features - other than cook. I put down that the microwave is very easy to use because not everyone can use it since you have to learn how first.
~The GE answer center is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
~GE offers Braille controls for many of their products and a brochure to assist in planning a barrier-free kitchen for people with limited mobility. The number to call if you want a brochure is 1800-626-2000 or 1-800-TDD-GEAC (833-4322).
~There is a one-year warranty that will provide you, free of charge, parts and service labor in your home to “repair or replace any part of the microwave oven that fails because of a manufacturing defect.” There is also a limited additional 9-year warranty for a free magnetron tube if that fails, although you will have to pay for the service trip and service labor charges. “Service trips to your home to teach you how to use the product is not covered.”
~My mom has had this microwave for about 2 1/2 years. She bought it when she bought her condo and has had no problems with it and has never needed service on it.
~The dimensions are: 16-1/2x14-5/16 x 29-7/8
~It comes in white on white or black on black. My mom has a white one.
In conclusion:
This is a wonderful microwave for people who cook a lot or don’t and like the conveniences and options of easy frozen food cooking. I highly recommend it. The price really amazed me. My mom didn’t know how much it was. Epinions has it at $294. The website, which has great information on recalls and buying appliances is www.geappliances.com has this at $299.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 294
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