cute little microwave, nice features......except for the door
Written: Jun 12 '01
Product Rating:
Ease of Use:
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Style:
Pros: 1-800 customer service #, special defrost and safety features, nice looking
Cons: door latch
The Bottom Line: With features that I actually use, and a easy-to-clean removable turntable, I think it is great for small families, or a single person - would be great in a dorm!
pansy4agirl's Full Review: Sharp R-230 800 Watts Microwave Oven
I have had the Model R230B for about 8 months, having gone from a much larger (older) Amana, without a turntable or timer, so I thought this would be a good model.
If you asked my husband, he would say the reason we got this one was because it has a "Popcorn" button - and it does a good job of popping the microwave popcorns on the market. (Our personal favorite brand is WalMart's PopWeaver) I like that there are hardly any unpopped kernels. On the more expensive popcorns, you might expect that anyway, but hey, we're cheap, and on this popcorn (which does taste good, forgive me) it is nice that there are hardly any either.
I have used the Defrost functions quite often, partly because I do not plan my day so well and often come home at 4:45, without any meat ready for supper! This particular microwave has a choice of defrost modes, for whichever situation you are in.
Features
For example - suppose you have a frozen three pound steak - you touch the button for "compu-frost", then pick the food on the "list" - steaks and chops are #2 - enter the weight, then Start. It's that easy.
The oven will automatically stop before the cycle is finished, so you can check on it, and turn the meat, then touch Start again, and the cycle finishes.
I especially like this feature, because on my other microwave, if I tried defrosting any large pieces of meat, some parts would actually start cooking, while other parts would still be frozen solid!
There are also several "instant start" buttons, so you can reheat or cook lots of items, without wondering how long they should be set for.....for example "baked potato", "popcorn", even "dinner plate" - where you can have a plate (maybe of leftovers) and it will heat all the items, as if it "knows" which ones to heat more, not burning things like peas or mashed potatoes.
As on my former microwave, this one has Multiple Sequence Cooking - but it is quite an improvement over the Amana (not saying anything negative about the Amana, but it was almost 12 years old). This oven has up to 3 sequential levels, and it will switch from one to the other automatically.
In other words, you might be slow cooking something first, then cooking it on high power, then simmering it til you are ready to serve.
This microwave comes with 11 preset power levels, from 10% power to 100% power, giving me much more control than I had before, with only 3 levels.
Another really nice feature is the "More or Less" Adjustment - two buttons, that when clicked either take the power level up or down, therefore, the Defrost or Cook settings are set to be a little bit "more" or "less" done.
There is a safety feature that was missing on my former oven, and I like it alot, now having a young grandchild always wanting to "help" grandma. You can lock the settings on the microwave, so that touching the keypad will have no effect on what you are cooking.
Price
We purchased this particular microwave at Walmart, for $84.00. It is black, compact, outside dimensions are approx. 12 x 17 inches, inside dimensions 12W x 8H x 15D (in inches), with a see-thru black window, a light that stays on while cooking, a removable turntable, easy to set clock, hinged doors, and latches that prevent operation unless the door is closed securely.
which leads to the one thing I do NOT particularly like...
Problems?
the door swings all the way open - to the left, parallel to the front of the oven. Swinging it shut will NOT latch the door, and it will swing open again. You have to manually "press" the door closed at the latch, for it to hold.
This is not such a big problem, but if carrying something very hot, or clumsy, in both hands with hotpads for example, it is not possible to just swing the door closed with an elbow. And using the amount of muscle it would require to do so, would risk spilling the item you are holding.
(Just a "caveat emptor") -
Overall, I think the microwave has been a great addition to my kitchen, and I like the way it looks. I do not have a cart, and this one is small enough not to take up too much space on my counter.
Auto-Touch Controls are precise and easy to use. The Digital Display is accurate and easy to read. Four Defrost Options to quickly defrost meats and p...More at AJ Madison
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