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Sharp R-520LW Full Size Countertop Micro
From Sharp

The R520LW microwave oven includes nine convenient Smart & Easy® sensor settings and 1200 watts of cooking power. A 16-inch diameter turntable allows for large casserole dishes.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #60154 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Brand: Sharp
• Model: R-520LW
• Dimensions: 31.00" h x 39.00" w x 18.00" l, 46.00 pounds

Powerful microwave with large interior space
We have had microwave for over a month now. No problems yet. We use it on average 5-10 times a day, and it has been easy for everyone to learn how to use. The last one we had was also a Sharp that lasted a very long time.

Pleased so far
We purchased this microwave to replace a very similar Sharp that we had for eight or ten years. It had begun malfunctioning by randomly stopping and by sometimes starting when the door was shut forcefully.

We use our microwave primarily for timed cooking and for reheating, and this oven is doing a fine job for those purposes. I have also used the sensor cooking successfully for chicken breasts.

I have not noticed that it is noisy as I believe some have complained, and I have no trouble hearing the end-of-cooking signal from several rooms away. We are totally satisfied with this microwave so far.

Good overall value
Bought this microwave to replace a 10 year old Panasonic that died. Works well so far. Chose the Sharp after reading several reviews. Seemed to have the best rating for moderate priced units.

   

RCA RMW1199 1.1-Cu-Ft Grill Combination 1000-Watt Microwave, Stainless Steel
From RCA

RCA RMW1199 1.1 cubic-foot stainless steel grill combination microwave, grill function, stainless steel cabinet, 1000 watts, advanced shuttle control, includes grill racks, 10 power levels, end cooking signal, glass turntable, speed and weight defrost, cook by weight

• Amazon Sales Rank: #183959 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Brand: RCA
• Model: RMW1199
• Dimensions: 14.50" h x 19.50" w x 23.25" l,

With its 1.1-cubic-foot capacity, this 1000-watt microwave and grilling oven provides an array of convenient features. In addition to its grill function, the unit offers 10 power levels and an auto-cook menu that includes nine popular microwavable foods such as pizza, fish, chicken, potato, and popcorn. Cook by weight offers programmed cooking based on the weight of foods cooked, while defrost by weight offers programmed defrosting based on the weight of the foods to be defrosted. In addition, the unit's quick defrost function alternates defrost and stand times to quickly and effectively defrost food. The microwave also provides a removable, glass turntable for even heating and a menu-action screen that displays the cooking time, power, and present time. Other highlights include an end-of-cooking signal, a start/stop button, advanced shuttle control, a door safety lock system, a stainless-steel cabinet and cavity, and an attractive door handle. A grill rack and user manual come included. The microwave oven measures 21 by 18 by 13 inches and carries a one-year parts warranty and a three-month labor warranty.

Really good product so far...
This review of RCA RMW1199 1.1-Cu-Ft Grill Combination 1000-Watt Microwave is at this time pretty tentative, as this unit is new on the market, new to me and has no reviews so far. As I play with this unit a little longer, I will periodically upgrade my opinion.

For now:
The closest to compare it with I could find are: GE JES1384SF Microwave (rated so-so), Haier MWG10018TW (bad reviews all over), SHARP R-55TS (little data to compare) and Emerson 1.1 cu. ft. Microwave Oven, 1,000-Watt, sold by Walmart (poor reviews). Emerson is priced cheaply and made accordingly. All other models, even the ones with poor ratings, are priced much higher than RCA. So we score on the price.

I next compared it to my old Goldstar (it was good till it lasted) of the same size and (presumably) power, which died recently after over 15 years. This new RCA is much more powerful! It cooked in about 3 minutes what the old Goldstar would need to cook for about 5 minutes. Score again on the power.

This thing looks really nice, with clean geometrical lines, big window and brushed stainless steel finish. Score.

Grilling, cooking and care: The manual is very clear, it has step by step instructions with examples. Spanish and English versions are conveniently in separate brochures, so there is no flipping pages in search of "my" language. Setting up an option is very easy and as I use it more, I expect to have it all memorized in no time. Grilling went as I expected, a few minutes to crisp the outside of already hot (microwaved) meal. It would take at least 30 minutes (just to crisp) to accomplish the same using conventional oven. There was no difference in the taste! Cleaning is very easy, a few swipes of dump rag and a rinse of the tray if needed. As this unit is more powerful than I am used to, I already overcooked a few dishes and have good experience in cleaning it :) I say we score really big on the functionality of this unit.

My gripes:
I did expect this unit to be louder, due to its finish and extra grilling function. It is louder, but no more than I expected. Maybe less. It will be a distraction when talking on the phone right next to it, but not a few feet away. I suppose that the high end units are whisper quite, but for this price I cannot see a reason to complain. It is not bad at all.
I do not like the inside light in this oven. It seems dimmed and doesn't allow for much observation of the inside while in operation. The interior is white! The description here said it's stainless, but it is white. The interior finish has a few minor imperfections, but nothing to cry about. In total, my 'gripes' come down to one star deduction. I hope this is a fair grade.

I would like to point out two things, both are mentioned in the manual, but not stressed enough:
1. There is a table of what dishes can be used and it is very important to notice that metal dishes can be used only in grill function, while paper and plastic only in microwave function. For combined functions only oven quality glass or ceramic can be used. It is a safety issue and children can make a serious mistake if not trained properly. Paper and plastic plates will burst in flames under the grill, while any metal dishes will repel micro waves, also resulting in a possible fire.
2. It is really important to keep this type of oven clean; spills that shoot up and accumulate on the grill, if not wiped clean, will burn and the food cooked under it will smell bad. Imagine vanilla milk smelling like burned bacon :) I find it easier to clean it with a dump cloth when the grill is still well warm to the touch.

I will post an update as soon as I discover anything special, good or bad. Otherwise, I will update in several months to a year.
Happy cooking.

GFreat Microwave and grill
For the money a great looking and operating microwave. the grill feature is a not found on many other microwaves.

   

Panasonic NN-SD667S 1-1/5-Cubic-Foot 1300-Watt Microwave Oven, Stainless Steel
From Panasonic

1.2 cft, 1300 Watts of High Power, One-Touch Sensor Cooking/Reheat, Stainless Face, Pop-Out Dial for easy Programming, Keep Warm/More-Less Control, Popcorn Key, Multi-Lingual Menu Action Screen, Inverter Turbo Defrost, Quick Minute,

• Amazon Sales Rank: #86584 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Brand: Panasonic
• Model: NN-SD667S
• Released on: 2007-05-14
• Dimensions: 11.88" h x 20.38" w x 15.90" l, 26.00 pounds

Good looks and functionality
I have to confess that I did not buy this from Amazon, but rather from Costco. The model numbers are slightly different, but both have identical specifications. While I shop a lot at Amazon and have always been pleased with them, the Costco price was just too low to pass up!

But you probably want to know how the unit functions rather than where I bought it. In a word, it is a great microwave. I thought the Inverter Technology was just marketing hype, but it really does make a difference - food heats up more evenly, and defrosting is faster and easier. Unlike past microwaves I've owned, I don't have to stir foods midway through -- just press sensor reheat, and the Panny does all the work for you.

The control pad is easy to use, and the pop-out knob is a nice feature. I find knobs easier to use than a key pad, but hated having to clean them. This solves that problem - you have a knob to set time/weight, but it easily pops in so you can clean without any hard to reach crannies that trap dirt.

The unit looks very nice on the counter top. The top and sides are not, however, stainless. They are silver and look nice, but only the front has real stainless.

Lots of power (1300 watts) so food reheating is very quick. Has a rotating glass turntable. The inside is well designed both from a space standpoint as well as ease of cleaning. My only quibble is that the "done" chime is not very loud.

All in all, this is a very nice microwave, and I'd buy it again in a heartbeat.

All I can say is Wow!!
This is best microwave I have ever used!! I love how well it works so much, I specifically wanted to review it somewhere to sing its praises. Like other reviewers, I also thought the Inverter Technology would turn out to be marketing hype, but it really does make a difference. Food warms faster & more evenly and, the best feature, is that defrosting is one step. I am referring to the last microwave we had where it stopped 2-3 times during the defrost and wanted you to do things with the food, then start it again each time.

The control pad is easy to use and, although I was hesitant about the pop-out knob when I was choosing it, I have found it to be a very handy feature. I was comparing it to another Panasonic on the shelf that was bigger, which had buttons and, actually, slightly less wattage. Since we don't do large meals or multiple plates in the microwave, the smaller size combined with 1300 watts of power = food heating that is faster than the low estimate on the packaging. I believe, even if you do need to "nuke" multiple items, this microwave would be faster one-by-one than a bigger one would be with multiple items together.

The cons, although minor, are that the "done" chime is fairly quiet, the display isn't readable from my eye height (I'm 6'4" & have to stoop to read it) and, lastly, the Quick Min button doesn't automatically activate the cooking, as many of my previous microwaves did -- you have to hit Start afterwards. I mention them just to show that there is balance in the Universe ;)

The Cons are minor annoyances and the Pros far outweigh them. Even cooking, which has been tauted by microwave manufacturers since their inception, is finally here and I'd buy it again without hesitation.

Pro's, con's...overall satisfied
Pro's:
- aesthetically pleasing stainless steel front (top & sides are silver colored plastic but blend well);
- noticably stronger (quicker heating) than our previous 1000 watt Sanyo oven;
- small dimensional footprint fits our shallow counter;
- knob to set the length of microwaving time is a little different than most other microwave ovens but it's easy to use.

Con's:
- temporarily kills our 80211.g wireless network (Airport Express is about 12 feet away) when microwaving food and shortly afterwards wifi resumes on its own;
- the digital display is a little difficult to read because of the angle when you're in front of it setting cooking time, etc. unless your line of sight is at the same height as the screen.
- minor: wish the touch pad lit up for late night forages in the kitchen without having to turn on the kitchen lights.

Overall, we're satisfied with the oven, even with the cons. We'll try relocating our WAP farther away.

   

Sharp R-305KS 1-Cubic-Foot 1100-Watt Microwave Oven, Stainless
From Sharp

Sharp R-305KS 1100 Watts Stainless Silver Microwave

• Amazon Sales Rank: #657 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Color: Silver
• Brand: Sharp
• Model: R-305KS
• Dimensions: 12.25" h x 20.50" w x 17.75" l, 37.00 pounds

One of the BEST values in mid-sized MW ovens!
I conducted a good amount of research before deciding on this Sharp microwave oven. I wanted my new oven to meet the following important criteria and have the following features:

* a carousel and be able to fit a dinner plate
* at least 1000 watts of heating power (this has 1100) to heat food fast
* classy looking, compact stainless steel design
* name brand reputation for reliability
* around 100 dollars or so, give or take a little

I've had good luck with the Sharp brand. My previous microwave oven was also a Sharp unit, I had purchased way back in 1995. It was a full-size unit though, and I wanted to get something smaller, in stainless steel, since we recently re-did our kitchen in stainless steel. 'Luck would have it' that our old 1995 Sharp unit broke down shortly after we re-did our kitchen in late 2005, so I jumped at the opportunity to get another Sharp. The new R-305KS works flawlessly, and cooks even faster and more even than my older, larger unit! I must have reaped the benefits of improved microwave technology over the last 10 years or so that i've owned the older Sharp oven. All in all, a SUPERB VALUE and a SOLID PERFORMER!

Marilyn in San Jose
We love this microwave. It is great looking. It is powerful - all cooking times are less, which we have to get used to. It is roomy inside but compact - doesn't take up all of our limted counter space.

great - if this is what one needs. It is for me
I had another brand which did magnificently for 12 years. I couldn't find one similar in the same brand, so went to the Sharp. It is the size that a couple almost 80 years old can use best. We do little cooking in the microwave - more reheating coffee, or warming up food that has already been cooked on the stove. Oh, it does cook our oatmeal daily - generally 3 min at 50% power. Price was right, and shipping was included. Why not 5 stars? -- we prefer the door with a handle like our previous microwave had. For those who prefer "push" over "pull" - it is a 5 star.Sharp R-305KS 1-Cubic-Foot 1100-Watt Microwave Oven, Stainless

   

Iron Chef TNE03W Convection Oven with Rotisserie -White/Chrome
From Advent

Iron Chef TNE03W Whether you're in the mood for a light snack or a hearty meal, this Iron Chef oven will have you enjoying your food in no time--thanks to its automatic convection feature. The 1500W unit offers an electronic touch pad with LED indicators and three programmable keys to quickly prepare your favorite foods. Its preset function keys, multiposition grill rack, baking tray with broil rack, rotisserie, and pizza tray expand your culinary choices. Select from bake, broil, warmer, pizza, rotisserie, and toast functions.Measures 18-1/2" x 15" x 13-1/2".UL listed. 1-year LMW.White/Chrome.Made in China.

   

Cuisinart CPT-65 4 Slice Electronic Toaster
From Cuisinart

4-Slices of Perfect toast require the right touch. The Cuisinart® Total Touch 4-Slice Electronic toaster lets you toast everything from bagels to muffins thoroughly and evenly because it is not only wide enough, but it is also smart enough!

• Amazon Sales Rank: #306430 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Color: White
• Brand: Cuisinart
• Model: CPT-65
• Dimensions: 7.25" h x 14.62" w x 7.75" l, 5.12 pounds

This electronic appliance places 1,500 watts of toasting power at your fingertips while providing 21st-century flexibility. Its two 1-1/2-inch-wide slots accommodate four slices of thick bread or two sliced bagels or English muffins, and they're long enough (10 inches) to hold oversize homemade bread. The touch-control panel offers seven browning settings, from light to dark, and an electronic memory that automatically sets browning at your previous preference unless you change it. Other buttons permit defrosting, reheating without browning, special timing for bagel toasting, and the cancellation of all settings. To save energy and toasting time when only one slot is needed, there's a button that turns off the back slot. Other features include a slide-out crumb tray, cord storage, and a lever to lift short slices extra high. This handsome toaster, in gleaming plastic that stays cool to the touch, measures 14 by 8 by 8-1/2 inches. --Fred Brack

Satisfied Kansas Toasters
I bought this a year ago and have been very happy with it. It's well made, easy to clean, looks good - and toasts great. The slots are plenty wide for bagels and it easily fits four standard sized pieces of bread (or waffles, etc). However, you it will only accomodate two slices of larger bread (eg. Healthy Choice or Earth Grains). The only improvement I would suggest is they should make it about 1/2 inch taller - part of a large bagel can stick out the top and not get as toasted as the rest.

We never use the defrost or reheat buttons. We use the bagel button (although I really don't know what it does) and the 2-slice button is nice for saving electricity. Smaller items can be removed more easily after toasting by lifting the lever on the right.

Overall, I'm very happy with my decision to purchase this toaster.

Cuisinart 4-SliceToaster
For the price I expected a better, more even browning. I found it to be no more even than a relatively cheap (about $40) 4-slice toaster it replaced. One side (the interior) of each of the two compartments had weaker heating than the other making one side of the toast much lighter than the other. The two-slice option is nice and the electronic darker/lighter control is convenient.

Bells, whistles, and a light
When you first plug in this toaster, an LED display, front bottom center, indicating your "darkness preference" glows red whether or not you have pressed the lever for toasting. The instruction booklet offers no information about this light. I called Cuisinart's 800 number and eventually received word that Yes, that's normal, and Yes, they get loads of calls about that light, since consumers are in fact in the dark regarding whether it should be on at all times. Evidently Cuisinart forgot to write about it in their booklet. So your toaster will have a little red light on - even when in "Park," with the ignition off - just like your car's alarm system.

The toast seemed fine, and the capacity is good. There is a much-touted electronic function ("Custom Control") that enables the toaster to "remember" how you like your toast. If you think about it, most toasters of the past forty or so years have had this simple ability, albeit mechanically. The toaster is big enough, the spring-loaded lever is too resistant to feel right, and - inscrutably - the rear plastic feet of this toaster wear sensible non-skid rubber shoes, while the front feet are unshod, causing the toaster to not quite stay put each time you depress that hefty lever.

This big and comparatively expensive toaster hopes to convey an impression of high quality and tech-y smartness, but doesn't quite succeed. And the glowing red light just seems silly, because a toaster doesn't need to look like it has a security system.

   

Robertshaw Cook Book (Selected Recipes For Time And Temperature Oven Cooking)
By Robert Shaw

1936 Robertshaw Thermostat Company. Paperback, 65 Pages. Recipes and information of oven cookery, times and temperatures.

   

General Electric JES735WJ 0.7 cu. ft. white countertop microwave
From General Electric

The JES735WJ from GE offers everything you need in a microwave at an affordable cost. With 0.7 cubic foot capacity, 700 Watts of power, and plenty of convenience features, this is a great way to quickly heat food up without breaking the bank. And, since it's a GE, this model is sure to last for years to come.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #23471 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: General Electric
• Dimensions: 15.00" h x 22.00" w x 17.00" l, 26.00 pounds

Nice Microwave
I've had this GE microwave for several years now and am satisfied with its functionality and compact size. It has several feature buttons (reheat, defrost, popcorn, beverage, etc.) that are very handy, and a nice independent timer that will shut off after the first time it sounds. My only complaint is that over time the interior finish on the door has started to wear off and rust, something I haven't noticed with other microwaves I've used.


Update: I purchased a new one of these in January 2008. The controls are a bit simpler to use and the door finish seems to have been improved so that the rust problem may be eliminated.

Works fine, fits well, costs little!
After much research, I bought the slightly bigger GE Spacemaker microwave that you can attach underneath your kitchen cabinets. It cost nearly $250 after tax on sale at a major retailer. When I got it home, despite having measured carefully, I found that it just didn't look right--it jutted out a bit and seemed too big for the space. So I returned it and bought this one, in black (slightly different model number--JES 735BJ), at a major electronics and appliance chain for $54 plus tax. It looked much better in my limited space, and after almost two months of fairly frequent use (several times per day heating up drinks, leftovers, etc.), it hasn't had any problems. It's a great little microwave if you have fairly basic microwaving needs, don't want something that's going to take up most of your counter space, and don't want to spend a lot of money. So far I'm very pleased with this purchase!

Highly recommend
Fast shipment. Superior quality for a supposedly used appliance. I don't have a lot of counter space and this microwave is perfect for limited areas yet does an excellent job. My other microwave had a dial that you turn and it was hard to judge cooking times accurately. This microwave has a digital clock and a keypad for easy access to setting accurate cook times. I hadn't even read the owners manual and could figure out how to work it!

   

Rival 3860-W 6-Quart Programmable Crock-Pot Slow Cooker, White
From Rival

• Amazon Sales Rank: #344523 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Color: White
• Brand: Rival
• Model: 3860-W
• Dimensions: 9.20" h x 13.50" w x 17.40" l, 14.00 pounds

Large enough to prepare food for a family of four or more, this 6-quart oval Crock-Pot slow -cooker features a programmable cooking system for safe all-day cooking when you're away from home. Here's how it works: simply set the time and temperature, and this "Smart Pot" will automatically switch to the "warm" setting when it finishes cooking, so your food is ready when you are. You'll enjoy peace of mind and the ability to provide home-cooked, nutritious meals even if you're working all day.

The oval design ensures that food cooks evenly, and no stirring is necessary, thanks to the heating element that wraps around the sides of the stoneware insert. The two heat settings and four time settings (two, four, six, and eight hours) might frustrate gourmets, but gourmets probably have the time to sit at home and watch their food cook all day. The pot features a glass lid so you can see what's happening with a meal. The removable stoneware cooking well features stick-resistant coating that Rival claims will "rinse clean." This cooker includes extensive instructions, recipes, and a one-year limited warranty. --Ariel Meadow Stallings

The good and the bad - fortunately no ugly!
This is a great size for a family, and all in all, I love this thing and use it frequently. I would buy it again if I had to replace the one I'm using now, BUT: As previous writers have stated, the glass lid does not fit correctly. It's too small or something, almost like Rival had a gross of extra lids from another crock pot and decided to stick them on this product. It will completely close if you pay attention to how you put it on, but if you've got one of the kids stirring for you, or hubby taste testing, forget about it getting put back on right! Also, "programmable" is rather misleading. What you can do is select whether you want to cook your meal for 4, 6, 8, or 10 hours. You are not able to pick 5 hours, nor are you able to set it up to cook on high for four hours, then switch to low. It WILL switch to a warming mode after the selected time is up, though, rather than dry out the food, which is a feature I like. All in all a good, solid product, but I'm hoping that Rival is reading this and will make modifications for future models. HINT, HINT, HINT, Rival!

Poor Construction, Poor Engineering
I bought one of these pots when I decided I needed a larger crock pot. As a lover of push buttons this seemed right up my alley. As I was in a hurry, I really didn't read the instructions like I should have.

Upon getting the pot home I discovered that it's basically like a regular crock pot, only there are pushbuttons for the high and low heat. However, these pushbuttons are tied to specific times for the crock pot to run, e.g. 'low' for 2 hours and more, and 'high' for 2 hours and more. You can't program it to come on at a certain time, or do anything but follow their notion of how long your food should cook.

Additionally, as some other reviewers have noted, the glass lid is a very poor fit. If you have the temp cranked up, steam comes pouring out one side or another, and water collects on the rim until it runs down the side of the heating cover.

My third complaint was that the crock pot was not hot enough. I've had seeral, and the low setting the temp should be just below a simmer. The high setting should be hot enough to eventually boil. I never stuck a thermometer inside while it was cooking, but certainly it never did boil beans at all, even after hours unattended!

So, this is why I'd recommend you look elsewhere for a medium/large crock pot: poor construction, terrible lid, won't heat t

LOVE THIS--I don't see the problem with this cooker.
I was hesitant to buy this due to the somewhat negative comments here. Well, I'm glad I ignored the comments and went out and bought this. It's one of the best small kitchen appliances I've ever bought and actually used.

I don't see what the problems are with this crock pot, why the negative reviews?

First of all, this cooker is not programmable for two hours, or three hours, but four, six, eight and ten hours. Why buy this if you don't need the cooker to cook this way? Buy something else.

As for the glass lid, the lid for my crock pot is fine. It was wrapped very well in the box and I've had no problems with it--no glass shards. I've also not had any problems getting the lid to fit--but then, I'm a patient person and I take my time with the lid.

Yes, the crock pot will get hot sitting on your table--WHAT DO YOU EXPECT? it's COOKING!! But this is a lot cooler than my Nesco 18 qt. cooker--which died after 9 months--so I feel like I've made out like a bandit! The warm cycle keeps the food warm without burning.

My husband and sons absolutely rave about the meals cooked with this. With one son grown and another almost an adult, I've gotten to the stage in my life where I want more time for me and this crock pot goes a long way toward that goal. I throw the food in, turn it on, and by 5 p.m. the meal is done. All I do is add a salad or other side dish. Clean-up is easy--soak the ceramic liner in soapy water in the sink for a couple hours or stick it in the dishwasher.

If you're looking for a programmable crock pot, this is great.