I've got a microwave on my xmas list, for deployment in a relatively small
kitchen. I'd like something with lots of volume, but that will probably eat
a lot of counter space. (My current one is on top of the fridge, but I'm
tall and I have a utility step to look in the window.) I'm considering
getting one integrated into a range hood. There's a couple like that at
Sears in the $250-400 range.

So what do you think? What should I get?

I don't see myself using the presets. I normally just dial in the time and
power I want. The 5-speed fan on the range hood combo I looked at is nice,
but I don't know that it's worth $100 more.

If only I could find a unit with no clock. Yet another thing to set twice a
year.

ScratchMonkey wrote in message ...
I've got a microwave on my xmas list, for deployment in a relatively small
kitchen. I'd like something with lots of volume, but that will probably eat
a lot of counter space. (My current one is on top of the fridge, but I'm
tall and I have a utility step to look in the window.) I'm considering
getting one integrated into a range hood. There's a couple like that at
Sears in the $250-400 range.

So what do you think? What should I get?

If you're tall, you might consider very carefully what that combo
microwave/hood is going to do to your cooktop clearance. I'm 6'3", and
just did exactly the opposite -- ripped out the combo unit and
installed a very good quality range hood -- best thing I've ever done
for my kitchen, and much, much quieter than any combo I've seen.

I wish I could use your refrigerator top solution, but my 5'9" wife
wouldn't accept that.

The days of the fantastic quality Amana RadarRanges are long gone --
these days they're pretty much all alike if you only want basic
defrosting and heating capability. I just bought a throw-away 1 cf,
1100 watt unit and put it on a top corner of a work table.

-- Larry

"ScratchMonkey" wrote in message
.. .
I've got a microwave on my xmas list, for deployment in a relatively small
kitchen. I'd like something with lots of volume, but that will probably
eat
a lot of counter space. (My current one is on top of the fridge, but I'm
tall and I have a utility step to look in the window.) I'm considering
getting one integrated into a range hood. There's a couple like that at
Sears in the $250-400 range.

So what do you think? What should I get?

I don't see myself using the presets. I normally just dial in the time and
power I want. The 5-speed fan on the range hood combo I looked at is nice,
but I don't know that it's worth $100 more.

If only I could find a unit with no clock. Yet another thing to set twice
a
year.

If all you want is a basic over-the-range microwave, then about anything
will do. If you look closely at the various models available, you will see
that they are all made by about two manufacturers so one oven is about the
same as the next. You can get one at Home Depot for about $200. I recently
got a microwave/convection oven and it has become my primary oven. I
thought that I might not use the convection feature much and could do
without the senor cook feature and so on. Now that I have used it for a few
months I rarely fire up the full size range. In a way, the more
sophisticated controls and technology makes using the oven easier. You can
put in the food and press sensor cook or senor reheat and the oven does the
rest of the work, calculating the temperatures, microwave power levels, and
timing. The combination of the convection heat and turntable assures that
cooking will be uniform. I would recommend that you look at the Sharp
microwaves.
http://www.sharpusa.com/products/Fun...1050,2,00.html They are
priced well and have a lot of features. But, if you really don't think you
will use any of the advanced features, then I would get a basic unit like
the E-wave microwaves from Home Depot.

ScratchMonkey wrote:

So what do you think? What should I get?

The Whirlpool Gold ones are fabulous. Really. You can easily cook
whole meals in them. Or do the rice...or baked potato...or frozen
(gasp) veggies. I'd kill for one of those here. Literally.
--
'Tis Herself

"ScratchMonkey" wrote in message
.. .
I've got a microwave on my xmas list, for deployment in a relatively small
kitchen. I'd like something with lots of volume, but that will probably
eat
a lot of counter space. (My current one is on top of the fridge, but I'm
tall and I have a utility step to look in the window.) I'm considering
getting one integrated into a range hood. There's a couple like that at
Sears in the $250-400 range.

So what do you think? What should I get?

I don't see myself using the presets. I normally just dial in the time and
power I want. The 5-speed fan on the range hood combo I looked at is nice,
but I don't know that it's worth $100 more.

If only I could find a unit with no clock. Yet another thing to set twice
a
year.

The prices of Microwaves have come down so much - If you have a Costco near
by take a look at your choices before spending that kind of money.

AKA is the counter space really worth $150.00 to $300.00?

Dimitri

In rec.food.cooking ScratchMonkey wrote:

If only I could find a unit with no clock. Yet another thing to set twice a
year.

I found that if I pushed the "clock set" button on my
microwave twice, without setting the clock, then the
clock function goes away. Don't need it as I have
two or three other clocks in the kitchen already.

Bill Ranck
Blacksburg, Va.

wrote in message
om...
ScratchMonkey wrote in message
...
I've got a microwave on my xmas list, for deployment in a relatively
small
kitchen. I'd like something with lots of volume, but that will probably
eat
a lot of counter space. (My current one is on top of the fridge, but I'm
tall and I have a utility step to look in the window.) I'm considering
getting one integrated into a range hood. There's a couple like that at
Sears in the $250-400 range.

So what do you think? What should I get?

If you're tall, you might consider very carefully what that combo
microwave/hood is going to do to your cooktop clearance. I'm 6'3", and
just did exactly the opposite -- ripped out the combo unit and
installed a very good quality range hood -- best thing I've ever done
for my kitchen, and much, much quieter than any combo I've seen.

I wish I could use your refrigerator top solution, but my 5'9" wife
wouldn't accept that.

The days of the fantastic quality Amana RadarRanges are long gone --
these days they're pretty much all alike if you only want basic
defrosting and heating capability. I just bought a throw-away 1 cf,
1100 watt unit and put it on a top corner of a work table.

-- Larry

Yeah, this 5'4" person sure wouldn't want the microwave on top of the
fridge! LOL! I can barely reach on top of my fridge as it is!

I like my Sharp, but it's a countertop version.

Dawn

"Herself" wrote in message
...
ScratchMonkey wrote:

So what do you think? What should I get?

The Whirlpool Gold ones are fabulous. Really. You can easily cook
whole meals in them. Or do the rice...or baked potato...or frozen
(gasp) veggies. I'd kill for one of those here. Literally.
--
'Tis Herself

Yeap, my Sharp does all those quite well, too! Also the popcorn button is
nice, too.

Dawn

In article ,
ScratchMonkey wrote:
If only I could find a unit with no clock. Yet another thing to set twice a
year.

Put a piece of tape over it.

--
Mark Shaw contact info at homepage -- http://www.panix.com/~mshaw
================================================== ======================
"This time I think the Americans are serious. Bush is not like
Clinton. I think this is the end." - Uday Hussein, April 2003

ScratchMonkey wrote in
:

I've got a microwave on my xmas list, for deployment in a relatively
small kitchen. I'd like something with lots of volume, but that will
probably eat a lot of counter space. (My current one is on top of the
fridge, but I'm tall and I have a utility step to look in the window.)
I'm considering getting one integrated into a range hood. There's a
couple like that at Sears in the $250-400 range.

So what do you think? What should I get?

I don't see myself using the presets. I normally just dial in the time
and power I want. The 5-speed fan on the range hood combo I looked at
is nice, but I don't know that it's worth $100 more.

If only I could find a unit with no clock. Yet another thing to set
twice a year.


Ken,

Hummmmmmmm...you need to get your list together if you want Santa to get it
in time!!

Huggies and Magic.

Mrs. Santa!! gggggggggg

and no one said dont buy a GE??? wow, thats a first

"DawnK" wrote in news:vpber1bdb0t3c4
@corp.supernews.com:

Yeah, this 5'4" person sure wouldn't want the microwave on top of the
fridge! LOL! I can barely reach on top of my fridge as it is!

Well, it's a relatively short fridge, and I'm 5'10 with long arms, so I can
get stuff in and out easily enough. Except that the fridge and door is
balanced to shut on its own, so it's tricky if I have my hands full. The
only problem is when I want to watch something while cooking to catch it
before it starts frothing, and then I use a step-like toolbox to get high
enough to look inside.

"DawnK" wrote in
:

Yeap, my Sharp does all those quite well, too! Also the popcorn
button is nice, too.

Is that a sensor thing? Does it know when to kill power just before the
corn starts to scorch?

I'm suddenly envisioning a microphone that measures time between pops!

"Dimitri" wrote in news:C1dlb.18018$Na5.11088
@newssvr31.news.prodigy.com:

AKA is the counter space really worth $150.00 to $300.00?

I believe it is. ($150, not $300.) It's a tight kitchen and I spend a lot
of time there, so the comfort has value to me.

(Mark Shaw) wrote in
:

If only I could find a unit with no clock. Yet another thing to set
twice a year.

Put a piece of tape over it.

The same area usually displays the cook time remaining, so that wouldn't
work.