Hate my microwave! Looking for recs for a new one...

13 years ago

Let me start by saying I already own a new stainless microwave, namely a GE Profile, and I hate it. Maybe hate is too strong a word, but I deeply dislike it. It's going in my garage sale if someone can recommend a better one that won't break the bank.

I don't require very much of my microwaves--I cook the occasional potato dish, reheat leftovers and use the timer alot. So what I need from my microwave is a good "Add a minute" feature, a good timer, size enough for a 13x9 casserole dish to fit and decent power. I have a microwave shelf so I don't need an over the range style.

What I don't like about my microwave, and it may sound petty, but petty annoyances on a daily basis tend to build up...

1. The timer--it dings once to let you know the time is up. Just. once. If you're out of the room or watching a loud TV program when it dings, you're SOL. If you're doing something that requires a two or three step process it can really be annoying that you didn't hear the timer and now you've lost 10-15 minutes or more. And since I also use the microwave timer as my oven timer, I've almost burned quite a few dishes already. As annoying as I used to find those microwaves that wouldn't stop intermittently beeping until you came and hit the stop button, I can now appreciate that feature.

2. The Add a minute button. IMO the add a minute button should also be a power button. On the GE Profile, you hit the add a minute, and then you have to hit start. Again, petty I know, but it's a double movement that is a waste of time. It's the only microwave I've ever owned where you had to do that.

Please can someone recommend a more efficient stainless microwave? The kinds of things I'm looking for aren't readily apparent until you get it home and start using it.

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Comments (6)

nerdyshopper
13 years ago
Sorry, but I also own a GE Profile and it is the best microwave I have ever owned. My daughter has one too. I agree that I would prefer the timer to repeat signals often but mine doesn't do that either. It does beep occasionally if you don't open the door or clear it. What i like is the power of the thing. It heats faster than any other microwave I have tried. Also ours has a 30 second button that turns it on full for 30 seconds. If you press a 1 you get 1 minute etc up to about 5 minutes. If you want more just press another number or 30 secs. and it will keep going for that much longer.
weissman
13 years ago
I also love my GE Profile MW - had it for 8 years now. I'm glad it doesn't keep beeping at me! Mine also lets you add 30 seconds at a pop and has instant buttons for 1 to 5 minutes. It's a great MW and it's lasted a long time and still going strong. Buy yourself a separate timer - they're very cheap and will do just what you want.
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segesta
13 years ago
This is odd, because I have a 10 year old GE Profile OTR microwave and it does EXACTLY what you want (well, it adds 30 seconds at a time, not 1 minute, but hey).

It's yours for, oh, $900. I'll throw in shipping. :-)
dadoes
13 years ago
My GE Profile OTR has a +30sec button, and Express start buttons for 30 seconds, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 mins. It beeps several times immediately at end of a cook cycle, then repeats a single beep at intervals if not opened.

I do not care for the characteristic of it that NerdyShopper likes about his ... it heats TOO fast. Foods being heated inevitably EXPLODE all over the interior unless covered ... or I cut the power level to 30% and run longer.
maks_2000
13 years ago
Does your GE Profile have the capability to change the "signal" tones? My Sharp Microwave Drawer was driving me nuts because it has the capability (that was activated) to continue notifying me for quite a while -- seemed like 5 minutes, probably 2 to 3 intermitently, then once every 30 seconds to a minute for a while. I actually turned it off so now I get an END notification, but can understand how with a multi-step recipe it is frustrating not to be notified & be able to react immediately. It is nice to have the flexibility -- maybe you have it & don't know it.

The Sharp also has the +1 minute button with the Start button, but this particular microwave is the drawer & I don't know how the features compare to their countertop or shelf models.

Good luck!
nerdyshopper
13 years ago
I wanted the alarm tone to be louder on my Profile so I called the dealer service department and asked if they could adjust the volume and the answer was NO. That is my only peeve: can't hear it if the TV is too loud so stuff sits there and gets cold while I forget and watch some interesting show.

Hate my microwave! Looking for recs for a new one...

Comments (6)

nerdyshopper

weissman

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