I am sorry that happened. I have never heard of a potato bag, so thanks for that warning. Some folks talk about finding used things like this at thrift shops. I know that isn’t much help, but if you have a good one nearby it might be worth a try before buying on eBay.

I see assorted ones at the thrift store all the time, cheap. I use them under large pots as saucers.

Would an ordinary large dinner plate do the job?

o j

Well guess what? The very same thing
happened to me this week. I was making rice in the microwave, first time
I ever used the "Rice" option. I heard a loud thud and there the glass
tray lay in two big pieces.

I called the number on the sticker inside the microwave door, the
lady at Sears (it's actually a Kenmore microwave - made in March, 2009)
said replacement glass trays are no longer available. She suggested
searching on Ebay and gave me the parts number.

Every site that listed them for sale was sold out. I searched some
more and finally found a site that had a used one for sale. Photo looked
just like the one I needed. However, there was a disclaimer in small
print that read, "photo may not represent actual item...." The place was
in Minnesota. So I called them the next day and he checked his stock
and said he had four. I asked about the disclaimer. He said if the part
number is the same as the one he is listing - then it's the same part.
He explained that he runs a retail shop that deals in parts gleaned from
used appliances. It was on sale from for $19.99 down from $30. I was
still hesitate but in the end placed my order. Also, I read that there
is no return on used items. ha We shall see.

I don't recall seeing glass microwave plates/trays at the thrift stores in my area, but then I was exactly looking for them until now.

ETA: I tried to include the link to the site three times but it won't post. Here's the info.

Appliance Depot Inc.

buy@appliancedepot.com
651-454-5995

ETA again: I forgot to mention I did not pay $19.99 - there was an additional $18 for shipping and handling. :(

Lots of plates on ebay for $20 or less. Helps to know model number, part number, or at least plate size/appearance.

Check out your local free cycle or recycling center. Ours has stacks of them.

I have a pile of them I bought at goodwill and thrift stores for a couple dollars. They are quite easy to find. I use them as a base for my garden totems. Check your local goodwill.

I second going to Goodwill or thrift shops-they are usually plentiful. I can't believe the potato bag caused your tray to break; I've used them for years with no damage, in more than one home and in different microwaves. I wonder if your tray was already compromised.-maybe not visible.

One of the many reasons my microwave doesn't have a carousel.

Yes, definitely go see if a local thrift shop has the one you need. Take it with you (carefully). I see them at the thrift shops all the time.

I have a Good Will near my workplace and another not far from my home. I'll check both tomorrow. If no luck there, I'm seeing my father on Tuesday and will check the one in his town. Thanks, everyone!

The few thrift stores I have visited have never had them. I do not have a carousel in mine but used one of those bags and it left a scorched area on the glass plate. Since mine was made in 1989 it is living on borrowed time. I have started looking for a replacement. Once about 15 years ago it stopped working but only needed a new fuse.

There are about 240 glass GE microwave plates offered on Ebay tonight, price range from $20 (including shipping) to $80. Appears to be at least 4 different sizes.

I have twice donated the glass plate from non-functioning microwave machines to goodwill. I wondered whether they were ever resold.

Maybe you can find an entire microwave oven at Good Will that contains a plate of suitable size. If the oven is cheap enough, buy the oven, use the plate and discard the oven. No, wait. If the Good Will oven works, keep it. It will work without the plate. The only function the rotating plated provided was to even out heating of the object put in the oven.

We bought a new microwave last year when we moved and at the same time I ordered an extra carousel plate and the little plastic gizmo that it sits on. This is the first time I bought a full size microwave and I figured if we ever broke the plate we might have a hard time replacing it. Plus it works as an insurance policy - now that I have it I'll probably never need it - kind of like carrying an umbrella in case of rain.

I have one here. If I lived close to you I would just give it to you. I always see them at thrift stores. Good Luck.

I always save the glass plate from the old microwave when replacing a dead one. As long as the oven is the same size I've found the plates to be identical even when thought the brands were different.

Air fryers make great baked potatoes in ~30-40 minutes.

The Amazon choice at $32 seems like a no brainer. Just get it, and have your MW back to full use. Grapefruit1_ar's idea of the thrift shop bargain would be great if you have time to go through a dozen or more thrift shops to find the exact model you need.

My sister-in-law used to make those potato baking bags to sell at craft shows. She gave me one, but one time I used it and it caught fire in the microwave.

It does make sense that a person could use an ordinary microwave safe plate instead since you place those on the glass tray when cooking. I don't know, I still would be cautious about that tho.

if it makes you feel any better i broke the glass tray to my speed oven being a little reckless with a pizza stone. it was $200 to replace.

If you have a Habitat for Humanity Restore near you, they always have tons of them for a couple of dollars.

As an "avoid the problem" suggestion as you get your microwave dish issue resolved, I think potatoes baked in an oven are better in taste and texture to those done in the microwave. They develop a creamy taste and crisp skin that those cooked in a microwave don't have. Just an alternative to consider.

I never cook anything in the microwave - but I frequently use my pressure cooker, which cuts cooking time by 50-75%. I seldom cook baked potatoes, but when I do, I generally make them in the toaster oven - unless I am baking something in the regular oven at the same time. Most often, I grill the potatoes outdoors when we are grilling a chicken, or something else that takes a similar amount of time.

A lot of people like Instant Pot, but since I already have a P/C (and a slow cooker that I never use), I have not gotten one.

Good luck finding a replacement plate. You could try putting a notice on Nextdoor to see if any of your neighbors might have an extra one.

" I never cook anything in the microwave "

Ditto for me.

Your microwave apparently fits your needs and likes quite nicely. No need to buy a new one what with several choices on-hand to obtain a replacement plate. People often fuss about appliances not lasting a reasonable service life ... but refuse to do a simple repair (although your unit isn't actually broken in this case).

I have a 14yo GE OTR unit that I don't much like (it came with the house). The finish on the handle is wearing off. It's installed in a non-vented configuration. The charcoal air filter isn't installed, which isn't necessarily a bad thing because the builder placed a bunch of fancy trimwork around the unit that blocks access to the cavity where the filter goes so I couldn't pull it if it was there. The power-cycling algorithm is very coarse such that 1 min at 50% is basically 30 seconds on, 30 seconds off. But it bakes potatoes nicely (auto sensor), asparagus (auto sensor), fish (auto sensor). Boils water and pasta, frozen dinners, bacon, scrambled egg in a mug, reheats leftovers, etc. all reasonably-enough.

I recall once years ago (different microwave) I used a ceramic/Pyrex dish for popcorn and it cracked in half (the dish, not the microwave turntable plate).

Carabubble, buy the Amazon plate. It will be hard to get another microwave as good as the one you own. If it is described as fitting your microwave, and doesn't, it is returnable no charge. That is very unlikely.

One microwave has a baked potato setting. I have one at home and in the camper. I like the potatoes out of the microwave better than the oven. (Especially in the summer.) The skin is much softer and I like the skin. I will put them in the oven, if I am cooking something else at the same time.

Both of mine also have a defrost function that works by weight. It thaws perfectly without cooking any part of the item. I love it to melt butter, heat water, ect.

ETA: I haven't used those potato bags, but I have read about problems with them before.

I agree with baking them in the oven whenever possible. I also use the convection feature in either my toaster oven or large oven, which makes it faster. Only occasionally use my microwave for melting a bit of butter or heating a portion of soup. Small things like that.

I agree, I don't really cook foods in the microwave other than frozen veggies and entrees. I mainly use it for reheating food or defrosting/thawing. Or popcorn. The rice was something I had never tried before. ETA: I do bake my potatoes in the microwave

Oh by the way, I got an email from UPS that my new glass tray will be delivered tomorrow, so that was fast shipping from the seller.

I am one that uses the heck out of my microwave. I've cooked many a potato in the mw and have never had it crack my plate! I will be more careful to always use a mw plate under it though! I agree that an oven baked potato is a million times better BUT it's so fast and it's acceptable in the mw. If we are doing baked potatoes for dinner, I will do the oven but if it's just me eating lunch, I will do it in the mw. I remember when the mw first came out, I had a cookbook that gave the method to make pretty much everything in the mw. I tried a bunch of things but some things just don't taste good in the mw, like chicken for example. I've also, never been able to cook rice in the mw no matter what I've tried, it always always boils out all over the place. I finally gave up and just cook it the traditional, stove top method.

I have a confession to make. Trader Joe's frozen rice either brown or basmati is very good. 3 minutes in the microwave and its perfectly cooked. Safeway carries the O brand in brown or jasmine, also very good.

morz8, the other day I saw something I had never seen before - Individual servings of cooked rice in a six pack, like jello or pudding cups! They weren't refrigerated, and I didn't take the time to read the cooking directions if any. I assumed one just heated them in the microwave.

Mine has a sensor function for cooking rice. It heats on high until whatever is the required moisture-emission point then changes to 50% power for the remainder of the calculated time. I've also used it for packaged Jambalaya mix (with sausage added), works nicely.

I don't know whether you may want to follow the suggestion that you take the broken one with you to compare ... but if you do ...

... another use for duct tape!

(or packing or masking tape).

I use mine mainly for reheating - haven't learned how to get things cooked satisfactorily.

ole joyful

I wasn't saying replace the microwave, just a helpful hint that when you do choose to replace your microwave - save that plate. It can come in useful!

Wonder why these glass trays break in the first place?

Got my replacement plate from Appliance Depot this morning via UPS. It's the right plate - fits perfect! Was packed very well.

Hi schoolhouse,

Write on the blackboard 25 times, "Handle with care!"

... (no - that doesn't fit).

How about "Treat/use with care!"

Good luck with your new plate.

ole joyful

Thanks, I will joyful!