Taking a decision to buy the desired model/make of a microwave oven is a project in itself. No doubt, this equipment either has become, or in the process of becoming an invaluable piece of the kitchen. With loads of models/makes available today in India, it is extremely tough to take an ’’intelligent’’ decision for purchase. I personally took around 1 month to decide for mine.
During this period, a thorough search was conducted on this equipment on the net. Thank God, the net is available and is indeed a great help for people who can operate a PC ! The most important feature that I would love to share with you all is that of the sensor cook/reheat feature. Without this, any microwave is NOT THAT EASY to handle. Why.........because you have to burn or eat raw a number of meals during the hit and trial period.........the period, when you are trying to ascertain the cooking time of most of your goodies. You practically have to take a stop-watch and stand in front of the machine, open the access door time and again, to check on the dish as to whether it is done or not. Same is so for the defrost too.
The sensor cook feature eliminates this problem in totality. The MWO has a sensor, most probably an electronic humidstat, which actually reads the rate of change of the water vapours emitted from the food you are cooking. It happens so, when the food is almost done, there is a gush of water vapour let off from it. The MWO sensor ’’feels’’ this and shuts off the machine automatically. Even if the food is not done as per your requirements, all that you have to do is to feed in the extra seconds manually, maybe, 60 seconds or so.........that is enough. You just don’t have to bother keeping an eagle’s eye open........lest the food gets burned. I have recently bought a Panasonic 593 model, 27 litres, 340 mm dia turntable, SS interiors, sensor cook/reheat included. Now, we cooly end up preparing fantastic meals, and not just reheating them. MY WIFE JUST LOVES IT. I think, in the Indian market only a few makes have this sensor cook option. To name a few........Panasonic, National (think it is the same as Panasonic, name changed), maybe one model each of Sanyo and Whirlpool (these have to be confirmed). Another feature that comes to mind is of Inverter.........that too is gr8. DO NOT GET CARRIED AWAY WITH THE ADVERTISING GIMMICKS AND FREE GIFTS OFFERED BY SOME MANUFACTURERS. They are not worth it. You are here to buy quality and the latest technology........just concentrate on that.
24th October, 2008
Well, disaster struck finally. After working 4 full years without a hitch, the Panasonic 593 MWO stopped working.
Panasonic does not have it’s own service set up. They have appointed service agents..... and they do not excude confidence. The service guy who visited home gave an estimate of @ Rs.5000 for replacing the inverter circuit and magnetron, with labour included. Just not worth to repair it. So, last night went and bought an LG 26 litre convection MWO for Rs.8400.
I know, I would miss the SENSOR function acutely. It is a wonderful feature. But, in absence of a reliable service network it is suicidal to go in for state-of-the-art-machinery. If anything goes wrong, you have had it.
My ardent advice to MWO buyers, after using such device continuously for 4 years is, PLEASE settle for simplicity. Do not, I repeat, do not run after features. You would barely get to use them. Use the MWO only for microwave cooking, no need to combine grill and convection too. I was forced to settle for a convection machine since my minimum requirement (a big glass container to sit inside the MWO) was getting fulfilled by the 26 litre model only. I was more interested in a solo machine, but the smaller 23 litre one was getting slightly small for the glass container. I use this container extensively for reheating biryani and mutton korma during parties at home.
4 years has also taught me another thing. We HARDLY cook in a MWO. Reheating and defrosting jobs cover up 95% of the MWO workload. The ’cooking’ thing lasts only for a few weeks at the most. As such, it is tough to get an Indian recipe through smoothly in the MWO.
Hope this epic is of real help to you prospective buyers ......