Sharp may be best known for its televisions and LCD panels, but the Japanese multinational also has a notable history in the development and production of microwaves. The company was responsible for developing Japan’s first microwave oven and subsequently became the first manufacturer to mass-produce the small heating appliances that most of us couldn’t do without today.

This extensive experience is most likely responsible for Sharp microwaves rating highly in our customer satisfaction ratings. Here are some of the company’s key achievements when it comes to microwaves:

1961 – Sharp developed Japan’s first microwave oven, the R-10. The year after, Sharp began mass-producing microwave ovens, making it the first company in the world to do so.

1966 – Sharp released the highly innovative (at the time) R-600, the first Japanese microwave to feature a rotating carousel base. This innovative function would become the standard for all future microwaves.

1979 – Sharp introduced a microwave equipped with cooking sensors which could detect when food was cooked or reheated enough. As with the R-600, this microwave contained technology which is relatively standard, but was cutting-edge at the time.

Check out one of Sharp’s latest models in the video below.

Microwave ovens buying guide

The post About Sharp microwaves appeared first on Canstar Blue.

One of the world’s most prolific electronics companies, Samsung Electronics manufactures and sells a huge range of products, including smartphones, televisions, and of course, microwaves.

Samsung introduced its microwaves to the South Korean domestic market in 1979, and Samsung microwaves the international market not long after. They were originally seen as inferior products when they made their way to the US; however a partnership with American company General Electric saw their microwaves re-enter the US market under a different name, and Samsung’s microwaves quickly found success against the Japanese microwaves dominating the market at the time.

Canstar Blue microwave customer satisfaction survey results

Samsung’s microwave innovations

Samsung has worked to develop and implement innovative features into its microwaves, such as its Smart Multi Sensor technology and 3-Way Convection Cooking. Samsung microwaves are also notable for their ceramic enamel interior, which is both extremely durable and easy to clean.

Here are just a few of the innovative features that Samsung microwaves have:

• Slim Fry – fry food in your microwave without adding any oil
• Smart Multi Sense – Microwave sensors ensure complete cooking of food, and even defrosting of frozen food
• Steam Clean – Clean your microwave using steam rather than harsh cleaning chemicals
• Triple Distribution – Three antennas are used to generate cooking heat, rather than the standard one antenna

Eight great microwave recipes

What our survey respondents say…

Earlier in 2015 Canstar Blue surveyed just over 1,000 people who had bought a new microwave in the last 3 years. These are some of the comments, among others, made by survey respondents who had purchased a Samsung microwave.

Source: www.canstarblue.com.au Microwave survey 2015, conducted by Colmar Brunton

Other microwave brands we rated

Canstar Blue commissions Colmar Brunton to regularly survey Australian consumers across a range of categories to measure and track customer satisfaction. The outcomes reported are the results from customers within the survey group who had recently bought a microwave – in this case, 1,010 people.

The other microwave brands in this year’s survey are:

• Breville
• LG
• Panasonic
• Sharp
• Whirlpool
• Kambrook

You can view microwave survey results here.

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Microwave use in Australia

Is it dangerous to microwave plastic?

Microwave buying guide

The post About Samsung microwaves appeared first on Canstar Blue.

Microwaves are one of the greatest conveniences that modernity has brought to us, and this shows in the fact that two thirds of Australians don’t think they could go without their trusty microwave oven. Canstar Blue’s 2015 microwave comparison saw Breville take out top honours for customer satisfaction, beating out competing brands such as LG and Panasonic. Here’s some information about the winning brand, and if you want to see the full results of the microwave survey and report, you can do that here.

 Canstar Blue microwave customer satisfaction survey results 
 

A brief history of the brand

Breville was created in 1932 by two Australians; Bill O’Brien and Harry Norville. They came up with the company name by combining their last names, and began making and selling radios and later on, mine detectors for World War II.

After the war, the company looked towards appliances, and from the 60s onwards began a continuing period of research and development, which has led to over 100 active patents and more than 40 international design awards for the company.

The past few years have seen Breville attempting to shift its brand towards the upper part of the Australian market by offering high-end products such as the Boss and the Oracle; a high-velocity blender and a high-end coffee machine respectively.

Eight great microwave recipes

Some of Breville’s notable innovations

Breville is responsible for the creation of a large number of innovative appliance products, including:

• The adjustable-height sandwich press
• The high wall heating electric wok
• The active-arm citrus press
• The world’s first juice extractor capable of juicing whole fruit

Breville has brought their knack for innovation to their microwaves as well, developing the Quick Touch microwave to make reheating, cooking, and defrosting different food types easier for microwave users. You can read about the Breville Quick Touch in more detail here.

What our survey respondents say…

Earlier in 2015 Canstar Blue surveyed just over 1,000 people who had bought a new microwave in the last 3 years. These are some of the comments, among others, made by survey respondents who had purchased a Breville microwave.

Source: Canstar Blue microwave survey – 2015

Other microwave brands we rated

Canstar Blue commissions Colmar Brunton to regularly survey Australian consumers across a range of categories to measure and track customer satisfaction. The outcomes reported are the results from customers within the survey group who had recently bought a microwave – in this case, 1,010 people.

The other microwave brands in this year’s survey are:

• LG
• Panasonic
• Samsung
• Sharp
• Whirlpool
• Kambrook

You can view microwave results here.

Other articles you might like

Microwave use in Australia

Is it dangerous to microwave plastic?

Microwave buying guide

The post About Breville microwaves appeared first on Canstar Blue.

While it’s unfortunately had to play budget second fiddle to its parent company, the more ‘premium’ Breville, Kambrook still has a strong history of innovation and quality products that can’t be ignored. Among the products it currently produces is the microwave, of which it manufactures a wide variety to meet all consumer needs.

 Canstar Blue microwave customer satisfaction survey results 

A brief history of the company

Kambrook was started in 1964 by Frank Bannigan, an Australian inventor who desired to create products that were high-quality but affordable.

Kambrook was responsible for the invention of an essential everyday item used by millions if not billions – the electric powerboard. The product was initially developed out of necessity, but soon became a widely successful international product. Kambrook also invented the plug-in electric timer, and the plastic kettle.

Eight great microwave recipes

What our survey respondents say…

Earlier in 2015 Canstar Blue surveyed just over 1,000 people who had bought a new microwave in the last 3 years. These are some of the comments, among others, made by survey respondents who had purchased a Kambrook microwave.

Source: Canstar Blue microwave survey – 2015

Why you should regularly clean your microwave 

Other microwave brands we rated

Canstar Blue commissions Colmar Brunton to regularly survey Australian consumers across a range of categories to measure and track customer satisfaction. The outcomes reported are the results from customers within the survey group who had recently bought a microwave – in this case, 1,010 people.

The other microwave brands in this year’s survey are:

• Breville
• LG
• Panasonic
• Samsung
• Sharp
• Whirlpool

You can view microwave survey results here.

Other articles you might like

Microwave use in Australia

Is it dangerous to microwave plastic?

Microwave buying guide

The post About Kambrook appeared first on Canstar Blue.

LG Electronics is known for producing a huge range of products; smart phones, washing machines, home theatre systems, refrigerators, you name it. Among the extensive lists of things LG makes, their microwaves have struck a chord with Australian consumers.

 Canstar Blue microwave customer satisfaction survey results

A brief history of the brand

LG was founded as GoldStar in 1958, in the wake of the Korean War. The company was responsible for Korea’s first radios, TVs, fridges, washing machines, and air conditioners. LG expanded to the United States in 1982, and a 1995 merger with Lucky Chemical saw the company’s name change to LG Electronics. Through the rest of the 90s and the 00s, the company was responsible for the production of many world-firsts, including the first CDMA digital mobile phone, and the world’s first 60-inch plasma TV.

 Eight great microwave recipes

What our survey respondents say…

Earlier in 2015 Canstar Blue surveyed just over 1,000 people who had bought a new microwave in the last 3 years. These are some of the comments, among others, made by survey respondents who had purchased an LG microwave.

Source: Canstar Blue microwave survey – 2015

LG’s microwaves

LG’s range of microwave ovens includes both standard and ‘over-the-range’ microwaves, and LG has developed and implemented a number of innovations in their microwaves. LG’s innovative microwave cleaning technology EasyClean was introduced in 2013, and in 2014 LG introduced their Lightwave Charcoal Microwave Oven; a microwave oven which uses a charcoal filament along with Grill Temp Control to allow for a much more fine-tuned, specific, and high-quality microwave usage.

Other microwave brands we rated

Canstar Blue commissions Colmar Brunton to regularly survey Australian consumers across a range of categories to measure and track customer satisfaction. The outcomes reported are the results from customers within the survey group who had recently bought a microwave – in this case, 1,010 people.

The other microwave brands in this year’s survey are:

• Breville
• Panasonic
• Samsung
• Sharp
• Whirlpool
• Kambrook

You can view microwave survey results here.

Other articles you might like

Microwave use in Australia

Is it dangerous to microwave plastic?

Microwave buying guide

The post About LG microwaves appeared first on Canstar Blue.

With their history of quality products along with their spirit for innovation, it’s not entirely surprising that Panasonic did so well in Canstar Blue’s 2015 microwave comparison reports. The Japanese mega-company’s microwaves received at least four stars in each of the eight criteria, and received five stars for even heat distribution and functionality.

Canstar Blue microwave customer satisfaction survey results
 

A brief history of the company

Panasonic was founded by as National by Konosuke Matsushita in 1918, selling lamp sockets and later bicycle lamps. Through the 40s and 50s the company expanded its range of products to include things like motors, electric irons, radios, and bicycles. In the 60s the company began selling television sets in the US under the Panasonic brand name, but continued to use the National brand name in other international markets. In May 2003 Panasonic became the company’s global brand name, replacing the handful of brand names the company had been using in different markets.

Eight great microwave recipes

Panasonic microwaves

Panasonic manufactures and sells a wide range of microwave ovens, and has introduced a handful of innovations in the field of microwaves. The company first began producing microwaves in 1966, and has since developed and implemented innovations such as its Cyclonic Wave microwave ovens, and their steam combination microwaves. Intelligent Sensor Cooking is a relatively recently added feature to Panasonic microwaves, having been made available in 2014.

What not to microwave
 

What our survey respondents say…

Earlier in 2015 Canstar Blue surveyed just over 1,000 people who had bought a new microwave in the last 3 years. These are some of the comments, among others, made by survey respondents who had purchased a Panasonic microwave.

Source: Canstar Blue microwave survey – 2015
 

Other microwave brands we rated

Canstar Blue commissions Colmar Brunton to regularly survey Australian consumers across a range of categories to measure and track customer satisfaction. The outcomes reported are the results from customers within the survey group who had recently bought a microwave – in this case, 1,010 people.

The other microwave brands in this year’s survey are:

• Breville
• LG
• Samsung
• Sharp
• Whirlpool
• Kambrook

You can view microwave survey results here.
 

Other articles you might like

Microwave use in Australia

Is it dangerous to microwave plastic?

Microwave buying guide

The post About Panasonic microwaves appeared first on Canstar Blue.

You would be amazed at what you can do with your microwave apart from cook or reheat food. For example…

Who needs an oven when you have a microwave?

1. Kill the bacteria in a sponge or a chopping board – takes 1 minute on High. Good Housekeeping says you can kill 99.9% of most household germs this way, and 99.8% of E. coli and salmonella.
2. Make citrus fruit juicier – blasting them for a few seconds makes the pulp liquefy slightly on the inside and the rind emit a lovely fragrance on the outside.
3. Heat up your wheatbag for your aching neck and shoulders.
4. Liquefy wax stuck in the bottom of candle holders.
5. Breathe new life into dried-up mascara.
6. De-tear onions – cut the ends of the onion off and microwave for about 30 seconds, to cut down on their tear-inducing juiciness when you chop them. They still taste the same when you cook and eat them later.
7. Drying your pantihose.
8. Sterilise potting soil for your baby pot plants – it’s way cheaper to make your own than buy it!
9. Save stale bread – wrap slice in wet paper towels and zap on High for 20 seconds.
10. De-sticky stamps from envelopes to reuse them – put a couple of drops of water on the back of the envelope, then microwave for 20 seconds and peel the stamp off. (Does anyone but me still use stamps?)

What NOT to microwave
 

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Microwaves: just make them easy to use, say Aussies

Why you should regularly clean your microwave

Eight great microwave recipes

The post 10 surprising things you can do with a microwave appeared first on Canstar Blue.

Canstar Blue teams up with mythbusters across the world to debunk the best microwave conspiracy theories.

“Microwave radiation is bad for your health”

Canstar Blue’s survey in 2014 found 28% of Australians were worried about the health risks associated with microwave use. Many claims have been made about microwaves harming your health, from standing too close to the microwave while it’s in use causing cancer, to microwaves “interfering” with pacemakers.

Let’s look at 40 years’ worth of evidence.

Although microwaves are a form of radiation, they do not stay in the food and make it “radioactive”.

When a microwave door is opened, the magnetron that creates the radiation waves is switched off. Food Science Australia told the ABC that this energy is of a lower frequency than that required even for lighting. Perhaps you should be more scared of your electric lightbulb than of your microwave.

Is it dangerous to microwave plastic?

 
What if there’s a crack in your microwave cover or door somewhere? Could radiation leak out? Australia’s radiation and nuclear safety agency ARPANSA says a small amount could leak out, but how much? Not enough to produce heat. And ARPANSA told the Sydney Morning Heraldthat microwave energy has never been shown, at any level, to produce cancer.

You could create carcinogens in food if you were regularly microwaving plastic containers containing BPA, PET or other toxins – none of which should be available for sale these days anyway. Play it safe, use “microwave safe” or “food-safe” labelled containers.

What NOT to microwave

 
You could burn yourself if your hand was stuck inside the microwave on High for a while, but CSIRO told the Sydney Morning Heraldthis is because the water gets dried out of your skin too quickly, not from any radiation poisoning. Besides, how would you get your hand stuck inside the microwave? You could burn yourself on the stove much more easily.

We’re happy to say that microwaving your food is generally considered fine for your health, as long as you’re using the machine correctly.

“Microwaves kill the nutrients in food”

Microwaves may change some of the nutrient values in food, so do all other forms of cooking. Interestingly, there are studies that prove the opposite is true – that microwave cooking, because it is faster, preserves many more of the nutrients in food. One of these studies was performed by Harvard Medical School. The advocates of this myth usually cite studies where food was boiled in water in a microwave rather than just straight microwaving it.

The number of microwaves in Australia
 

“Microwaves can be used for mind control”

Some conspiracy theorists say that microwave energy can be used for mind control. We’re not sure what to say about that, except: They’re wrong… Trust us… You feel very sleepy…

“Boeing plans to weaponise microwave force fields”

Boeing is reported to have patented a force field that combines microwave energy with lasers and an electrical current. The US patent, filed in March 2015, is viewable online. The method creates a plasma shield to reflect physical waves of energy and is said to be similar to the type of force field seen in Star Wars.

Other articles you might like

Microwaves: just make them easy to use, say Aussies

Why you should regularly clean your microwave

Eight great microwave recipes

The post Can you trust your microwave? appeared first on Canstar Blue.

A microwave is a terribly useful device that seems to almost magically make food heat up.  So how exactly do they work?

 Microwave oven reviews

A microwave oven uses what’s called a magnetron to produce microwaves which pass through food, hitting water molecules and causing them to vibrate.  This vibration produces heat, which spreads, cooking your food.  As microwaves are a wave, they only hit the water molecules if they are in the wave’s path, which is why microwave ovens rotate you food, to more evenly heat.

Microwaves are a form of electromagnetic radiation, the same thing as light, but operating at a higher frequency; around 1 to 100 Gigahertz.  Microwaves radiation is not the same thing as nuclear radiation, and it cannot cause radiation poisoning or cancer.  However, prolonged, unshielded exposure to microwaves can cause burns, but this is only likely to happen if your microwave is tampered with to allow operation with the door open.

 What not to microwave

Microwaves range in size from 1 millimetre to 100 centimetres, preventing them from passing through the mesh you can see in your microwave’s door.  This means that a microwave with an undamaged, closed door is completely safe and cannot cause any harm.  Further, microwaves do not make food in any way toxic or dangerous, asides from making it hot.  There is some limited evidence to suggest that microwaves may slightly affect the nutritional content of food, but not in any way which is hazardous to your health.  As long as your microwave is undamaged and not tampered with, it is an easy, safe way to quickly heat your meals.

The post How do microwaves work? appeared first on Canstar Blue.

Ah, the humble kitchen microwave. It’s the best friend of many a student, benevolently heating up frozen lasagne and providing quick milos when the times get tough.

However, microwaves are capable of producing a lot more than just your average plebeian fare. Microwave ovens aren’t just for reheating anymore – they can be used to steam, dry, fry, bake and clean. In fact, given a chance, your microwave could be your ticket to becoming a gourmet superstar. It will save you both time and money, so why not let your friendly neighbourhood appliance be your dinnertime hero?

Super useful, not super powered

Before you get started, let’s clear up some rumours. No, your microwave does not make your food radioactive, it’ll just heat it. Provided you use your microwave according to instructions, your gourmet endeavours should be perfectly safe to consume. In short, microwave ovens do use radiation, but it is not cancerous, nor will it turn you into the next member of the X-men. So how you can make use of the dark knight of your kitchen?

The basics

Take a look at your microwave – the first thing you’ll want to figure out is whether it’s a conventional or convection type. Conventional microwaves are the most common. They’re fast, efficient and often contain pre-set options for cooking specific dishes. Convection microwaves, on the other hand, have an additional heating element and fan to cook food more evenly and give you a bit more variety.

These tricks will work on all kinds of microwaves, but if after reading this article you’re planning to cook all of your meals in a microwave (we don’t blame you), then a convection microwave would give you the options to help you become the Masterchef of your home. If you’re just planning on boosting your snack time to the next level, then a conventional microwave will do the trick.

Watts up?

The key to a lot of these tricks is to adjust the wattage of your microwave. Whether it’s a specific number or percentage of the total, as long as you control the wattage, you control the power. Simply lowering the wattage down to 50% and cooking for twice the amount of time can ensure more even cooking, and not leave it frozen on the inside and piping hot on the outside.

In general, 500 watts and under can be used to dehydrate or dry out. This is great for reheating cold pizza minus the chewy crust. Between 500-800 watts is best for steaming or frying, so it’s perfect for freshly cooked broccoli, or making your own healthy veggie chips.

Rise and shine

A perfectly poached egg is always welcome on your breakfast plate, but is a lot less fun to attempt, and it never seems to be as good as the one you get from your trendy brunch spot. Well, prepare to amaze yourself, because you too can create the most photogenic poached egg, with the help of water, a splash of vinegar and your microwave. Check out the full instructions here and enjoy your gourmet breakfast in the comfort of your own home!

Somebody to lean on

Your microwave can even provide you with therapy and emotional support. Well, not quite, but you can make this molten chocolate mug cake in about five minutes, and that’s probably close enough. It’s easier than making a whole cake and you’d probably have all of the ingredients in your cupboard already. The only issue is whether you’ll be able to stop at one. If that does prove to be a challenge, try this alternative guilt-free banana version, for a more regular pick-me-up.

Your kitchen assistant

Sometimes the microwave isn’t an option for cooking an entire meal. But your microwave can be a side-kick just as much as a solo hero. Take chopping onions – it’s not something to cry over, but sometimes the tears just start falling. Before you start dicing, trim off the ends and put them in the microwave for about 30 seconds on full power. This removes the smell that causes the eye stinging, providing a much more pleasant onion cutting experience.

A common companion to onion is garlic, which can often be a real bother to peel. Just pop the head of garlic into the microwave or 15-20 seconds, and then attempt to peel the skin. The cloves will practically slide out of their skins, and the frustrating struggle to get that last piece of skin off is now obsolete.

After all that use, if your microwave starts to look a little dirty, just put a bowl of lemon juice and water on high for two minutes, and leave it to rest for another five. Any dirt will just wipe away with a paper towel, no scrubbing required.

Microwaves are macro-useful

Now that you’ve unlocked the secrets of the microwave, you’re ready to take on the culinary world! But even if you’re not quite ready for Hell’s Kitchen, at least you can whip yourself up a tasty meal with a few shortcuts. But remember, with great microwave power, comes great microwave responsibility.

If you’re inspired by these microwave secrets, why not see what microwave brands have the highest levels of customer satisfaction with our helpful guide?

The post Things you didn’t know your microwave can do appeared first on Canstar Blue.

Microwaves have come a long way since their inception. Peoples’ expectations of microwaves have also changed. No longer does your grandma think the microwaves will kill your brain cells, or unleash the Commies into your kitchen. Microwaves have also come in leaps and bounds in being able to cook and heat food correctly. A major leap forward for microwave technology was the creation of the convection microwave.

What is a convection microwave?

Convection microwaves are the best of both worlds when it comes to an oven, and a microwave. Previously, if you wanted something heated quickly, you would go to a microwave. Though, the texture of the food coming out of a microwave could leave a lot to be desired. Microwaves also have a tendency to heat the surface of the food to extreme levels, but also leave the inner portions as cold as a mother in-law’s kiss. Ovens, on the other hand, cook beautifully, but can take their sweet time. Not all of us have the time for an oven.

This is where the convection microwave steps in. It eliminates the uneven cooking of a microwave, and the time demands of an oven. What you’ll get is a meal resembling something that’s come out of an oven, but cooked in a fraction of the time. Convection microwaves work by being able to brown and crisp food, as well as heat. Quality convection microwaves also have a fan-forced function to circulate hot air humidity. This gives you a meal that is both quick and tasty.

If you’ve ever bitten into a microwave-heated meal and been surprised at how hot it is on the outside, and how cold it is on the inside, don’t worry; we’ve all been there. It doesn’t leave a good taste in your mouth. If you’re fed up with uneven heating like we are, then look no further than the new convection microwave by Sharp (R995DST). The Sharp takes a convection microwave one step further in heating technology, but is it worth the money? Read on for our review.

Microwave oven buying guide

The Sharp Convection Microwave

This Sharp microwave is a class leader when it comes to convection microwaves. It’s a high-end unit with a range of features designed to make convection heating the real alternative to cooking in an oven. These features are:

The best of both worlds

The Sharp combines sensor and inverter technology. The inverter technology delivers controlled power during the cooking process. This helps reduce hotspots in your food, and allows for a more evenly-heated meal. The inverter technology means that at 50 per cent power, the Sharp’s 1000W capacity is reduced to 500W. This is beneficial, because in non-inverter microwaves this function is achieved by continuously switching the magnetron from on to off – all the while, 100% of the power is going to the meal when it is on. What’s better – a consistent heat, or a wildly fluctuating heat cycle from burning hot to freezing cold?

The sensor technology also eliminates guesswork in cooking times, and also allows the microwave to measure humidity. This helps monitor moisture rising from food. This in turn determines optimal cooking or reheating times. This can aid in getting your meal just right – no more dryness or a damp sticky mess. Shouts of, “Mum, how long do I zap this thing for?!” will be yesterday’s catchcry – Although we aren’t promising this to go away completely.

Menus

The Sharp boasts 21 auto menus, which eliminates the guesswork needed for how to cook a certain food. What’s more is that these menus were developed and tested in Australia in Sharp’s test kitchen. With insider local knowledge, Sharp was able to design the menus to suit our local tastes with local produce.

Mixed cooking functions

These functions blend the benefits of each heating technology with Mix Convection/microwave and Mix Grill/microwave. This allows you to cook with the Sharp similar to if you were cooking with an oven. Cooking sequences have also taken a leap forward; they’re automatic. You can program the microwave to switch from one power level to another with ease. Different dishes need multiple power levels throughout the cooking phase, so this is a handy feature to make sure your dish is cooked optimally.

It’s the little things…

Sharp isn’t just about what’s going on under the hood; they’ve also ensured user experience is pleasant. This microwave features weight defrost, which determines defrost time by the weight of the meat put in. Like an oven, you can also use convection preheat, as well as delay start. For peace of mind, there’s also a child lock so the Commies can’t scare the little ones. Sharp seems like they’ve thought of everything necessary for a pleasant cooking experience, and put it into a microwave.

Is the Sharp R995DST worth the money?

Unfortunately, such a powerful and handy machine doesn’t come cheap. Retailing for $1,199, the R995DST is at the mid to high end of the convection microwave market. There are plenty of offerings well below this price point, but there are also a few that are thousands more. The R995DST is a good hybrid convection microwave, where you can still keep your oven without feeling the guilt of spending over $3000 essentially for a microwave.

The big question is: “Can it replace my oven?” and that’s something you’ll have to determine based on your own cooking needs. For a single or a couple, we would err to the side of “Yes”, because it is convenient, yet powerful enough to quickly cook a meal or two. However, for families and larger groups, we would say to not chuck out your oven just yet. The Sharp R995DST is a good complement to your oven at fairly reasonable value for money, but it may not be adequate enough to replace the oven entirely.

Compare Microwave Ovens

The post Cooking made easy with the Sharp Convection Microwave appeared first on Canstar Blue.

Microwaves have come a long way in a short space of time. Not so long ago it was also about zapping the hell out of your food until it was hotter than the sun. Sure, the inside might still have been cold, but by the time you found that out, you just wanted to eat your food. Fast forward a few years and now we have microwaves that can not only heat your food, but actually brown and crisp it just like cooking in an oven would. That brings us on nicely to the Quick Touch Crisp from Breville.

What is the Quick Touch Crisp by Breville?

When it comes to appliances like blenders and microwaves, Breville is one of the pace-setters. Its Quick Touch range of microwaves is hugely impressive, and the Quick Touch Crisp is the company’s latest innovation in this space. There’s a reason why world-famous chef Heston Blumenthal is happy putting his name and face to the Breville brand.

The Quick Touch Crisp is a powerful inverter microwave that brings finesse to microwave cooking. And the key word here is cooking, rather than heating. The integrated crisper pan and convection grill take the possibilities beyond the soggy to cater to far more cooking needs.

How does the Quick Touch Crisp work?

An in-built preheat function and a full range of 10 power levels from 10% to 100% means you don’t need to worry about your food exploding or having a frozen lump in the middle of the burning-hot outside. The Quick Touch Crisp bakes and browns food like an actual oven does, but in far less time. Pre-programed settings for specific tasks, such as melting chocolate, baking potatoes, toasting sandwiches and cooking pizza, makes it easy to find the right settings for the right job. You can also program your own settings so that you can microwave your food the way you like it without fiddling around with settings every single time.

Automatic menus already programed into the Quick Touch Crisp ready for use include:
● 18 Smart Cook & Grill menus
● 7 Smart Reheat menus
● 4 Smart Defrost menus
● 2 Melt & Soften menus

With all of these menus and options, you would think the Quick Touch Crisp would be complicated to use, but it’s simple. There are minimal buttons to overwhelm you, with the digital screen guiding you through most of the menu options. Shortcut buttons to the most common tasks sit just inside the door frame. If you find your food needs a little more time, you need only touch the ‘A Bit More’ button to seamlessly add a few more seconds to your cook time.

The child safety lock can protect little aspiring chefs from harm, and the independent kitchen timer is a great asset when you’re multi-tasking. Crisp, brown, roast, and toast at the touch of a button with Breville’s Quick Touch Crisp, and you’ll never settle for soggy reheats again.

Microwave oven buying guide

The post The microwave that can ‘crisp’ your food appeared first on Canstar Blue.

There’s nothing more convenient that grabbing a ready-made meal out of the fridge and throwing it into the microwave for a few minutes. Sure, it’s probably not going to be the most wholesome meal you’ve ever prepared, but at the end of a long, hard day, it will do the job. Well, if you have a decent microwave oven that is. Sharp is a brand of microwaves that has enjoyed great success in Canstar Blue’s customer satisfaction ratings, so let’s review what it offers and determine whether you’ll be getting a convenient price, as well as convenient food.

What microwave ovens does Sharp offer?

As a premiere provider of microwave ovens, Sharp has an extensive range to suit your microwave needs. It has a total of 19 microwave ovens on offer, which can be separated into three different categories:

• Compact microwave ovens
• Midsize microwave ovens
• Large microwave ovens

We will have an in-depth look at each of these categories, discussing the common prices and features of Sharp’s models, to help determine if they could be of value to you.

Compact microwave ovens

Compact microwave ovens are the best choice for someone looking to save space in their kitchen. They are smaller than the average microwave, and Sharp’s compact models are known for convenience and simplicity. There are four of them in total, which range in price from $139 to $220.

The cheapest: R20A0W 750W microwave oven

The R20 (pictured) is the cheapest microwave from Sharp in this article, costing a relatively meagre $139, which is not much at all for a kitchen appliance you’ll likely be using a lot. This compact microwave is 442mm by 255mm with a 255mm turntable inside, meaning it is a fantastic addition to any small space in your kitchen. In addition to being small and cheap, it comes with a number of useful features. Mainly, it has eight pre-programmed auto-menus and express defrost, so there is no need to stress over frozen meat. It also has 2-sequence cooking, which lets you cook with multiple microwave powers simultaneously.

The most expensive: R231ZS microwave oven

The most expensive compact microwave costs $219, which is still extremely cheap. It is slightly larger than the R20, coming in at 460 by 275 while also being more powerful at 800W. This microwave is still a fantastic addition to your home despite the increased price.

It has similar special features to the R20, but also has a few more that justify its price. In addition to the 2-sequence cooking and Australian developed menus, it also comes with 13 auto-menus instead of eight, giving you more options and flexibility in your cooking. The more/less cooking feature allows you to adjust the cooking time based on your own preferences.

Midsize microwave ovens

Mid-size microwave ovens are the most common type of microwave, and they are perfect for everyday use. Ideal for singles, couples and families alike, midsize microwave ovens are Sharp’s most n
umerous microwave, with 14 in total. These midsize microwaves range in price from $210 to $770, and since there are so many of them, we will just have a look at some of the cheapest and most expensive to compare the differences.

The cheapest: R30A0W microwave oven

This 900W, 514×308 midsize microwave is a wonderful addition to any kitchen, allowing you to easily make your favourite meals at the press of a button. At $209 it represents superb value for money, and you can see why when you look at the features it comes with:

• Eight pre-programmed auto menus
• Express defrost
• Sequence cooking
• Australian developed menus
• Child lock feature

Other notable cheap microwaves in this category are the R30A0S and the R330YW, which have extremely similar features. The only notable difference is the weight-defrost ability, which determines the correct power level based on the weight of the frozen meat. Other than that, the cheaper models are all pretty much the same.

Mid-price: R80A0S midsize microwave oven

This mid-price microwave costs $389, and is actually slightly smaller at 513x306mm. In terms of features, there are some new ones that justify the price rise:

• Convection: dry heat is evenly circulated around the oven cavity to cook food the same all over, leaving it brown and crisp
• Double grill: provides more flexible cooking options for you with 3 different grilling modes
• Combo cook: combines microwave power with grill heat or convection to reduce cooking times and improve results
• 12 auto menus that are Australian developed

Those are some impressive features, but only you can decide if they can justify the price tag.

The most expensive: R890NS midsize microwave oven

The R89 from Sharp is a lot more expensive, setting you back $770 in total. However, when you see the features that it has, you’ll understand why it is so much costlier. It has all of the standard ones, like:

• Double grill
• Convection
• Combo cook
• Australian developed menus
• Weight defrost

But what sets it apart the most is the whopping number of auto menus it has. The R89 has 23 pre-programmed menus in total, including five easy defrost menus, six multi-cook menus and six convenience/pizza menus. This microwave gives you a huge range of options, more than any model listed so far.

Large microwave ovens

Sharp only has one large microwave oven available. These larger size models are the perfect size for families as it allows for much more internal space, and Sharp’s model – the R995DST – costs $1,200 at most.

The R995 (pictured) is 550×537 in size, and comes with a 1000W power output. In terms of extra features, this microwave oven has an excellent range in addition to its large capacity. Such as:

• Convection
• Sensor technology: calculates and determines the reheat and cook time for you
• Inverter technology: a continuous flow of true power levels throughout the cooking procedure will eliminate uneven cooking and the development of hotspots.
• A total of 21 Auto menus, giving you a huge range of flexibility

Are Sharp Microwave ovens worth the money?

So now that we’ve had a look at Sharp’s most prominent microwave models, we’ll help you determine if they are worth spending your hard earned money on.

When it comes to price, Sharp’s compact microwaves are right at the lower end of the scale. This is not a bad thing by any means, as they have a decent number of extra features and innovative technologies that allow them to perform better than what you’d expect from a budget appliance. With auto-cooking menus and 2-sequence cooking, Sharp’s budget compact ovens represent excellent value for money, particularly if you’re short on money or space. So yes, Sharp compact microwave ovens are definitely worth it.

The most numerous of Sharp’s microwave ovens are midsize models, and there is definite value to be seen here. At the lowest price of $210, they are no more expensive than most compact microwaves yet have a larger capacity and higher operating power. Right away they are worth purchasing over Sharp’s compact ovens if you require one, even though they don’t really offer much more in terms of features.

If you want a microwave that has loads of extra features, the R89 model might be more to your taste. This model and other more expensive ones like it have 23 auto-cook options, as well as convection and combo cook modes. At $700+ these microwaves are above average for price, but they are absolutely worth buying.

Finally, Sharp’s only large model is a little on the pricey side, as it will set you back $1,200. This is up there with the most expensive on the market in Australia, so it might be out of the question if you’re short on cash. However, if you have a large family or live in a house with lots of people, then there is definite value to be seen in Sharp’s large options.

It is extremely powerful with a power output of 1000W, and its large capacity will let you cook huge amounts of food quickly. It also has an excellent range of features, most notably the inverter technology and 21 auto-cook menus. The only real downside is Sharp’s lack of range, so you might want to check other providers of large microwave ovens.

Microwave Oven Reviews & Ratings

The post Review of Sharp microwave ovens appeared first on Canstar Blue.

Sometimes there’s simply no need to pay more than you need to for something. Do you really need that fancy loaf of bread? Would the cheap airline get you from A to B just as easily? The same logic applies to household appliances. Are the most expensive models really worth the extra cash? When it comes to microwave ovens, they are all capable of heating your food through, so why not go with a cheap one? If that’s how you feel, you should check out the range from Kmart.

What microwave ovens does Kmart have?

As a discount retail chain, Kmart isn’t world renowned for its kitchen appliances, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t up to the task at hand. There are four different Homemaker models to pick from, and this review will look at each of them in detail to determine if they are worth adding to your kitchen or not.

White 20L microwave oven – $49

This 20L capacity white Kmart microwave oven is probably the cheapest microwave in Australia. At $49, it costs about as much as one stop at the petrol station, so it really isn’t a significant investment at all. Given that the lowest microwave price listed on Appliances Online is $117, it’s fair to say that this microwave fares far better than the rest when it comes to price.

But price is only half of it. We also need to have a look at the extra cooking features this microwave has, as more expensive ovens tend to have much more advanced features that make life easier for their owners. For such a cheap oven, this model has a decent amount of extra features:

• A push-open door for easy access
• Up to 99 minutes of cooking time
• Six auto-cooking menus as well as a defrost setting
• Child safety lock
• 11 power-levels

Is this microwave worth the $49?

Well, if you’re strapped for cash and don’t really care about fancy features and advanced cooking modes, then it would be hard to go past this model. It can perform all of the basics you’d require from a microwave, and you don’t have so save up for long (if at all) to buy one. But it would also be worth looking at slightly more expensive ovens that have more capabilities.

A lot of microwaves in Australia go for around $100-200. These are still extremely cheap, but come with a few features (e.g. convection capabilities) that make your life a little bit easier. So this microwave is definitely worth the money if you’re looking for a basic model, but it might be worthwhile looking at what else is out there in the budget range.

White 28L microwave oven – $75

Still under $100, this 28 Litre microwave oven from Kmart is also perfect for budget-shoppers. This little machine has a stylish appearance that will look great in any kitchen, but is extremely similar to the model before it in terms of extra features. It has the following:

• 900W of output
• 10 power levels
• 6 auto-cook menus
• Defrost by weight and time

Is this microwave worth the $75?

Our answer to this is going to be extremely similar to the previous one, as it is so cheap yet really lacks any features beyond what you’d expect any half-decent microwave to do. So consider your options and look to other budget options before settling on this, as an extra $50-100 could save you a lot down the line.

Steel front 25L microwave oven – $89

The Kmart microwaves start to get a little bit fancier from here. This steel-front stainless steel microwave has a white interior cavity with a black exterior, so it will look impressive in most modern kitchens. In terms of price, we are still low-balling below what you’d expect to pay for most modern microwaves in Australia, so it still represents a bargain-buy.

When it comes to extra features, this one fairs a little better than the previous two, but only just. It still has only the most basic features and functions, such as:

• Electronic touch pad controls
• 10 power levels
• Defrost by weight/time
• 6 auto-cooking modes
• 900W output power
• 99 minute timer
• Child safety lock

Is this microwave worth the $89?

At less than $100, you can probably afford to look for some options that are slightly more expensive, as the general rule is that more expensive ovens have more features to justify their price. Check the range from Appliances Online to have a look at other budget microwaves on the market. If you’ve done this and decided not to get a different one, then this microwave is absolutely a worthwhile purchase.

25L convection oven – $119

The last of Kmart’s four microwaves is this 25L convection microwave oven, which goes for around $120. Convection ovens or microwaves are appliances with fans on the inside which evenly distribute the heat, ensuring that food is cooked perfectly and crisply. This microwave is the most expensive on the list, and is the only one here that costs around the same as the cheapest on the market.

For features it is also the same as the previous microwave, except that is has 11 power levels instead of 10. The biggest difference is that it has a whopping 2300W convection output power, making it significantly stronger than the other Kmart ovens.

Is this microwave worth the $119?

You’ve probably picked up on this by now, but Kmart microwave ovens are by far the cheapest on the market, and they are also among the most basic. With the exception of the last model – which even then still barely has anything beyond basic – Kmart’s microwaves lack any kind of distinctive features and programs that other more expensive makes have. But that could be exactly what you’re looking for.

Microwave Oven Reviews & Ratings

The post Review of Kmart microwave ovens appeared first on Canstar Blue.

One of the world’s most high-profile electronics companies, Samsung makes and sells a huge range of different products, from smartphones to televisions, to refrigerators and washing machines. It also happens to produce a wide range of microwave ovens, which will be the subject of this review.

This article will examine each of the 14 microwave ovens that Samsung sells in Australia, using the price of each model and the technological features each one possesses to determine if they are worth your hard earned money. So, what features do Samsung microwave ovens have?

What features do Samsung microwave ovens have?

Practical, sleek and stylish, a Samsung microwave oven will save you time and effort in the kitchen, apparently. They can accomplish this through some or all of the following features:

• Sensor technology: detects the level of humidity in the food being cooked and adjusts the time accordingly
• Ceramic enamel cavity: interior cavity makes it easier to clean
• Triple distribution system: a Samsung exclusive technology that cooks food more evenly through two additional microwave antennas
• A wider turntable: ensures you can fit large plates of food big enough for substantial groups of people
• Step-by-step cooking function: assists you in cooking the perfect dish by simply selecting the appropriate function
• Keep warm: keeps food either hot or mild
• Healthy cooking: any number of pre-set cooking modes
• Soften/melt: lets you melt food items such as chocolate at the touch of a button
• Power defrost: allows you to defrost frozen foods quickly
• 2-stage cooking: allows you to set up different stages of cooking at different conditions
• One minute plus: quickly heats food in one minute increments on the highest power level
• Scratch resistance and limited odour transfer

What microwave ovens does Samsung offer?

As we mentioned before, there are 14 microwave ovens available on Samsung’s website. These appliances can be divided into categories based on their capacities:

• 40 Litres
• 34 Litres
• 32 Litres
• 20-30 Litres

Samsung 40L microwave ovens

There are three different models in this category:

• MS40J5133BT Neo Stainless Silver microwave
• ME6144ST Stainless Steel microwave
• ME6144W white microwave

The prices of these microwaves range from about $170 up to $300, which is round about the average for what most Australians pay for their microwaves. Given that 40 Litres is exceptionally large in terms of what an oven can fit inside, you are getting a huge amount of cooking ad heating room for a low price. Each of them also has a power output of 1000W, so they are not weak by any means.

In terms extra microwave features, these models have the following in common:

• Ceramic enamel interior
• Power defrost
• Sensor technology

There are also some differences between the three. The Neo stainless silver microwave (pictured) costs $299, but actually boasts the fewest features, despite being the most expensive. It has the keep warm and healthy cooking options, which apparently serve to improve the standard of finished products, in addition to the soften/melt feature.

The cheaper microwaves in this category have some more advanced and convenient features, mainly the triple distribution system (TDS) and 2-stage cooking, meaning you can cook and reheat two different meals at different conditions without having to buy two. They also have the one minute + button.

Are these microwave ovens worth it?

The 40L Samsung microwave ovens are absolutely worth it, particularly the two cheapest options. These microwaves come with the innovative TDS technology, which allows you to evenly cook food all over. Variations of this technology are common across microwave and oven brands, but appliances that have them tend to be more expensive.

These cheap ovens have a massive capacity, and you can even cook two dishes at once, which already saves you the cost of another microwave oven. So for less than $300, you can prepare large quantities of food quickly and easily, all at once. So definitely consider a 40L Samsung microwave.

You may also be interested in:

• Kmart Microwave Ovens
• Breville Microwave Ovens
• Panasonic Microwave Ovens

Samsung 34L microwave ovens

Like the 40L microwaves, Samsung also has three available with a 34L capacity.

• ME6124W white microwave
• ME6124ST stainless steel microwave
• MS34F606MAT multi-sensor

Official prices are hard to come by for these models, but Appliances Online states that they go for around $250. This is also around the mean price for Aussie microwave purchases, so right away you know you’re not paying too much. Looking at the features of each, they are extremely similar to the 40 Litre microwave ovens, and almost all of the features they have are exactly the same.

Are these microwave ovens worth it?

There is really no added benefit to purchasing one of these 34 Litre microwaves, as the 40 Litre versions can do everything they can but with a larger capacity. Given that the 40 Litre models costs a maximum of $50 more, it’s hard to see a reason why you would buy one of these 34 Litre microwaves, unless you need one specifically.

Samsung 32L microwave ovens

The 32 Litre microwave ovens are Samsung’s most numerous, as it has five of them in total, costing about $200-$215 on average.

• MS32J5133BT Neo stainless steel silver microwave
• MS32J5133BM Black microwave
• MS32H5125AK Black microwave
• ME1113TW White microwave
• ME1113TST Ceramic chrome microwave

Features that are common in category of microwaves are keep warm, healthy cooking, power defrost and a ceramic enamel interior. The first three 32L models also all come with the soften/melt feature, letting you softly melt food items like chocolate and butter. The last two do not have this feature, but they do have both scratch resistance and limited odour transfer, taking care of the interior of the appliance for you and reducing unwanted smells. So really, they are still quite similar to all of the other microwaves listed this far, but are definitely more unique than the 34L options, and can serve a wider variety of needs.

Are these microwave ovens worth it?

With 7-10 different power levels and a variety of features (such as odour transfer, soften/melt and up to 14 pre-programmed recipes), Samsung’s range of 30 Litre microwave ovens seem to represent good value for money, as they are extremely flexible appliances that are relatively cheap in comparison to other premium providers like Sharp and LG.

Samsung 20-30L microwave ovens

The remaining three of Samsung’s 14 microwave models fit within the range of 20-30 Litres. These three microwaves cost around $150-$210.

• The ME73M 20L microwave
• The ME83D-1W 23L white microwave
• The ME6104ST 28L stainless steel microwave

First up is the 20L model (pictured). This stainless steel design has a relatively modest power output of 800W, but you don’t buy this for the power. What you do buy it for (besides the cheap price) is the number of extra features it has. Rapid defrost, three auto-cooking menus, six power levels, a scratch resistance, an enamel interior and the patented triple distribution system represent an excellent degree of flexibility for such an inexpensive appliance. The same unfortunately can’t be said for the 23L model which comes with fewer features and certainly less of a ‘wow’ factor.

Finally, we have the 28L Samsung microwave. This stainless steel, 1000W sensor microwave has a much larger capacity than the previous two models, and is more or less at the average capacity you’d expect from a microwave oven. As well as having six power levels and four auto-cook menus, the 28L model also has the rapid defrost, 2-stage cooking and TDS features, meaning that it actually makes cooking a whole lot easier and more convenient, which is what you should be after.

Are these microwave ovens worth it?

As far as cheap microwaves go, then both the 20L and 28L capacity models are surely up there with the best value options on the market (as long as you don’t mind sacrificing a bit of interior room). At just $200 (approximately), they have a superb range of features and cooking options, ones that many more expensive microwaves simply don’t have. The 23L model doesn’t seem to really represent good value for money, as for the same price you can get microwaves that can do more.

Compare Microwave Ovens

The post Review of Samsung microwave ovens appeared first on Canstar Blue.

The vast majority of Aussies simply couldn’t do without their microwave, with three out of five using it every day of the week.

That’s one of the findings from Canstar Blue’s latest survey on the subject, which also found ease of use to be the biggest driver of customer satisfaction when buying microwaves.

Microwaves are becoming more advanced and equipped with all sorts of impressive features. But our results suggest that many consumers are simply looking for a no-nonsense microwave that they can walk up to, press a button, and quickly heat their food.

Microwaves represent the ultimate cooking convenience and most of us couldn’t get by without them. They’re perfect for days when you get home late from work and want something to eat as quickly as possible. Do you want to stand around for a couple of minutes trying to work out the appropriate settings, or do you just want a microwave that is easy to use, but effective? It seems many are looking for simplicity.

Drivers of customer satisfaction %

• Ease of use 24%
• Even heat distribution 20%
• Functionality 19%
• Value for money 16%
• Appearance and design 10%
• Ease of cleaning 10%

The survey found that very few microwaves are sitting idly by in kitchens, with 94% of respondents using theirs at least a few times each week. Baby Boomers (61%) were most likely to use their microwave every day.

Meanwhile 86% of the 1,010 adults surveyed, who have purchased a new microwave in the last year, said it was an essential appliance in their home.

Microwave use %

• Every day 58%
• A few times a week 36%
• A few times a month 5%
• Rarely 1%
• Never 0%

We might love our microwaves, but many of us aren’t as kind to them as perhaps we could be. One in ten people told us they have broken a microwave by not using it correctly, and the same number admitted they rarely or never clean it. For Gen Y survey respondents, that rose to 22% who rarely or never get their hands dirty.

Cleaning frequency %

• Daily 18%
• Weekly 42%
• Fortnightly 15%
• Monthly 15%
• Rarely 9%
• Never 1%

Breville has picked up Canstar Blue’s Most Satisfied Customers Award 2015 for microwaves, scoring five-star ratings in the key research categories of value for money, ease of use and overall customer satisfaction.

LG, last year’s microwave award winner, once again performed well but just missed out on top spot.

It’s been a hugely successful few months for Breville, having also taken out a Canstar Blue Innovation Excellence Award for The Boss blender in September.

The post Microwaves: just make them easy to use, say Aussies appeared first on Canstar Blue.

Microwaves are an essential appliance in most family homes, whether it’s for warming the baby’s milk, reheating yesterday’s leftover takeover, or drying your socks. But despite being so useful, microwaves are often overlooked when it comes to regular cleaning – and that could be a big mistake.

A Canstar Blue survey has found that one in ten Australian adults rarely or never clean their microwave, which is a pretty disgusting statistic when you consider how often most people use them, how dirty they can get, and how difficult they can be to clean thoroughly. We’ve all seen the mess some foods can make, splattered all over the inside of the microwave.

With three out of five survey respondents using their microwave every day, but just one in five cleaning it as regularly, it seems that for many it’s a case of ‘out of sight, out of mind’.

But hidden behind that microwave door could be lurking some rather nasty bugs, just waiting to contaminate your next meal and potentially make you sick. Marjorie Harvey, founder and director of Australian Food Hygiene Services, says microorganisms (or germs to you and me) can thrive in an uncleaned microwave and should not be taken lightly.

“A dirty microwave could be growing a smorgasbord of germs in it,” she said. “Germs need warmth, food and moisture to multiply, and allowing the internal top of microwaves to be splattered with food particles and not cleaned after each use could pose a potential health risk. Remaining particles from the day, or week, before will dislodge as steam softens the old food and causes it to drop and contaminate the new food – if not covered.

“Under a microscope, there would be enough germs on the tip of a pin head – which is more than a million – that may cause food poisoning symptoms. Dirty microwaves are a haven for cross-contamination risks and from my experience, most people do not look under the internal top to see the accumulated food that has splattered from not being covered during the heating process.”

If in doubt about the cleanliness of your microwave, Mrs Harvey recommends covering food or beverages with microwave safe plastic wrap, a lid or bowl. And if you have discovered that food has hardened from continual splashing, you could try placing a cup of cold water into your microwave and turning it on high for around three minutes to create a steam, which should mean the food particles are easy to wipe off. This method avoids using abrasive cleaners that may scratch and harm the microwave surface.

Vinegar, dishwashing liquid, lemon and even window cleaner are also mentioned online as good cleaning tools. If you have a bright idea to keep your microwave sparkling, let us know in the comments box below.

The post Why you should regularly clean your microwave appeared first on Canstar Blue.

Conventional microwaves are at the centre of modern kitchen convenience – most Australians households have one and couldn’t do without it. But with so many options to choose from, ranging in price from as little as $90 to around $800, how do you know which one to choose?

Our customer satisfaction ratings are designed to help make that purchase decision a little easier, with more than 1,000 Australians giving their verdict on their brand of microwave. Breville was the standout performer in 2015, so we caught up with Sharon Lenzner, Senior Category Manager – Cooking, to find out what the company has been doing to earn a five-star review from consumers.

The importance of simplicity

Q) We found ‘ease of use’ to be the greatest driver of customer satisfaction when buying a new microwave – an area Breville scored top marks in. Has it been a priority to make your microwaves as easy to use as possible and can you tell us about any research you have done with regards to what consumers are looking for?

Every kitchen has a microwave, however Breville’s extensive in-home research found that microwaves are often difficult to operate to their full potential without reference to the instruction manual. This means users often choose the instant start button – which blasts everything at 100 per cent power – or experiment only with time.

The latest Breville microwave, the Quick Touch™, was in development for three years. During that time more than 3,000 hours were spent in the test kitchen to ensure these microwaves solved real food challenges, were easy to use and produced superior food results.

Understanding microwave settings

Tasks such as reheating baked beans, which are known to explode in the microwave because the user can’t work out how to adjust the power, have been pre-programmed as a short cut to take out all the guess work. Other easy to use short cuts mean no more defrosted chicken with a frozen core and cooked edges, or melted chocolate that has over heated.

The Quick Touch microwave understands how much power (which is equivalent to heat) and time is required to reheat, cook and defrost perfectly for each food type and does it for you. Adapting the clever food thinking of the “a Bit More” feature, which was originally invented for toasters, provides the user with greater control over the results. What’s more, the Quick Touch microwaves are the first to allow manual adjustment of power and time while the microwave is in use.

Q) Three out of five adults use their microwave every day of the week, but less than one in five actually clean it every day. What are your experiences of consumer use and how important is it to maintain a clean microwave?

The main cause for microwaves getting dirty is the overheating and consequent exploding and splattering of food. The extensive testing Breville undertook before launching the Quick Touch was to ensure the microwaves deliver the optimal power level and time to cook, reheat or defrost a wide variety of foods in order to avoid messy results.

Breville has also made it easier to clean inside the Quick Touch microwave, made with stainless steel with a unique self-centring carriage design that allows the turntable to be removed for easy cleaning with no need for fiddly re-alignment.

What’s next in kitchen innovation?

Q) This award success for microwaves follows on the back of Breville’s Innovation Excellence Award win for the Boss™ blender. Can you tell us about any other exciting plans for the future?

Breville has recently received internationally acclaimed iF Design Awards for the Oracle® and the Smart Waffle™. The Oracle is a world first espresso machine design, and bridges the gap between automatic and manual options, automating the most complex parts of espresso making – grinding, dosing, tamping and milk texturing. This provides the taste coffee lovers crave from a manual machine, matched with the simplicity of an automatic. In as little as 90 seconds, a true café quality cappuccino or latte is ready, without needing the skills of a barista.

The Smart Waffle is also an innovative design. Including Breville’s unique Waffle IQ™ technology it automatically calculates the cooking time based on waffle type and colour preference for consistently good results. It has also been designed with a no-mess moat that catches and cooks batter overflow for easy clean up.

Not only is Breville reinventing pressure and slow cooking this winter, but the award-winning Quick Touch microwave range welcomes an exciting new addition with interesting features, that will resonate with consumers looking for a best-in-class microwave. These are just some of many innovations from Breville that make life in the kitchen faster, simpler and better.

The post Breville microwaves have the magic Quick Touch appeared first on Canstar Blue.

You would be amazed at what you can do with your microwave apart from cook or reheat food. For example…

Who needs an oven when you have a microwave?

1. Kill the bacteria in a sponge or a chopping board – takes 1 minute on High. Good Housekeeping says you can kill 99.9% of most household germs this way, and 99.8% of E. coli and salmonella.
2. Make citrus fruit juicier – blasting them for a few seconds makes the pulp liquefy slightly on the inside and the rind emit a lovely fragrance on the outside.
3. Heat up your wheatbag for your aching neck and shoulders.
4. Liquefy wax stuck in the bottom of candle holders.
5. Breathe new life into dried-up mascara.
6. De-tear onions – cut the ends of the onion off and microwave for about 30 seconds, to cut down on their tear-inducing juiciness when you chop them. They still taste the same when you cook and eat them later.
7. Drying your pantihose.
8. Sterilise potting soil for your baby pot plants – it’s way cheaper to make your own than buy it!
9. Save stale bread – wrap slice in wet paper towels and zap on High for 20 seconds.
10. De-sticky stamps from envelopes to reuse them – put a couple of drops of water on the back of the envelope, then microwave for 20 seconds and peel the stamp off. (Does anyone but me still use stamps?)

What NOT to microwave
 

Other articles you might like

Microwaves: just make them easy to use, say Aussies

Why you should regularly clean your microwave

Eight great microwave recipes

The post 10 surprising things you can do with a microwave appeared first on Canstar Blue.

Canstar Blue teams up with mythbusters across the world to debunk the best microwave conspiracy theories.

“Microwave radiation is bad for your health”

Canstar Blue’s survey in 2014 found 28% of Australians were worried about the health risks associated with microwave use. Many claims have been made about microwaves harming your health, from standing too close to the microwave while it’s in use causing cancer, to microwaves “interfering” with pacemakers.

Let’s look at 40 years’ worth of evidence.

Although microwaves are a form of radiation, they do not stay in the food and make it “radioactive”.

When a microwave door is opened, the magnetron that creates the radiation waves is switched off. Food Science Australia told the ABC that this energy is of a lower frequency than that required even for lighting. Perhaps you should be more scared of your electric lightbulb than of your microwave.

Is it dangerous to microwave plastic?

 
What if there’s a crack in your microwave cover or door somewhere? Could radiation leak out? Australia’s radiation and nuclear safety agency ARPANSA says a small amount could leak out, but how much? Not enough to produce heat. And ARPANSA told the Sydney Morning Heraldthat microwave energy has never been shown, at any level, to produce cancer.

You could create carcinogens in food if you were regularly microwaving plastic containers containing BPA, PET or other toxins – none of which should be available for sale these days anyway. Play it safe, use “microwave safe” or “food-safe” labelled containers.

What NOT to microwave

 
You could burn yourself if your hand was stuck inside the microwave on High for a while, but CSIRO told the Sydney Morning Heraldthis is because the water gets dried out of your skin too quickly, not from any radiation poisoning. Besides, how would you get your hand stuck inside the microwave? You could burn yourself on the stove much more easily.

We’re happy to say that microwaving your food is generally considered fine for your health, as long as you’re using the machine correctly.

“Microwaves kill the nutrients in food”

Microwaves may change some of the nutrient values in food, so do all other forms of cooking. Interestingly, there are studies that prove the opposite is true – that microwave cooking, because it is faster, preserves many more of the nutrients in food. One of these studies was performed by Harvard Medical School. The advocates of this myth usually cite studies where food was boiled in water in a microwave rather than just straight microwaving it.

The number of microwaves in Australia
 

“Microwaves can be used for mind control”

Some conspiracy theorists say that microwave energy can be used for mind control. We’re not sure what to say about that, except: They’re wrong… Trust us… You feel very sleepy…

“Boeing plans to weaponise microwave force fields”

Boeing is reported to have patented a force field that combines microwave energy with lasers and an electrical current. The US patent, filed in March 2015, is viewable online. The method creates a plasma shield to reflect physical waves of energy and is said to be similar to the type of force field seen in Star Wars.

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