January 2020 - Power To The Kitchen

Best Flatbed Solo Microwave: The Top 3 Models

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#1 – Best Flatbed Solo Microwave: Russell Hobbs RHEM2301B

★★★★★

Best Flatbed Solo Microwave: #1 Russell Hobbs RHEM2301B

If the Russell Hobbs RHEM2301B were any easier it, you’d always think it was Sunday morning. With this delightful creation you get a super-easy to use microwave that’s also offers great value for money and with a flatbed design that makes it very straightforward to clean. It’s why its our number #1 pick for best flatbed solo microwave.

The Russell Hobbs RHEM2301B is a microwave that shows the renowned British manufacturer at the top of its game. To say this microwave is easy to use would be a wild understatement. The control panel features 4 buttons. In case you missed that let me repeat; it features four (4) buttons. 1 – Microwave, 2 – Defrost, 3- Stop/Cancel and 4 – Start are all the buttons you’ll ever need to get the most out of this beauty.

A widely stated stat is the fact that 98% of Britain’s microwave users only ever reheat or defrost their food. That means there’s a lot of microwaves out there that have way more features than people actually need. The fact that users cannot stop raving on about how easy to use this Russell Hobbs RHEM2301B is speaks to this fact.

If you are like most of people using microwaves for purely reheating and defrosting purposes but want a nice straightforward interface then this is the unit for you.

To use the microwave for example, you press the Microwave button until the time you need is reached. The timer jumps in 30 second intervals until you get to 5 minutes at which point it increases by 1 minute up to a maximum of 60 minutes.

Alternatively if you just press and hold the button from the start it will skip through the minutes much faster until you reach the time you need. Once you have the time you require, you press the Microwave button again and then hit the Start button for the machine to come at full power. As simple as that.

The Defrost button works in exactly the same way though at an appropriate power for defrosting.

If you need to pause a cooking cycle you simply hit the Stop/Cancel button once. If you need to stop the cycle completely you press the Stop/Cancel button a second time.

The great thing about the Easi microwave is that you only ever need to really worry about the time you want for heating or defrosting your food. There are no fancy programmes for auto cooking based on the weight of food you have no clue about.

Not only is this model easy to use but even more importantly it does its job quickly and efficiently. At 800Watts it is a nice and powerful microwave meaning your food will get heated and defrosted quickly. This is something you see mentioned time and again from users.

As well as cooking your food quickly the flatbed design and crucially Russell Hobb’s diamond shaped cavity mean that your food is also heated evenly. The diamond cavity helps to distribute the microwaves more evenly within the cooking chamber resulting in a food that is heated evenly with no cold spots.

As this is a flatbed design (i.e. no turntable) it means you get more space than you would with a traditional microwave. With a 23litre capacity in total in addition to the flatbed design, you can get larger and more awkward shaped dishes into the microwave for heating and defrosting purposes. 23litres is big enough for a small family but not too big for a single person or a couple.

Our Russell Hobbs RHEM2301B review would not be complete without mentioning the flatbed design and how much easier it is to clean than otherwise would be the case with a turntable design.

As we’ve come to expect from Russell Hobbs, the RHEM2301B looks great. The door has an elegant mirror finish which gives it a real sleek and modern feel. Though mirror finish doors can be difficult to keep clear of finger print smudges, this unit elegantly avoids this issue with the door handle meaning you won’t need to touch the mirror when opening and closing the microwave.

Overall the Russell Hobbs RHEM2301B cannot be rated highly enough. It is a wonderfully intuitive microwave that focuses on making your life as easy as possible and gets the most important aspects of the microwave (heating and defrosting) just right. It’s easy to use, easy to clean, cooks very well and offer excellent value for money. It had to be our #1 best flatbed solo microwave and we think you’ll quickly agree.

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Key Features

Super-easy control panel with only 4 buttons
23Litre capacity
Flatbed design (no turntable)
800W for quick and convenient cooking
Type: Solo Microwave
Available Colours: Black with silver backing; Silver
Dimensions: H30.4cm x W50.2cm x D41.8cm

#2 – Best Flatbed Solo Microwave For The Money – Russell Hobbs RHFM2363B

★★★★

Best Flatbed Solo Microwave: #2 Russell Hobbs RHFM2363B

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The Russell Hobbs RHFM2363B is a great pick if you are want a sleek solo flatbed microwave that combines brilliant features with style. In addition it offers excellent value for money making it our 2nd best flatbed solo microwave.

This microwave is classy through and through. This starts with the black mirror finish which looks very polished and will have you purring in delight every time you look at it.

With 800 Watts of cooking power, your food will get heated and cooked very quickly. The RHFM2363B comes with 5 power levels giving you plenty of flexibility when selecting the appropriate power level for cooking and heating your food. One of these is an excellent defrost function which comes in handy if you store your food in the freezer regularly and ever forget to take it out in good time.

Whilst the mirror door gives the RHFM2363B a brilliant appearance it does mean that visibility during cooking is reduced. Nonetheless it gives the machine a high grade look that is likely to upgrade most kitchen work-tops.

The model comes with a 23 litre capacity which will work perfectly for everyday cooking and heating needs around the home. This capacity would suit most households whether single occupancy or those with a family as its big enough to take good sized dishes for a family but not too big to feel wasteful for one person.

There’s a child lock which is very handy if you have kids as it ensures that when its on the controls cannot be changed and the machine activated.

The flatbed design though is the real standout feature. If you regularly cook large dishes in the microwave, a flatbed machine can accommodate them where as the old style turntables can’t take them as easily.

The flatbed technology can also mean that your dishes are more evenly heated. This is particularly the case with the Russell Hobbs RHFM2363B model due to its diamond cavity. The diamond cavity structure provides more even distribution of the microwaves by improving the reflection of the microwaves inside the machine. This means food is cooked more evenly reducing the chance of those annoying cold spots on your meals. This should save you time as well as energy.

As with any appliance, there are a few drawbacks to be aware of. The first is relates to the mirror finish on the door as fingerprint marks are easier to see. This will mean it needs more regular wiping down. Although not a deal-breaker, it is something to keep in mind.

In addition, the machine will need to be placed at least 20cm from a wall so keep this in mind when considering where it will need to be placed.

Overall however, the Russell Hobbs RHFM2363B is a fantastic flatbed solo microwave. If you want a machine that combines power, elegance and excellent value for money than look no further.

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Key Features

800 Watts of power for quick and convenient cooking with 5 Power Levels
23litre capacity
Flatbed technology for increased cooking capacity and easy cleaning
Excellent defrost function
Diamond cavity structure provides effective microwave distribution for better cooking
Dimensions: 51 x 43 x 31 cm

#3 – Best Flatbed Solo Microwave – Panasonic NN-SF464MBPQ

★★★★★

Best Flatbed Solo Microwave: #3 Panasonic NN-SF464MBPQ

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The Panasonic NN-SF464MBPQ is our second choice for best flatbed solo microwave and is a fantastic choice for a flatbed microwave if you are after something slightly bigger than the 23L offered by the Russell Hobbs RHFM2363B.

This fantastic unit is equipped with Panasonic’s inverter technology giving you evenly cooked food with less power usage than conventional microwave ovens. Your food will come out evenly cooked with no annoying cold spots. The inverter technology allows you to control the power to get your food exactly how you need it.

This is a solo microwave (take a look here if you’re after the best flatbed combination microwaves) meaning there’s no grill or oven function. This would suit a household that uses the microwave predominantly for heating and defrosting food rather than cooking complex meals. It would also work well for meals such as rice, pasta, jacket potatoes and the like.

The inverter technology coupled with 1000Watts of power means you can rely on this microwave to cook your food quickly and evenly.

To allow you take full advantage of the ample power on offer, the Panasonic NN-SF464MBPQ comes equipped with 5 power levels from gentle defrosting through to cooking full on dishes.

It has a generous 18 auto programmes which gives you a wide range of choice when it comes to making your food exactly how you like it without any of the guess work. This is a wide range of auto programmes that you do not see very often, if ever, in other models and includes options for soup, chicken breasts as well as 3 defrost settings.

The control panel is touch operated which makes the unit feel all the more slick alongside the overall neat design. This combined with the stainless steel silver finish gives it a modern feel that would be welcomed in most kitchens.

The stainless steel finish also makes cleaning quite easy as you can just wipe down the flat surface. The flatbed base also makes the job of cleaning relatively easy.

The flatbed design means there is no turntable leaving with you with much for space for large awkward dishes that otherwise would not fit.

This model also features a child lock which is particularly useful if your family includes young children.

You’d have to look hard for drawbacks to this machine and the best you’d come up with is possibly a slightly dim LED light when in operation but this really is scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Overall this is an excellent choice for a flatbed solo microwave. It will cook your food nice and evenly, it’s easy to clean and looks great. It ticks many boxes and had to be selected as one of only 3 for our pick for the best flatbed solo microwave.

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Key Features

Flatbed design giving you more space and an easier time cleaning
Inverter cooking technology for precise and evenly cooked food
Plenty of cooking capacity (27Litre)
1000W of power for quick and easy meals
Dimensions: D42.2cm x W52.9cm x H32.6cm

Best Flatbed Solo Microwave: Let us know what you think below.

What Is The Difference Between A Convection And Inverter Microwave Oven?

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What Is The Difference Between A Convection And Inverter Microwave Oven?

If you’ve been searching for a new microwave oven recently you’ve probably noticed there’s a whole heap of jargon flying around. A few terms you may have noticed more often than not are “convection” and “inverter” microwaves. This may have you wondering what is the difference between a convection and inverter microwave oven?

What Is The Difference Between A Convection And Inverter Microwave?

Here we take a look at the key differences and between the two and things to be aware of.

What Is A Convection Microwave?

A convection oven works by blowing hot air over your food whilst it is being cooked.

They’re equipped with a fan system to circulate the air inside the cavity of the microwave oven so distribute the heat from the elements more evenly

What Is An Inverter Microwave?

An inverter microwave works in a different way to traditional microwaves. Classic microwaves equipped with magnetrons (the device which which emits the microwave energy) alternate between on and off throughout a cycle in order to simulate a selected power level.

Inverter microwaves on the other hand can run at a fraction of their power level throughout a cycle rather than switching on and off

One thing to be aware of is that it is quite possible to have a microwave oven that has a convection oven and a inverter microwave function (.

What Are The Benefits Of A Convection Microwave?

Quicker: When combined with a microwave convection ovens tend to cook food much faster. This is because you can use the fast cooking convenience of the microwave function to cook the inside of your food and finish off with browning using the convection oven.

In addition as convection microwave ovens tend to be smaller than traditional ovens, there’s less interior space to heat up so cooking time is reduced.

Evenly Cooked Food: As the hot air is blown over the food as it cooks, convection ovens can cook food more evenly than some traditional ovens with just the heating elements.

Easier To Clean: As there’s less interior space inside the chamber of the convection microwave oven, there less area to clean when compared to a traditional oven. These microwaves are usually flatbed designs as well which makes cleaning and wiping down even easier.

What Are The Benefits Of An Inverter Microwave?

Precise Power Control: One of the biggest advantages is the ability to precisely control the power during cooking. With conventional microwaves as the power is always at 100%, it can sometimes result in overcooking even in lower settings. Being able to select the precise power level also means you can follow recipes that call for specific power levels with more accuracy.

More Energy Efficient: As the inverter microwaves allow you to control the power output they tend to be more energy efficient than traditional microwaves which are on full power whenever they are on. This should mean lower energy bills as you use power more effectively and only when you actually intend to.

Evenly Cooked Food: Another major advantage of inverter microwaves over traditional models is that your food should be heated and cooked more evenly. As traditional models work by turning the power on and off during a cycle there’s always a chance that some parts of your food do not get the necessary heat, at least on the first try. With the consistent power output you get from an inverter microwave, this issue should be largely avoided with the right setting.

Avoid Overcooking: With traditional microwaves overcooking your food can easily be done as the machine zaps away at full power on-off during a cycle. With inverter models, this issue can be avoided with better control of the power. This should ultimately result in better tasting food as you stick closer to the best method of cooking.

Best Inverter Microwave

#1 Inverter Microwave: Panasonic NN-SD27HSBPQ

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Cooks quickly and evenly? Check. Looks great? Check. Is easy to use? Double-Check? Sings lullabies? I don’t think so but I can ask?

As you would expect from one of the best (and in many estimations the best) microwave manufacturers in the world, the Panasonic NN-SD27HSBPQ delivers on all fronts.

You get a highly effective solo microwave for your cooking and reheating needs, it looks brilliant and is well built. It is one of the most highly rated microwaves available and is our #1 pick for best inverter microwave and overall best microwave.

All in all the Panasonic NN-SD27HS is a fantastic microwave that cooks and reheats food quickly and efficiently, is easy to use and quite pleasing on the eye. It offers excellent value for money from a reliable and highly renowned brand and comes with a great track record of user experience.

Best Microwave Convection Oven

#1 Convection Microwave Oven: Panasonic NN-CF873SBPQ

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If you like your food cooked in the future then you’ll love the high grade Panasonic NN-CF873SBPQ flatbed combination convection microwave oven. The Panasonic NN-CF873SBPQ is our #1 pick for the best convection microwave. With this model you can microwave, roast, bake and grill your way to the perfect dinner.

It has a 1000W inverter microwave alongside an excellent convection oven and a 1300W quartz grill.

Overall the Panasonic NN-CF873SBPQ Premium Combination Oven is a fantastic microwave oven . It combines a highly effective convection oven with a grill as well as a flatbed microwave with a sleek and modern design. There are less expensive alternatives on the market that may not do everything quite as well but if you’re budget can stretch this far then this definitely one to look at.

Read the full review of the Panasonic NN-CF873SBPQ .

Bosch Series 2 HMT84M461B Microwave Review

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Bosch Series 2 HMT84M461B Microwave Review

The Bosch Series 2 HMT84M461B solo microwave combines excellent build quality, lots of useful features, great performance and high user satisfaction to make it one of the very best options on the market.

Bosch Series 2 HMT84M461B Review

The Bosch Series 2 HMT84M461B is a solo microwave (meaning there’s no oven or grill) and it does the job perfectly. This model would be best for those that need to mostly heat and defrost their food as well as cook items such as rice and potatoes.

Coming in black and white options, it may not have the glitzy colours of some other models but what you get is powerful and reliable machine from a world-renowned German engineering brand.

With a 25Litre capacity it has a fairly generous capacity whilst a 315mm turntable means you can get large plates and dishes into the microwave. These features make it a great fit for families as well those looking for a solo microwave that’s larger than the average size.

The Bosch Series 2 HMT84M461B is a powerful unit coming in at 900W which comes in handy when you need to quickly heat your food. It has 5 power levels which are easy to select with 5 clearly labelled corresponding buttons on the control panel (90, 180, 360, 600, 900 Watts). This gives you a great range in cooking flexibility from a low 90W which is recommended for defrosting delicate items to a blistering 900 W best for heating up liquids.

In fact the simplicity of the control panel is one of the best features of the Bosch Series 2 HMT84M461B. You can tell it has been designed with making life as simple as possible. It comes with a pull-out rotary dial for making your selections.

The control panel makes life easy if you’re just looking for a quick re-heat option but also has 7 pre-set automatic programmes. These include options for cooking rice, potatoes and vegetables as well as defrosting meat, poultry and bread.

The microwave is also equipped with an option that allows you to select the weight of your food and let the machine do the rest.

Quite helpfully it also comes with a timer which can run up to 99 minutes which can be handy for dishes that need to be slow cooked. The long countdown is a nice feature as a lot of models only give you around 30 minutes.

A nice added bonus for the settings is the fact this model has a memory function that will allow you to create your own program. This is particularly useful if you have one dish you tend to cook or heat up regularly.

The control panel is equipped with an LED display which is clearly visible from meters away. It can also be used as a clock when not in use which can be surprisingly handy in the kitchen.

The great visibility also goes for the internal light which makes it easy for you to keep an eye on your food whilst it is cooking.

Another great benefit with this unit is the fact it comes with ample information and cooking guides to help you find the best ways to make the most of the power you are getting.

Something else you don’t often see is the possibility of changing the duration of the beeping when the timer comes to an end. You can choose a short duration of 3 beeps or a much longer duration of 30 beeps.

One thing to bear in mind for where you place the microwave on your kitchen counter is that it needs a minimum of 30cm clearance above the unit.

Overall the Bosch Series 2 HMT84M461B is one of the most highly rated solo microwaves on the market and when you look closely it’s easy to see why. If you’re looking for microwave that does everything well, is built to a high standard and won’t cost you too much, look no further.

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Key Benefits

Easy to use control panel	?
900W of power for fast and efficient heating and cooking	?
Good cooking capacity (25L) and large width for big plates	?
Dimensions: D40.8 cm x W51.3cm x H30.5cm	?

Panasonic NN-CF873SBPQ Combination Microwave Review

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Panasonic NN-CF873SBPQ Combination Microwave Review

If you like your food cooked in the future then you’ll love the high grade Panasonic NN-CF873SBPQ premium combination microwave oven. This microwave oven does absolutely everything you could expect from a high grade model but then adds an element of luxury to its presentation and execution.

Panasonic NN-CF873SBPQ Combination Microwave Review

One of the most advanced combination microwaves oven on the market, the NN-CF873SBPQ is a real high grade if you have the budget.

It has a 1000W inverter microwave alongside an excellent convection oven and a 1300W quartz grill. This machine really does have it all covered when it comes to the cooking needs of your household. With this model you can microwave, roast, bake and grill your way to the perfect dinner.

The convection oven works by circulating heated air evenly around the interior of the microwave. Unlike conventional ovens where you need to rely on the air rising, by passing hot air over the food it cooks more evenly across all levels and in a much faster time-frame.

To make the most of the versatility you have with cooking options, the model comes with an enamel shelf, a wire shelf and a glass shelf.

The Panasonic NN-CF873SBPQ has a flatbed design which means there is no turntable, unlike the traditional microwaves. Doing away with the turntable leaves you with far more space inside the microwave meaning you can fit larger sized dishes and more awkward shapes into the unit with ease.

In total you are dealing with a 32Litre capacity unit which gives you a good amount of space for catering to your family.

You’ll enjoy the modern feel of the touch operated control panel, even if you may need to read up on the various icons. The touch panel is incoporated to the ultra slick glass front door. The exterior really does look like it has been designed with luxury in mind and the overall feel of the Panasonic NN-CF873SBPQ is likely to attract attention in your kitchen for its looks as well as its cooking prowess.

When it comes to easy cleaning, this unit also delivers. The back and top surfaces use ‘Catalytic Self Cleaning Plates’ meaning once you are done cooking, you can simply take a cloth to the grease on these surfaces and wipe them away. The sides of the oven have an easy to clean top coating all of which meaning cleaning the microwave is much easier task than traditional ovens. These features combined with the flatbed design make cleaning a much more straightforward prospect.

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Key Benefits

Cook on two levels at the same time with convection oven	?
1000W microwave for fast and easy meals	?
Large cooking capacity (32Litre)	?
Flatbed design for easy cleaning	?
Dimensions: D43.8cm x W49.4 cm x H39cm	?

Panasonic NN-CF873SBPQ Combination Microwave Review: Let us know what you think.

Panasonic NN-SF464MBPQ Flatbed Microwave Review

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Panasonic NN-SF464MBPQ Flatbed Microwave Review

★★★★★

If you’re after a high grade solo microwave that will not only heat your food but eliminate the hunt for cold spots and be super-easy to clean (who isn’t?), then the Panasonic NN-SF464MBPQ is a model you to pay close attention to.

Panasonic NN-SF464MBPQ Flatbed Microwave Review

This excellent model is equipped with Panasonic’s inverter technology giving you evenly cooked food with less power usage than conventional microwave ovens. Your food will come out evenly cooked with no annoying cold spots. The inverter technology allows you to control the power to get the food exactly how you want it.

The inverter technology coupled with 1000Watts of power means you can cook your food quickly and evenly.

Quite helpfully the Panasonic NN-SF464MBPQ comes equipped with 5 power levels from gentle defrosting through to cooking full on dishes.

It has an incredible 18 auto programmes which gives you a wide range of options when it comes to making your food exactly how you like it without any of the guess work. This is a wide range of auto programmes that you do not see very often, if ever, in other models and includes options for soup, chicken breasts, casserole and 3 defrost selections.

It also makes cleaning quite straightforward as you can just wipe down the flat surface. The flatbed base also makes the job of cleaning relatively easy.

The flatbed design means there is no turntable leaving with you with much for space for large awkward dishes that otherwise would not fit.

This model also features a child lock which is particularly useful if your family includes young children.

You’d have to look hard for drawbacks to this machine and the best you’d come up with is possibly a slightly dim LED light when in operation but this really is scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Overall this is an excellent Panasonic product if you are looking for a flatbed microwave that will cook your food evenly and efficiently, is easy to clean and easy to get to grips with.

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Key Benefits

Flatbed design giving you more space and an easier time cleaning	?
Inverter cooking technology for precise and evenly cooked food	?
Plenty of cooking capacity (27Litre)	?
1000W of power for quick and easy meals	?
Dimensions: D42.2cm x W52.9cm x H32.6cm	?

Panasonic NN-SF464MBPQ Flatbed Microwave Review: Let us know what you think

Panasonic NN-CT57JMBPQ Combination Microwave Review

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Panasonic NN-CT57JMBPQ Combination Microwave Review

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★★★★★

There are microwaves and then there are Panasonic microwaves. Within that latter category there are some truly excellent Panasonic microwaves and the Panasonic NN-CT57JMBPQ Slimline Combination Microwave Oven is one of those.

Panasonic NN-CT57JMBPQ Review

The Panasonic NN-CT57JMBPQ combines ample cooking space with a microwave, oven and grill. In addition you also get a well thought out design that saves you lots of counter-space. This makes the Panasonic NN-CT57JMBPQ the perfect option if you need lots of cooking capacity but are tight for space.

It’s why it’s our pick for the best microwave for a family of 5 with a small kitchen.

If you’re simply looking for a quick and easy way to heat up your food then this machine is overqualified for your needs. However, if you want to be able to do just about everything from defrosting bacon, to perfectly reheating leftover rice, baking cakes and roasting lamb then this model could be just what your looking for.

This is a 3-in-1 combination microwave, oven and grill – giving you everything you need for cooking for your family all in one great appliance. The combination is a great space saver as well as money saver.

One of the best things about the Panasonic NN-CT57JMBPQ is the inverter technology. Most conventional microwave ovens use a method of cooking which means the power is at 100% all the time and simply alternates between on and off during a cycle.

With Panasonic’s inverter technology on the other hand, the power is steady. For example if you set it to 50%, the power will be maintained at that level for the whole time.

This precise power controls results in foods cooked exactly how you want them and much more evenly.

The technology also means you do not have to deal with cold spots when heating food and defrosting is done a lot more efficiently.

It also cooks and heats foods much more quickly than a conventional microwave oven. These benefits are all evident with the Panasonic NN-CT57JMBPQ.

At 1000Watts you will also have a very powerful microwave oven that can have your food cooked quickly.

In conventional microwave ovens the cooling fan is located at the back of the machine. In the Panasonic NN-CT57JMBPQ, the fan has been moved to the top of the oven resulting in a much smaller footprint (39.5cm depth). This leaves you with far more countertop space perfect for smaller kitchens.

Internally Panasonic have found a way to give you more space as well with a 34cm turntable meaning you can get even the biggest of dishes into the oven.

Overall you get 27Litre cooking capacity which is great if you have a large family or tend to cook big meals.

The machine comes equipped with plenty of pre-set cooking programmes including a kids menu to encourage healthy eating. You simply enter the weight of the food and the oven does the rest.

Quite helpfully the control panel is wipe clean meaning even if it does get smudged or grubby whilst using, its an easy job to wipe it down.

In all we think the Panasonic NN-CT57JMBPQ would make a great addition to your kitchen especially if you have a large family but are tight on space. It has lots of features that are well executed and it looks fantastic.

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Key Benefits

Inverter cooking technology for precise and evenly cooked food	?
Large capacity (27L) for meeting your family needs	?
Small footprint – great for small kitchens or tight spaces	?
1000W of power for quick and easy meals	?
Dimensions: D39.5cm x W52cm x H31cm	?

Let us know in the comments if you found the Panasonic NN-CT57JMBPQ Combination Microwave Review helpful.

Sharp R959SLMAA Combination Microwave Review

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Sharp R959SLMAA Combination Microwave Review

If you’re looking for a high capacity microwave with excellent features that’s easy to use then the brilliant Sharp R959SLMAA is a great bet.

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★★★★★

Sharp R959SLMAA Combination Microwave Review

If you’re looking for a high capacity microwave with excellent features that’s easy to use then the brilliant Sharp R959SLMAA is a great bet.

Microwaves don’t really come much bigger in terms of cooking capacity than what the Sharp R959SLMAA offers. Its extra large 40 litre capacity means you can easily cater to the needs of your household and make large dishes with no trouble.

In addition the large size means it can take large dinner plates with no problem. It’s easy to see why it’s been chosen as our best microwave for family of 5.

This awesome machine is a combination microwave, oven and grill all in one brillaint device. This will give you lots of versatility in your cooking.

This 900W machine comes with 5 power levels giving you lots of options when cooking. At the same time you also have access to 8 preset cooking modes taking the guesswork out of getting your food exactly how you want it. These include options for cooking pizza, ready meals, rice/pasta and cake.

The 900W grill is equipped with quartz technology. The quartz heating elements get hot very quickly making them perfect for cooking and browning foods such as grilled cheese sandwiches, sausages and pizzas.

If that wasn’t enough, it also comes with a convection oven. These ovens are different to traditional models. They work by circulating heated air evenly around the interior of the oven. Unlike conventional ovens where you need to rely on the air rising, by passing hot air over the food it cooks more evenly and in a much faster time frame. It’s for these reason that they tend to consume less energy.

The convection oven can reach temperatures up to 250°C. With ten different temperature settings ranging between 40°C and 250°C, you’ll have plenty of options for making the perfect meal for your family of 5.

To help you get the most out of your various functions the Sharp R959SLMAA also has a combination (“COMBI”) mode allowing you to combine the microwave with either the grill or convection oven. This reduces cooking time and also means your food can come out with a crispy brown finish.

Quite helpfully instructions pop up on the control panel screen prompting you take action as it’s needed.

The silver trim finish gives this unit a real smart feel.

The Sharp R959SLMAA is designed for use on counter-tops or for built-in installation, rare versatility.

Due to its large capacity and size, it does mean that it takes up a lot of space.

So if you are tight for space in your kitchen then you may need to look elsewhere like the Panasonic NN-CT57JMBPQ Slimline or (checkout our picks of the best flatbed microwaves for another option).

Quite helpfully thought the minimum clearance above the oven unit is 13cm which compares well to a lot of other microwaves which need at least 30cm. This should give you some more flexibility if you are tight for space in your kitchen.

There is also an installation kit available from Sharp that allows the oven to be fitted within a kitchen unit. The oven also has an energy save mode allowing you to save on electricity when the oven is not in use.

Overall the Sharp R959SLMAA microwave offers a number of excellent features as well as a clean look and awesome cooking power. It’s extra large 40litre cooking capacity makes it a standout option if you need ample space for your cooking needs.

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Key Benefits

Extra large 40 litre capacity microwave	?
Microwave, convection oven, grill and combination	?
Quick and convenient cooking with 900W of power	?
Modern and stylish silver finish with a stainless steel finish	?
Dimensions: Outside dimension-W55cm x H36.8cm x D53.7cm Inside dimension W37.5cm x H27.2cm x D39.5.	?

Sharp R959SLMAA Combination Microwave Review: Leave us your thoughts.

Best Microwave For Family Of 5: For Large Families

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Best Microwave For Family:

1 – Best Microwave For Family of 5 – Sharp R959SLMAA

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The brilliant Sharp R959SLMAA is our top pick for the best microwave for family of 5. If you’re looking for a high capacity microwave with excellent features that’s easy to use then this is it.

The Sharp R959SLMAA is by far the best microwave for a family of 5 that we have come across. Its extra large 40 litre capacity means you can easily cater to the needs of your household and make large dishes with no trouble.

In addition the large size means it can take large dinner plates with no problem. It’s easy to see why it’s been chosen best microwave for family of 5.

We’ve also seen great reviews noting how well suited this model is for families of 5. Best microwave for family of 5? Absolutely!

This awesome machine is a combination microwave, oven and grill all in one brillaint device. This will give you lots of versatility in your cooking.

This 900W machine comes with 5 power levels giving you lots of options when cooking. At the same time you also have access to 8 preset cooking modes taking the guesswork out of getting your food exactly how you want it. These include options for cooking pizza, ready meals, rice/pasta and cake.

The 900W grill is equipped with quartz technology. The quartz heating elements get hot very quickly making them perfect for cooking and browning foods such as pizzas, grilled cheese sandiches and sausages.

Quite helpfully instructions pop up on the control panel screen prompting you take action as it’s needed.

The silver trim finish gives this unit a real smart feel.

The Sharp R959SLMAA is designed for use on counter-tops or for built-in installation, rare versatility.

Whilst this is definitely our first choice for best microwave for family of 5, due to its large capacity and size it does mean that it takes up a lot of space.

So if you are tight for space in your kitchen then you may need to look elsewhere like the Panasonic NN-CT57JMBPQ Slimline below or checkout our picks of the best flatbed microwaves for another option.

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Key Benefits

Extra large 40 litre capacity microwave	?
Microwave, convection oven, grill and combination	?
Quick and convenient cooking with 900W of power	?
Modern and stylish silver finish with a stainless steel finish	?
Dimensions: Outside dimension-W55cm x H36.8cm x D53.7cm Inside dimension W37.5cm x H27.2cm x D39.5.	?

2 – Best Microwave For Family of 5 With Small Kitchen – Panasonic NN-CT57JMBPQ Slimline

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The Panasonic NN-CT57JMBPQ Slimline Combination Microwave Oven is our pick for best microwave for family of 5 with small kitchen as well as our number 2 pick for the best microwave for family of 5.

It combines lots of cooking space with a microwave, oven and grill. In addition you also get a well thought out design that saves you lots of counter-space. That’s why this is the best microwave for a family of 5 with a small kitchen.

This is a 3-in-1 combination microwave, oven and grill – giving you everything you need for cooking for your family all in one great appliance. The combination is a great space saver as well as money saver.

One of the best things about the Panasonic NN-CT57JMBPQ is the inverter technology. Most conventional microwave ovens use a method of cooking which means the power is at 100% all the time and simply alternates between on and off during a cycle.

With Panasonic’s inverter technology on the other hand, the power is steady. For example if you set it to 50%, the power will be maintained at that level for the whole time.

This precise power controls results in foods cooked exactly how you want them and much more evenly.

The technology also means you do not have to deal with cold spots when heating food and defrosting is done a lot more efficiently.

It also cooks and heats foods much more quickly than a conventional microwave oven. These benefits are all evident with the Panasonic NN-CT57JMBPQ.

At 1000Watts you will also have a very powerful microwave oven that can have your food cooked quickly.

Internally Panasonic have found a way to give you more space as well with a 34cm turntable meaning you can get even the biggest of dishes into the oven.

Overall you get 27Litre cooking capacity. If you have a large family (then this is one of the Best Microwave for Family of 5, it can also accomodate food for 7 or 8 people). This is one of the key reasons we think this is the best microwave for a family of 5 with a small kitchen.

The machine comes equipped with plenty of pre-set cooking programmes including a kids menu to encourage healthy eating. You simply enter the weight of the food and the oven does the rest.

Quite helpfully the control panel is wipe clean meaning even if it does get smudged or grubby whilst using, its an easy job to wipe it down.

In all we think the Panasonic NN-CT57JMBPQ would make a great addition to your kitchen especially if you have a large family but are tight on space.

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Key Benefits

Inverter cooking technology for precise and evenly cooked food	?
Large capacity (27L) for meeting your family needs	?
Small footprint – great for small kitchens or tight spaces	?
1000W of power for quick and easy meals	?
Dimensions: D39.5cm x W52cm x H31cm	?

3 – Best Flatbed Microwave For Family of 5 – Panasonic NN-SF464MBPQ

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The Panasonic NN-SF464MBPQ flatbed microwave oven is our pick for best flatbed microwave for family of 5 and our 3rd pick for best microwave for family of 5.

This excellent model is equipped with Panasonic’s inverter technology giving you evenly cooked food with less power usage than conventional microwave ovens. Your food will come out evenly cooked with no annoying cold spots. The inverter technology allows you to control the power to get the food exactly how you want it

The inverter technology coupled with 1000Watts of power means you can cook your food quickly and evenly.

Quite helpfully the Panasonic NN-SF464MBPQ comes equipped with 5 power levels from gentle defrosting through to cooking full on dishes.

It has an incredible 18 auto programmes which gives you a wide range of options when it comes to making your food exactly how you like it without any of the guess work.

The control panel is touch operated which makes the unit feel all the more slick alongside the overall neat design. This combined with the stainless steel silver finish gives it a modern feel that would be welcomed in most kitchens.

It also makes cleaning quite straightforward as you can just wipe down the flat surface. The flatbed base also makes the job of cleaning relatively easy.

This is a solo microwave take a look here if you’re after the best flatbed combination microwaves meaning there’s no grill or oven function. This would suit a household that uses the microwave predominantly for heating and defrosting food rather than cooking complex meals. It would also work well for meals such as rice, pasta, jacket potatoes and the like.

The flatbed design means there is no turntable leaving with you with much for space for large awkward dishes that otherwise would not fit.

This model also features a child lock which is particularly useful if your family includes young children.

You’d have to look hard for drawbacks to this machine and the best you’d come up with is possibly a slightly dim LED light when in operation but this really is scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Overall this is an excellent Panasonic product if you are looking for a flatbed microwave that will cook your food evenly and efficiently, is easy to clean and get to grips with. It is our pick for best flatbed microwave for family of 5.

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Key Benefits

Flatbed design giving you more space and an easier time cleaning	?
Inverter cooking technology for precise and evenly cooked food	?
Plenty of cooking capacity (27Litre)	?
1000W of power for quick and easy meals	?
Dimensions: D42.2cm x W52.9cm x H32.6cm	?

4 – Best Microwave For Family of 5 – Panasonic NN-CF873SBPQ Premium Combination Oven

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If you like your food cooked in the future then you’ll love the high grade Panasonic NN-CF873SBPQ premium combination microwave oven. The Panasonic NN-CF873SBPQ Premium Combination Flatbed Microwave Oven is our 4th pick for the best microwave for family of 5 and our top option for best microwave oven for family of 5.

One of the most advanced combination microwaves oven on the market, the NN-CF873SBPQ is a real high grade option for a family of 5 if you have the budget.

It has a 1000W inverter microwave alongside an excellenct convection oven and a 1300W quartz grill. This machine really does have it all covered when it comes to the cooking needs of your family of 5. With this model you can microwave, roast, bake and grill your way to the perfect dinner.

When you’re trying to make multiple dishes with an oven, the Panasonic NN-CF873SBPQ will have you covered. It has a brilliant convection oven allowing you to cook on two levels at the same time letting you get dinner made for the whole family in one go. This is one of many reasons why it’s on our list for the best microwave oven for family of 5. The convection oven works by circulating heated air evenly around the interior of the microwave. Unlike conventional ovens where you need to rely on the air rising, by passing hot air over the food it cooks more evenly across all levels and in a much faster time-frame.

To make the most of the versatility you have with cooking options, the model comes with an enamel shelf, a wire shelf and a glass shelf.

In total you are dealing with a 32Litre capacity unit which gives you a good amount of space for catering to your family.

When it comes to easy cleaning, this unit has you covered. The back and top surfaces use ‘Catalytic Self Cleaning Plates’ meaning once you are done cooking, you can simply take a cloth to the grease on these surfaces and wipe them away. The sides of the oven have an easy to clean top coating all of which meaning cleaning the microwave is much easier task than traditional ovens. These features combined with the flatbed design make cleaning a much more straightforward prospect.

Overall the Panasonic NN-CF873SBPQ Premium Combination Oven is a fantastic microwave oven and sits well on our list of the best microwave for family of 5. It combines a highly effective convection oven with a grill as well as a flatbed microwave with a sleek and modern design. There are less expensive alternatives on the market that may not do everything quite as well but if you’re budget can stretch this far then this definitely one to look at.

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Key Benefits

Cook on two levels at the same time with convection oven	?
1000W microwave for fast and easy meals	?
Large cooking capacity (32Litre)	?
Flatbed design for easy cleaning	?
Dimensions: D43.8cm x W49.4 cm x H39cm	?

5 – Best Solo Microwave For Family of 5 – Bosch Series 2 HMT84M461B

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The Bosch Series 2 HMT84M461B solo microwave combines excellent build quality, lots of useful features, great performance and high user satisfaction to make it on to our list of best microwave for family of 5 as our pick for the best solo microwave for family of 5.

Coming in black and white options, it may not have the glitzy colours of some other models but what you get is powerful and reliable machine from a world-renowned German engineering brand.

This is a solo microwave (meaning there’s no oven or grill) and it does the job perfectly. This model would be best for a large families that need to mostly heat and defrost their food as well as cook items such as rice and potatoes.

It makes it easy if you’re just looking for a quick re-heat option but it also has 7 pre-set automatic programmes. These include options for cooking rice, potatoes and vegetables as well as defrosting meat, poultry and bread.

It is also equipped with a dial that allows you to select the weight of your food and let the machine do the rest.

Quite helpfully it also comes with a timer which can run up to 99 minutes which can be handy for dishes that need to be slow cooked. A nice added bonus for the settings is the fact this model has a memory function that will allow you to create your own program. This is pearticuarly useful if you have one dish you tend to cook or heat up regularly.

The control panel is equipped with an LED display which is clearly visible from meters away. It can also be used as a clock when not in use which can be surprisingly handy in the kitchen.

The great visibility also goes for the internal light which makes it easy for you to keep an eye on your food whilst it is cooking.

Another great benefit with this unit is the fact it comes with ample information and cooking guides to help you find the best ways to make the most of the power you are getting.

One thing to bear in mind for where you place the microwave on your kitchen counter is that it needs a minimum of 30cm clearance above the unit.

Overall the Bosch Series 2 HMT84M461B is one of the most highly rated solo microwaves on the market and easily makes our list for the best microwave for family of 5 as the best solo option.

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Key Benefits

Easy to use control panel	?
900W of power for fast and efficient heating and cooking	?
Good cooking capacity (25L) and large width for big plates	?
Dimensions: D40.8 cm x W51.3cm x H30.5cm	?

Are Inverter Microwaves Better? – The Best 3 Models

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What is an inverter microwave? Are inverter microwaves better?

What is an inverter microwave? Are inverter microwaves better?

If you’re looking for a new microwave you may have asked yourself these questions frequently. The answers could go a long way to helping you decide on the best type of microwave.

What Is An Inverter Microwave?

An inverter microwave works in a different way to traditional microwaves. The classic microwave operates with a magnetron. In a traditional microwave a magnetron is a the device that produces microwave energy.

See More: What Is The Difference Between A Convection And Inverter Microwave Oven?

The microwaves are then fed through a tube and into the main body of the microwave to cook your food.

When regulating the power on a classic microwave, you are actually determining how long the microwave is on. It will always be at 100% power – the power levels work by changing how long the microwave to try mimic are given power level. So rather than the actual power level it is usually more like “percentage of on time”.

Inverter microwaves on the other hand allow you to regulate power more precisely than the magnetron models.

If you set the power to 50%, you are actually limiting power to half rather than having the machine blast at 100% for half the time of your cycle.

Are Inverter Microwaves Better?

As alluded alluded to earlier there are some notable benefits of inverter microwaves.

Precise Power Control

One of the biggest advantages is the ability to precisely control the power during cooking. With conventional microwaves as the power is always at 100%, it can sometimes result in overcooking even in lower settings. Being able to select the precise power level also means you can follow recipes that call for specific power levels with more accuracy.

More Energy Efficient

As the inverter microwaves allow you to control the power output they tend to be more energy efficient than traditional microwaves which are on full power whenever they are on. This should mean lower energy bills as you use power more effectively and only when you actually intend to.

Evenly Cooked Food

Another major advantage of inverter microwaves over traditional models is that your food should be heated and cooked more evenly. As traditional models work by turning the power on and off during a cycle there’s always a chance that some parts of your food do not get the necessary heat, at least on the first try. With the consistent power output you get from an inverter microwave, this issue should be largely avoided with the right setting.

Avoid Overcooking

With traditional microwaves overcooking your food can easily be done as the machine zaps away at full power on-off during a cycle. With inverter models, this issue can be avoided with better control of the power. This should ultimately result in better tasting food as you stick closer to the best method of cooking.

Multiple Applications

Due to the ability to control the power and therefore the temperature of the microwave cavity, inverter microwaves can be used for many different applications. For example with a low temperature some people use them to keep food warm. Others have also made use of the low steady temperature ranges for slow cooking.

Best Inverter Microwaves

#1 – Panasonic NN-SD27HSBPQ Solo Inverter Microwave

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The Panasonic NN-SD27HSBPQ solo microwave might be best described as simple excellence.

As you would expect from one of the best (and in many estimations the best) microwave manufacturers in the world, the Panasonic NN-SD27HSBPQ delivers on all fronts. You get a highly effective solo microwave for your cooking and reheating needs, it looks brilliant and is well built.

#2 – Panasonic NN-DF386BBPQ Flatbed Combination Inverter Microwave

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The Panasonic NN-DF386BBPQ is one of the most impressive combination flatbed microwaves on the market and one of our topic picks. Our Panasonic flatbed combination microwave review will give you everything you need to know about the brilliant Panasonic NN-DF386BBPQ.

#3 – Panasonic NN-DS596BBPQ Inverter Microwave

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The Panasonic NN-DS596BBPQ is a great flatbed combination microwave that packs plenty of features including a unique steam cooking function. Take a look at our complete review of this brilliant Panasonic NN-DS596BBPQ Review model with inverter technology.

What Power Level Is Defrost On A Microwave?

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What Power Level Is Defrost On A Microwave? Finding the right answer could dramatically change how you use your handy appliance.

Defrosting food is one of the best things about microwaves. Even if you forgot to take out that frozen soup before you left for work in the morning, you can still enjoy it after a quick defrost in the microwave.

But what if your microwave doesn’t have a specific defrost function – how do you know what power level is defrost on a microwave?

What Power Level Is Defrost On A Microwave?

The ideal power range for defrosting food is around 30%. This typically ensures that food is gently thawed.

The percentage (%) power level doesn’t mean you are restricting the power output (wattage) from your machine as that never actually changes. Instead it is the amount of “on time” in a given setting.

If you’re wondering how to get 30% power from your microwave, the handy tables below might help if you have a machine with power levels set from 1 – 10:

Power Level	Equivalent % On-Time	Best For
Level 1	10%	Warming up food
Level 2	20%	Gently defrosting large items around 2kg or less
Level 3	30%	Defrosting food and gently simmering items such as rice. Also good for slow cooking
Level 4	40%	Gentle cooking as well as simmering dishes and baking. Also good for food that contains dairy and gently cooking beef dishes as well as casseroles
Level 5	50%	Reheating leftovers and items that have previously been in the microwave but have come out hot on the outside and cool in the middle.
Level 6	60%	Dense foods such as cuts of meat.
Level 7	70%	Larger dense items.
Level 8	80%	Reheating foods with lots of water e.g. soups and stews.
Level 9	90%	Pasta, minced meat and fish.
Level 10	100%	Jacket potatoes

Best Microwaves For Defrosting

Read our reviews of the best flatbed combination microwaves if you’re looking for awesome microwaves with defrost functions.