Kitchen

[Pooky1]

we have had many microwave ovens over the years usually under 80 bucks. our last one was a sears kenmore well over 100 bucks and this one died after 18 months. it looks like cheaper last longer on them. what does everyone think?

[ChynnaBlue]

I've never had to buy a microwave. The apartments I've lived in and have had one built in. The last place I was in I lived in for 12 years with one microwave. The one my parents have gets used daily and they bought that in 1980-something, like 1986.

[chickenbutt]

I don't really go by price, but have done very well with Sharp brand, over the years.

I had my first Sharp just over 18 years and it was still working (gave it away to buy one that was more updated).

The second Sharp lasted 18 years (weird coincidence!) and something went kerflooey.

Replaced that one with another Sharp and that was a few years ago.  We'll see.     But only that one died on me and it would not have been practical to seek a fix, instead of just replacing it.

All I really look for is a decent size, a good output (1200W) for it to be appropriately effective, and a brand that tends to make good products.  Even so, I don't think I spent more than $150 on this latest one.

[QVCkitty1]

I have had 2 Panasonic microwaves, and have been very satisfied.

[Lilysmom]

Panasonic hands down IMO.  They make the best microwaves.  I also have a Panasonic Microwave/Convection oven.  LM

[Mz iMac]

My Sharp is 20+ old.  Don't know the cost as it was a present from my parents for my new apt at that time.

Still going strong. 

My only complaint is in the apt I am living in now, I can't run it the same time the living room tv is on.  Microwave blows out my circuit breaker.

[Tigriss]

I would look at all the features as things you want in a microwave. I have a microwave/covection/grill (a Daewoo I got from WalMart online-only 900W but super functioning....I couldn't find it anywhere else currently.)  I would also consider the return policy, measure where you are going to put it (that was my limitation really), color, wattage (higher watts faster cooking), and again....features like does it have a light that works when you open the door when it goes off (you know...so you can see your food on the inside when it goes off).

[Kachina624]

Youll want to consider the wattage before you buy.   Many of the smaller,  inexpensive ovens are very low wattage and don't cook as fast as the larger ones.   I'd look for at least 1,000 watts. 

[feline groovy]

My reasonably-priced Sharp microwave ovens all (thankfully) lasted a long time.

But I would still always research user reviews at Amazon and elsewhere.

[Toppers3]

Hi @Pooky1,

They don't seem to last very long, anymore.

We've gone through several microwave ovens since we've moved here. 

I want to say that we're on our third now. They only seem to last a few years each.

I think that the longest time that we had a microwave oven last was about eight years, and that was for our first Sharp microwave.

I think that the key pad went and wore out on it, so it would turn itself on and off at random. That was pretty wild, to watch it do that! LOL!! 

We used to buy Sharp microwaves, but for some reason they're now making them mostly at 1,000 watts and they've gone up in price, too. 

Some of the microwaves that are made now don't light up when you open up the door anymore, and some don't light up when the food is heating up, either, meaning the features have changed, and in my opinion, not for the better.

This time around during the summer when we needed a new microwave, we got a Kenmore that had all of the features that we were looking for, and it is also an 1100 watt microwave, which is standard wattage for heating up prepared/frozen foods if you are making things like that, too.