GH Institute

All Combination microwaves

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  Review of Samsung CE107B combination microwave

  Features

  Internal capacity: 28 litres. Turntable diameter 320mm.Usable height 190mm. Functions: Cooking/reheating, auto cook, auto reheat, power defrost, cafeteria feature, multistage cooking, fast preheating, convection, grilling, combining microwaves and the grill, combining microwaves and convection, deodorize feature. 6 microwave power levels (100-900w). Quartz grill. Features: Steam cleaning, cafeteria feature, deodorize feature, safety lock. Accessories: Turntable, 2 wire racks. Touch and dial controls. Heating category-E. Left-hinge door. External dimensions H300x W510x D480mm. Available in black with silver handle.

  Comments

  Good points: Good results using the auto reheat and  power defrost functions. Convection cooking was good - fairy cakes were light and fluffy and evenly browned. Grilling was quick.

  Drawbacks: Readymeals did not reach the required temperature (72 °C) when reheated from frozen. Disappointed results using the combined microwave and convection setting – chicken was pale and looked unappealing and jacket potatoes were undercooked. Combination programmes weren’t logical to set and confusing at first.

  Rating: 69/100

  Price Range: £119.99 - 129.99

  Stockist: 0844 561 6263 - http://www.currys.co.uk

  GHI Test Report - January 2009

• 
  Review of Sharp R86STM combination microwave

  Features

  Internal capacity: 26 litres. Turntable diameter 325mm. Usable height 190mm. Functions: Microwave, grill cooking, preheating the oven, convection cooking, combi cooking (microwave and grill, microwave and convection), express cook/express defrost, quick and easy, short cuts, auto cook, convenient functions. 5 microwave power levels (10%-100%). Quartz grill.Features: Energy save. Accessories: Turntable, 2 wire racks. Touch control. Heating category-E. Left-hinge door. External dimensions H309x W520x D480mm. Available in silver.

  Comments

  Good points: Good results using auto reheat for soup, express defrost, and most of the combination programmes. The jacket potatoes and roast chicken were perfectly cooked and evenly browned using the combined microwave and convection programme. Quick to grill toast. Good, easy-to-follow instructions. Touch control panel is easy to clean.

  Drawbacks: Frozen and chilled readymeals, when reheated, didn’t reach the required temperature (72°C). Poor grill coverage and sausages were slow to cook. Disappointing results using the convection setting – bases of the fairy cakes were burnt. Lasagne didn’t get hot enough using the combined microwave and grill setting. Cluttered fascia was confusing.  

  Rating: 66/100

  Price Range: £158 - 179.99

  Stockist: 0800 262 958 - http://www.sharp.co.uk

  GHI Test Report - January 2009

• 
  Review of Morphy Richards EC925EZN combination microwave

  Features

  Internal capacity: 25 litres. Turntable diameter 310mm. Usable height: 190mm. Functions: Microwave, grill, convection, combination (microwave and grill, microwave and convection, grill and convection, microwave, convection and grill), multi-stage cooking, speedy microwave cooking, clock setting, pre-set function, reheat, defrost, microwave auto function, warming up - heating, cooking programme, checking stage of cooking. 5 microwave power levels (10-100%). Radiant grill. Features: Child lock. Accessories: Turntable, 2 in 1 grill stand. Touch control. Left-hinge door. Heating category-E. External dimensions H300x W510x D480mm. Available in metallic silver.

  Comments

  Good points: Good results using defrost setting and reheating soup. Fairy cakes were light and fluffy and evenly risen using the convection setting and roast chicken was succulent and evenly browned using the combined microwave and convection setting. Good selection of combination programmes. Versatile 2 in 1 wire rack saves space. Touch control panel is easy to clean. Simple to use.

  Drawbacks: Frozen and chilled readymeals, when reheated, didn’t reach the required temperature (72°C). Poor results using the combined microwave and grill option. Poor grill coverage and sausages were slow to cook. Maximum weight for cooking a whole chicken using the auto programme only goes up to 1.2kg. Difficult to see into cavity to check progress of cooking as light isn’t very bright.

  Rating: 63/100

  Price: £89.99

  Stockist: 0845 640 3030 - http://www.argos.co.uk

  GHI Test Report - January 2009

• 
  Review of Sanyo EM-SL60C combination microwave

  Features

  Internal capacity: 25 litres. Turntable diameter: 310mm. Usable height 190mm. Functions: Microwave cooking, grill cooking, combination cooking (microwave and grill, microwave and convection, grill and convection, microwave, grill and convection), convection cooking (with preheating function), convection cooking (without preheating function), multi stage cooking, defrost function, speedy cooking, and auto menu. 6 microwave power levels (90-900w). Radiant grill. Features: Lock out function. Accessories: Turntable, 1 wire rack stand. Touch and dial controls.Left-hinge door. Heating category-E. External dimensions H300x W510x D470mm. Available in stainless steel.

  Comments

  Good points: Good results for Auto Defrost and grilling. Grill was quick, and toast and sausages were evenly browned. Satisfactory results when microwave reheating soup and baking fairy cakes using the convection setting. Fascia uncluttered and simple to programme.  

  Drawbacks: Frozen and chilled readymeals, when reheated, didn’t reach the required temperature (72°C). Poor results using the combined microwave and grill option. Fairy cakes didn’t rise evenly and jacket potatoes and roast chicken were pale and undercooked. Wire rack was too tall so some foods nearly touched grill element.  Door temperature became very hot. Inadequate instructions. No clock.

  Rating: 56/100

  Price Range: £119.99 - 128.99

  Stockist: 01923 246 363 - http://www.sanyo.co.uk

  GHI Test Report - January 2009

• 
  Review of Panasonic Inverter NN-CF778SBPQ combination microwave

  Features

  Internal capacity: 27 litres. No turntable. Usable height 190mm. Functions: Microwave cooking and defrosting, auto weight defrost (chaos defrost), delay/stand feature, memory, grilling, convection, two-level cooking, convection and grill, turbo bake, convection and microwave, grill and microwave, convection and grill or turbo bake and microwave, auto weight cook. 6 microwave power levels (100-1000w). Quartz grill. Features: Child lock, eco mode. Self-clean catalytic lining at back of oven. Accessories: Enamel shelf, glass dish, wire shelf, anti-spark ring. Touch and dial controls. Drop-down door. Heating category-E. External dimensions H328x W531x D534mm. Available in stainless steel or metallic silver.

  Comments

  Good points: Good results for reheating, defrosting, fan cooking, grilling and using the combination programmes. A whole chicken was roasted in only 45 minutes and jacket potatoes were cooked perfectly, with evenly browned crispy skin, using the combined convection and microwave option.

  Removable wire shelves are useful so you can batch bake - two trays of 12 fairy cakes were successfully baked using the convention setting. Alternatively the shelves can be removed to fit larger casserole dishes. Quick grill and large grilling area. Useful selection of combination programmes. Easy to use. Retractable controls can be pushed flush with the fascia making it easy to clean. Clear and comprehensive instructions.

  Drawbacks: Quite deep so you’ll need plenty of worktop space. Toast and chicken were not very evenly browned.

  Rating: 83/100

  Price Range: £209.99 - 259.95

  Stockist: 0844 844 3852 - http://www.panasonic.co.uk

  GHI Test Report - January 2009

  
  

• 
  Review of LG SolarCUBE MP9287NL combination microwave

  Features

  Internal capacity: 32 litres. No turntable. Usable height 190mm. Functions: Convection preheat, convection cooking, grill combi, convection combi, auto cooking, defrost, EZ clean grill cooking, micro power cooking. 5 microwave power levels (90-700w). Radiant grill. Features: Child lock, EZ clean. Accessories: Grill pan and rack. Touch and dial controls. Drop-down door. Heating category-C. External dimensions H360x W530x D480mm. Available in stainless steel or black.

  Comments

  Good points: Good results for reheating chilled and frozen ready meals, defrosting and convection cooking. Fairy cakes were light and fluffy and evenly risen. Most of the combination programmes produced good results.  Large or unusual shaped dishes can be used because there isn’t a turntable. Programming is logical and straightforward.

  Drawbacks: Large and bulky. Grilling is slow and browning very uneven. Awkward to see into the cavity to check progress of cooking. Poor results using the microwave and grill option– the lasagne didn’t get hot enough. Maximum weight for cooking a whole chicken using the auto programme only goes up to 1.5kg. Feels unstable when opening the door as the machine tilts forward.

  Rating: 75/100

  Price Range: £284.99 - 349.99

  Stockist: 0870 873 5454 - http://www.lge.co.uk

  GHI Test Report - January 2009

• 
  Review of Daewoo KOC8H4TSL combination microwave

  Features

  Internal capacity: 24 litres. Turntable diameter 260mm. Usable height 200mm. Functions: Microwave, grill, convection (with preheat), convection (traditional cooking), combination cooking (microwave and convection), weight defrost, time defrost, auto cook, speedy cook. 10 microwave power levels (0-900w). Quartz grill. Features: Child lock, power save mode.Accessories: Turntable and 1 wire rack. Touch and dial controls. Left-hinge door. Heating category-E. External dimensions H319x W501x D492mm. Available in stainless steel.

  Comments

  GH GOOD DEAL. Good points:  Good results for reheating, grilling, convection and combination cooking. The roast chicken was well cooked with a golden, evenly browned skin using the combined microwave and convection setting. Good grilling results - toast was crisp and evenly browned.   Simple to programme.

  Drawbacks: Only one combination function. Poor results using weight defrost setting - chicken drumsticks began cooking in some areas. Slow at grilling sausages because the single wire rack isn’t high enough. Fairy cakes were unevenly risen. Difficult to see into cavity to check progress of cooking. Stainless steel fascia fingermarks badly.

  Rating: 72/100

  Price Range: £89.97 - 139

  Stockist: 0844 824 3000 - http://www.asda.co.uk

  GHI Test Report - January 2009

• 
  Review of Whirlpool JetChef JT369 combination microwave

  Features

  Internal capacity: 31 litres. Turntable diameter 360mm. Usable height 210mm. Functions: 6^th sense, Jet start, jet defrost, grill, grill combi (microwave and grill), crisp, forced air, forced air combi (microwave and convection), quick heat. 8 microwave power levels (90-1000w). Quartz grill. Features: 24 hour clock and minute timer. Child lock. Accessories: Turntable support, glass turntable, cover, wire rack x 2, crisp handle, crisp plate, steamer with strainer, baking plate.Touch and dial controls. Heating category-E. Drop-down door. External dimensions H380x W490x D519mm. Available in satina mist or black.

  Comments

  Good points: Good results for reheating soup and frozen readymeals, grilling, convection and combination cooking. Fairy cakes were light and fluffy and evenly risen using the convection setting, whilst the combined microwave with convection programme produced a succulent roast chicken with crisp evenly browned skin. Fast grill browned toast evenly.
  Drawbacks: Poor defrosting results using Jet Defrost, parts of the minced beef began cooking. Fascia was cluttered so confusing to programme. Door became very hot in use.  Difficult to see into cavity to check progress of cooking. Noisy.
  

   

  Rating: 70/100

  Price Range: £210 - 236

  Stockist: 0870 600 8989 - http://www.whirlpool.co.uk

  GHI Test Report - January 2009