I'm looking for a new microwave after the demise of my present Sanyo EM-G473 (pcb and touchpad gone - not economical to repair). Been all over Amazon where it's probably going to be ordered from as I've got a £25 voucher for them but my brain's addled with specs etc now.
The present model has been in the family for about fourteen years. It's 490mm wide, 373mm deep and 322mm high. Microwave is 900w and grill is 1300w. Oven capacity is 23L.
It's good points for me are the internal size (as I use a 'microwave chip cooker' to cook steaks using the micro+grill setting (150/400w micro + grill) and also to cook bacon, sausages etc. Also like the fact that wattage settings are displayed when the machine is being set ie 900w, 750w, 650w 400w etc as these roughly correspond to quite a lot of cooking guidelines and don't have to relate P1, P2 etc to power levels as with the one I've been loaned until I get a new one.
Existing one was ideal size as it left me about 10/11cm on the worktop in front of the machine to take dishes out and put them on a small ceramic cutting board that stands there for the purpose. Height to cupboards above is 36cm so leaves a nice little space for air circulation. The fridge is immediately to the left of the machine but there's 5cm gap and this hasn't proved a problem.
I've read just about every review going on Amazon which usually helps but this time has had the opposite effect. Anyone out there got any suggestions?
Lots of negative reviews from people who've gone to Sharp or Sanyo though . . . maybe take another look to see if what I want is among them as the reviews put me off. Does the criteria fit (power levels showing etc)?
In general, Which? rates both Panasonic and Whirlpool microwaves very highly and all the Sanyo ones as "Don't Buys". Perhaps you should limit your looking to the Panasonic and Whirlpool models?