Intuitive Cooking on the Go
I have discovered that everyone wants something more from their microwave, and I’m pretty happy about this because once you do finally make a decision over which model to buy it means you will at last be able to cook some decent meals for the family during the week – and fast!
When I first started looking for a new oven like this I thought it would just be a case of deciding which units reheated or defrosted the best. How wrong I was, and the Panasonic Genius 1250 Watt Sensor Microwave proves it.
What you should know first is this little oven uses Inverter Technology which is something I’d never heard of before so let’s start there.
Inverter Technology
I would normally start any review I do with what most people think is top of the list (capacity and power), however, I think this technology is such a brilliant idea I couldn’t wait to let you know what I think.
For those of you who have no idea what I’m talking about (and I won’t go all technical on you), Inverter Technology is a method of microwave cooking that means faster results with more accuracy.
For instance, and I’m sure you’ll agree, we’ve all experienced food that’s come out of the microwave a little shall we say, “crisp” around the edges and not quite warm enough in the middle.
The chances are you’ve also experienced mishaps with liquids like soup or heating the odd cup of coffee which can make for a pretty messy cleaning job.
Inverter Technology stops all that.
Why?
Because instead of using the same level of power for everything and pulsing when it needs to be lower, you get true microwave power.
This means if you want low, you get low! That deals with issues like uneven cooking.
It’s also used in other ways to help you get great results which I mention later in the review.
Now…
Capacity and Power
As mentioned in the description, this microwave offers 1200 watts of power and 1.2 cubic feet of space inside. However, if you’ve had a different model before with the same specifications, expect to get used to the fact your food and beverages will need less time in the oven simply because of the technology used.
Design and Basic Features
You can buy this model in black, white and stainless so fitting it into your current décor shouldn’t be a problem. Like many modern microwaves, this one doesn’t have a handle. Instead, you make use of the push button underneath the control panel. Some people like this and others don’t.
I have heard it mentioned that the door can be a little difficult to open and because it’s so lightweight, if you have a heavy hand, closing the door might send it across the countertop! However, the lack of a handle does add to overall looks.
The microwave is a classic design with clean lines, and the control panel sits to the right (which includes an LED display to the top that acts as a clock and timer), with a few one-touch option keys beneath. Below that you have a 0-9 numbered keypad.
Unfortunately, the controls and LED might not be to everyone’s taste. If you have low lighting in your kitchen or your eyesight isn’t what it once was you may have trouble with the LED display and being able to tell what button does what. Again, this goes back to design since the control panel blends in with the overall look of the microwave.
Other basic features you can expect include a child safety lock, a quick minute one-touch option (30 seconds can be selected using the number pad), 10 different power levels and of course, the ever present popcorn button!
Advanced Features
When I say advanced features you might think this one will have you reaching for the manual. However, there are buttons on the microwave that say the following: Sensor Reheat, Sensor Cook and Inverter Turbo Defrost.
All of these buttons require little in the way of work from you. What the microwave will do if you want to complete any of the above is automatically set the power levels and time required. It does this by measuring the amount of steam the food produces so it knows when it’s time to stop.
Some of you may find this hard to get used to because the microwave simply does everything on its own. This means that knowing when that “5 times beep” will go off is a secret until it happens!
Keep Warm Option
There are times when it’s useful to keep food warm without it continuing to cook and I know this is really hard to do with a conventional oven. This microwave will allow you to place food inside for up to 30 minutes on the keep warm function and pulses the energy so your meal stays at just the right temperature. I love this feature.
Slight Niggles
I have yet to come across any microwave that will tick all the boxes for everyone. After all, preferences differ from person to person.
So, if this is likely to be your first Inverter Technology microwave, you might find it’s a little on the noisy side. You should also know that the light inside will only come on when the unit is in use, which can be an annoyance to some.
Having said that, I still think this microwave is excellent value for money considering the amount of features you get. You can find out just how good here at Amazon.
Further Information
