Russell Hobbs RHFM2363B 23 L 800 W Black Digital Flatbed Solo Freestanding Microwave with 5 Power Levels, 8 Auto Cook Menus, Easy Clean, Clock and Timer, Automatic Defrost

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We started out by defrosting a pitta bread. The smart defrost program only works with particular types of food, so instead we did a timer defrost. It took just over a minute and was visibly ready as it was starting to inflate. The pitta bread came out warm but not cooked and it was impressively not soggy, compared with other microwaves. It tasted surprisingly fresh.

We are continually making improvements to our tests. We last changed our test program in February 2018 which means that, if you’re looking at results for microwaves tested before and after this date, they will not be directly comparable. We found the controls weren’t very responsive: you have to give them a good, firm push and sometimes find yourself pressing them repeatedly, unsure whether it’s being registered. If you develop a fault we'll get it working again. We'll instruct either the manufacturer or a certified repair centre to repair it Ours still heats things but more slowly. Something that took 1 1/2 mins now needs 2 mins or more to get to the same temperature (it is still on full power) Any ideas?We also tested the defrost feature on a pitta bread and found it worked well: it came out warm but not cooked, and only a bit soggy on the underside. At that stage the Sage’s “a bit more” button was perfect. This zapped it for another 36 seconds. We did this a couple of times and the potato was cooked to perfection. It’s a clever way to ensure you don’t overcook food as it’s tempting when something’s not quite cooked to repeat the same program – which is usually overkill.

What’s more, the diamond cavity structure provides improved microwave distribution by enhancing the reflection of the microwaves inside the cavity. This helps to cook your food more effectively, saving time and energy. Alongside the usual cook or defrost by time and weight it offers intelligent sensor cooking programs similar to those seen on high-end microwaves such as the Panasonic NN-CS894S and Panasonic NN-CF853W. You press the relevant smart button, depending on whether you want to cook or reheat, and then select from the on-screen menu of popular foods. The power level is set automatically and then it measures humidity released from the food and uses this to judge how long to cook it for. Other nice touches include the heart button for saving your favourite program and the “A bit more” button – one of the features you’ll find yourself using most. Pre-programmed auto cook menus– These include pizza (reheat), fish, and popcorn, and let you cook all your favourite foods at the push of a button.Flatbed technology, again borrowed from pricier models, means they have done away with the turntable, instead relying on other technologies to ensure even cooking. This means it’s possible to fit much larger dishes in the microwave, for example to reheat meals in rectangular oven dishes that would have been impossible on a turntable.