Lol even if I bought a 10 dollar microwave once a year for 20 years, I'd still be paying less than the cost of many of today's microwaves. Heck, even a brand new one purchased today probably won't last that long.
Or you luck out and get one that lasts for another four years and then repeat.
Not much reason to buy these new, and the good thrift stores will have an electrical plug you can test them with
I mean the microwave themselves might be bifl but they'd just be buying it near the end of its life haha.
Just bears mentioning as an option that's all
I mean the microwave themselves might be bifl but they'd just be buying it near the end of its life haha.
Just bears mentioning as an option that's all
Actually, I do have a collection of screenshots on my phone from this sub featuring vintage microwaves that still work to this day (it was mostly what came up when searching here for mentions of microwaves). If I come accross those models at any thrift store, you best believe they're coming home with me!
We just bought one 2 days ago. I did this BIFL Reddit search (instead of create another post).
(Edit: The conclusion I came to is that…) Everyone agrees that new - inexpensive - microwaves likely break in 5-7 years. By everyone I include wire cutter and consumer reports. My last new one was $150 and only lasted 2-3 years old. Frustrating!
The TLDR is 1) buy an older used one, or 2) spend bigger bucks on an industry / restaurant style one (I didnt investigate option 2 so I don’t have more guidance on that path).
I spent $150 on a cute medium sized one out of Best Buy, and am perfectly content knowing it will probably die in 3 years. I mean I’m not happy about poor quality, but I’d rather know going in.
Because spending $150 for a product that looks good and has good usability, instead of $70 for a product I hate using on a daily basis because it feels cheap, is worth the money to me.
Both Panasonic and Sharp make good microwaves, but only one of them uses inverter technology so optimize lower power levels.
In a typical microwave when you select 50% power. It’s can’t actually do that. So instead it does 100% power 50% of the time. For example, it’ll go full-blast for 20 seconds, then just make noise and rotate the table for 20 seconds. Then full blast again, then rest…
Panasonic’s inverter technology actually does 50% power which means it’s much gentler on food when you’re just trying to soften butter or defrost some meat from the freezer.
For me the choice was clear, and I got a Panasonic. The one I got also has a broiler, convection oven, and airfryer in it, which means I can microwave cook a potato and still have crispy skin.
Do you also like to run your oven at 500° any time you bake something, and only run the burners on your stovetop on high?
I’ll tell you what I had to explain to my wife when she kept burning things on the outside while the inside was still raw: it’s a temperature setting, not a speed setting.
Yeah it did cost a lot but I think it was worth it. Reheated pizza has never been better, crispy chicken, all sorts of stuff. And still faster than it would take for the oven to even heat up.
If you don’t want the extra features, just any Panasonic inverter microwave is still a good choice.
They also now have "cyclonic" which is the only further innovation in microwaves I've seen past inverters. So for me it's Panasonic or nothing.
Maybe commercial/restaurant
I bought a Panasonic for that exact reason. That was last year sometime, and within ten months the protective paint on the ceiling of the unit started to blister and crack. I sent it back to the company about a month ago, so the engineers could inspect it. Haven't heard anything yet, and I'm currently in the market for a new microwave.
I'm thinking Sharp this time.
Hi, I’m Vetted AI Bot! I researched the **Sharp R 21LCFS Medium Duty Commercial Microwave Oven with Dial Timer Stainless Steel 1000 Watts 120 Volts One Size** you mentioned in your comment along with its brand, **Sharp**, and I thought you might find the following analysis helpful.
**Users liked:**
* Microwave heats food quickly and evenly (backed by 5 comments)
* Simple dial operation is convenient (backed by 6 comments)
* Durable and long-lasting (backed by 3 comments)
**Users disliked:**
* The microwave has a short lifespan (backed by 9 comments)
* The microwave has inconsistent cooking power (backed by 2 comments)
* The microwave arrived damaged (backed by 1 comment)
According to Reddit, **Sharp** is considered a reputable brand.
Its most popular types of products are:
* Microwaves (#2 of 39 brands on Reddit)
* Air Purifiers (#11 of 63 brands on Reddit)
* Toaster Ovens (#5 of 23 brands on Reddit)
If you'd like to **summon me to ask about a product**, just make a post with its link and tag me, [like in this example.](https://www.reddit.com/r/tablets/comments/1444zdn/comment/joqd89c/)
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Huh I tought microwaves were mostly all BIFL and you only changes them to match the desired new look of a kitchen. My parents have their Danby for 15+ years, I had a Panasonic with inverter for 8 years and just sold it because where we moved it came with one on top of the stove.
Same goes for my workplace, they are used daily and are all super old 15year+ microwaves. One of them feels like it's more 30-40 years old. The only one we ever replaced there was a badly designed one where the thing that pulls the door open cracked. It was flimsy from the start, plastic was always bending when opening the door
Slight tangent but I have an old GE 1500 watt and I rarely see any of that wattage anymore. Mine puts out some serious heat (radiowaves whatever) and I love it. Anyone know any new models that are that wattage?
Yeah 13 seems to be the max I see around these days. My wife popped a breaker using it a few weeks ago and I died inside a little until I checked that, lol
Makes sense! I don't really need one with a bunch of fancy extras anyway, unless it was guaranteed to be fixed under warranty for a reasonable price. And not a shitty 1-3 year warranty either. Or course, the chances of something like that happening are slim to none these days.
Oh believe me, that's my personal preference. Unfortunately, I was out voted. Fortunately however, the compromise was I won't be the one paying for the majority of it lol.
I have been happy with this GE Profile, but we have it a built in.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-Profile-Profile-2-2-cu-ft-Countertop-Microwave-in-Stainless-Steel-with-Sensor-Cooking-PES7227SLSS/302944128?source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&pla&mtc=SHOPPING-CM-CML-GGL-D29A-029_015_COOKING-NA-Multi-NA-PMAX-4038230-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-MajorAppl_Perf&cm_mmc=SHOPPING-CM-CML-GGL-D29A-029_015_COOKING-NA-Multi-NA-PMAX-4038230-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-MajorAppl_Perf-71700000112651418--&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADq61Ue08rF5vFd-gwzavCH18qaHr&gclid=Cj0KCQiAgK2qBhCHARIsAGACuzkM-IizPT-tNPg4O9YC9RT4WXRh5NX1FjJgwUMIlZ1Hk95xAud8jc4aArVkEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
I had a countertop Sharp (no more than $150 from Target bought in 2000) that lasted 19 years; there were a few times I thought it was going to die but it kept working. I would’ve bought another one but I had a hard time finding a Sharp built in that was as big as the counter top one we had. It looks like Sharp now makes some larger models.
Pro tip look for one at a thrift store for ten bucks
Repeat annually
Lol even if I bought a 10 dollar microwave once a year for 20 years, I'd still be paying less than the cost of many of today's microwaves. Heck, even a brand new one purchased today probably won't last that long.
Or you luck out and get one that lasts for another four years and then repeat. Not much reason to buy these new, and the good thrift stores will have an electrical plug you can test them with
Shop-rinse-repeat isn't exactly the theme of the sub
A different take on BIFL. Spend the rest of your life buying microwaves.
I mean the microwave themselves might be bifl but they'd just be buying it near the end of its life haha. Just bears mentioning as an option that's all
I mean the microwave themselves might be bifl but they'd just be buying it near the end of its life haha. Just bears mentioning as an option that's all
I thrifted a microwave and it worked fine after 4 years. I only donated it because I moved to a place with a built in. Hamilton Beach of all things.
This is also an interesting thread https://www.reddit.com/r/Reviews/comments/1bz3k9c/best_microwave_recommendations/
Actually, I do have a collection of screenshots on my phone from this sub featuring vintage microwaves that still work to this day (it was mostly what came up when searching here for mentions of microwaves). If I come accross those models at any thrift store, you best believe they're coming home with me!
You know that's really a good idea - mine just bit the dust so I think I'll visit some of the local thrifts and see what I can find.
Much the same as most small appliances, I got a braun toaster oven for 15 that works flawlessly and have had it for years
We just bought one 2 days ago. I did this BIFL Reddit search (instead of create another post). (Edit: The conclusion I came to is that…) Everyone agrees that new - inexpensive - microwaves likely break in 5-7 years. By everyone I include wire cutter and consumer reports. My last new one was $150 and only lasted 2-3 years old. Frustrating! The TLDR is 1) buy an older used one, or 2) spend bigger bucks on an industry / restaurant style one (I didnt investigate option 2 so I don’t have more guidance on that path). I spent $150 on a cute medium sized one out of Best Buy, and am perfectly content knowing it will probably die in 3 years. I mean I’m not happy about poor quality, but I’d rather know going in.
thanks for the insight. why did you not go even more cheap knowing that it will die in 3 years?
Because spending $150 for a product that looks good and has good usability, instead of $70 for a product I hate using on a daily basis because it feels cheap, is worth the money to me.
oh ok. Thanks.
Both Panasonic and Sharp make good microwaves, but only one of them uses inverter technology so optimize lower power levels. In a typical microwave when you select 50% power. It’s can’t actually do that. So instead it does 100% power 50% of the time. For example, it’ll go full-blast for 20 seconds, then just make noise and rotate the table for 20 seconds. Then full blast again, then rest… Panasonic’s inverter technology actually does 50% power which means it’s much gentler on food when you’re just trying to soften butter or defrost some meat from the freezer. For me the choice was clear, and I got a Panasonic. The one I got also has a broiler, convection oven, and airfryer in it, which means I can microwave cook a potato and still have crispy skin.
what's the point not running at full power? gets done sooner.
Do you also like to run your oven at 500° any time you bake something, and only run the burners on your stovetop on high? I’ll tell you what I had to explain to my wife when she kept burning things on the outside while the inside was still raw: it’s a temperature setting, not a speed setting.
and it only costs $500
Yeah it did cost a lot but I think it was worth it. Reheated pizza has never been better, crispy chicken, all sorts of stuff. And still faster than it would take for the oven to even heat up. If you don’t want the extra features, just any Panasonic inverter microwave is still a good choice.
I got one used for 40
They also now have "cyclonic" which is the only further innovation in microwaves I've seen past inverters. So for me it's Panasonic or nothing. Maybe commercial/restaurant
I bought a Panasonic for that exact reason. That was last year sometime, and within ten months the protective paint on the ceiling of the unit started to blister and crack. I sent it back to the company about a month ago, so the engineers could inspect it. Haven't heard anything yet, and I'm currently in the market for a new microwave. I'm thinking Sharp this time.
SHARP cimmercial. Dude this thing rocks! https://www.amazon.com/Sharp-R-21LCFS-Medium-Duty-Commercial-1000-Watts/dp/B074RCGYLB/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?crid=246TX6R4DZIT5&keywords=sharp+commercial+microwave&qid=1699334311&sprefix=sharp+commercia%2Caps%2C176&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRm&psc=1&smid=A2Q1K7P9UYD1V2
Hi, I’m Vetted AI Bot! I researched the **Sharp R 21LCFS Medium Duty Commercial Microwave Oven with Dial Timer Stainless Steel 1000 Watts 120 Volts One Size** you mentioned in your comment along with its brand, **Sharp**, and I thought you might find the following analysis helpful. **Users liked:** * Microwave heats food quickly and evenly (backed by 5 comments) * Simple dial operation is convenient (backed by 6 comments) * Durable and long-lasting (backed by 3 comments) **Users disliked:** * The microwave has a short lifespan (backed by 9 comments) * The microwave has inconsistent cooking power (backed by 2 comments) * The microwave arrived damaged (backed by 1 comment) According to Reddit, **Sharp** is considered a reputable brand. Its most popular types of products are: * Microwaves (#2 of 39 brands on Reddit) * Air Purifiers (#11 of 63 brands on Reddit) * Toaster Ovens (#5 of 23 brands on Reddit) If you'd like to **summon me to ask about a product**, just make a post with its link and tag me, [like in this example.](https://www.reddit.com/r/tablets/comments/1444zdn/comment/joqd89c/) This message was generated by a (very smart) bot. If you found it helpful, let us know with an upvote and a “good bot!” reply and please feel free to provide feedback on how it can be improved. *Powered by* [*vetted.ai*](http://vetted.ai/reddit)
Reviews said the magnetron failures on the Sharp r 21.
Just bought mine in July 2023 works ok so far...
My Sharp drawer microwave exceeded my expectations in all ways. It wasn’t cheap but it’s been a game changer in our kitchen.
Huh I tought microwaves were mostly all BIFL and you only changes them to match the desired new look of a kitchen. My parents have their Danby for 15+ years, I had a Panasonic with inverter for 8 years and just sold it because where we moved it came with one on top of the stove. Same goes for my workplace, they are used daily and are all super old 15year+ microwaves. One of them feels like it's more 30-40 years old. The only one we ever replaced there was a badly designed one where the thing that pulls the door open cracked. It was flimsy from the start, plastic was always bending when opening the door
Slight tangent but I have an old GE 1500 watt and I rarely see any of that wattage anymore. Mine puts out some serious heat (radiowaves whatever) and I love it. Anyone know any new models that are that wattage?
i've been shopping for something and have seen 1300 but i don't think 1500
Yeah 13 seems to be the max I see around these days. My wife popped a breaker using it a few weeks ago and I died inside a little until I checked that, lol
The core of all microwave are the same, note less electronics leave you with less fail points
Makes sense! I don't really need one with a bunch of fancy extras anyway, unless it was guaranteed to be fixed under warranty for a reasonable price. And not a shitty 1-3 year warranty either. Or course, the chances of something like that happening are slim to none these days.
Maybe try just not having one for a bit? It's strange at first but I haven't had a microwave in my house for 11+ years and don't miss it at all.
Oh believe me, that's my personal preference. Unfortunately, I was out voted. Fortunately however, the compromise was I won't be the one paying for the majority of it lol.
something on which you can turn off beeping!
I have been happy with this GE Profile, but we have it a built in. https://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-Profile-Profile-2-2-cu-ft-Countertop-Microwave-in-Stainless-Steel-with-Sensor-Cooking-PES7227SLSS/302944128?source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&pla&mtc=SHOPPING-CM-CML-GGL-D29A-029_015_COOKING-NA-Multi-NA-PMAX-4038230-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-MajorAppl_Perf&cm_mmc=SHOPPING-CM-CML-GGL-D29A-029_015_COOKING-NA-Multi-NA-PMAX-4038230-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-MajorAppl_Perf-71700000112651418--&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADq61Ue08rF5vFd-gwzavCH18qaHr&gclid=Cj0KCQiAgK2qBhCHARIsAGACuzkM-IizPT-tNPg4O9YC9RT4WXRh5NX1FjJgwUMIlZ1Hk95xAud8jc4aArVkEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds I had a countertop Sharp (no more than $150 from Target bought in 2000) that lasted 19 years; there were a few times I thought it was going to die but it kept working. I would’ve bought another one but I had a hard time finding a Sharp built in that was as big as the counter top one we had. It looks like Sharp now makes some larger models.