apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I replaced a good microwave that had developed an electric zapping problem with what I thought was a better new microwave and accidently lost on of the features I loved the most: sensor mode. Now I hate my microwave and can't wait till it dies so I can get one that senses when I am about to burn something and stops. So, check carefully what features you can't live without when you go shopping. My in-laws always get a convection microwave, but I've never noticed that it improves anything.

Kate: I have a Sharp "Warm & Toasty" (yeah, corny name but good microwave) that I bought at Lowe's a couple of years ago and absolutely love it. Last I saw, though, Lowe's didn't carry it any more though I did see it at BB&B. It's relatively small, microwaves, bakes AND toasts, so it's a lot of versatility in a small package.

Don't bother with one of those that can act as a convection oven, assuming you already have a convection oven. We had one and rarely used it, and we had to make all kinds of adjustments to the baking times.

KatGamer - thanks for the advice, but we don't have a convection oven, nor have the money like Maxwell to rennovate our current kitchen ;-), so we're "stuck" with gas oven.

We do have the Griddler, which we do love and use frequently, but that's about it for cooking appliances.

Have you considered living without a microwave? I wouldn't have thought it could be done since I grew up with one, but lived in England for a year in 1997, and have been microwave-free since. I wouldn't go back!

I have a fairly large one, with many features. I do not really use the microwave except for defrosting or reheating leftovers, So next time around it will be a tiny little one.

I moved to my first non-college apartment about 4 months ago with the BF and haven't had the time to shop or had the extra cash to go out and buy one. So all our leftovers (if any) are warmed up the old fashion way which I've gotten used to. Though it is hard to warm up things like pasta noodles and rice unless we steam them but it takes so long. I'm starting to think if I could live without a microwave at all! (But I think I would miss microwave popcorn too much ;))

I'm open to hear how to shop for a microwave. All I know is that the more wattage output a unit has the more energy it puts out to warm something in a shorter amount of time. I think? Brain not fully awake yet this morning.

We haven't had a microwave for the three years we've lived in our house. It's definitely possible to live without one. Microwaved food tastes so bleh.