This review is from: Panasonic NN-CT552WBPQ Combination Microwave Oven (Kitchen & Home)
Having bought this item to replace the same one from 5 yrs ago I found it much lighter in weight and tinny. Also it is very noisy when the turntable is revolving, but it does what it says on the packet.
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This review is from: Panasonic NN-CT552WBPQ Combination Microwave Oven (Kitchen & Home)
I was unsure about which microwave to purchase as I had had mine for over 15 years and so I researched as much as possible.
I have been very happy with the machine and it does not move around on my work top. It is a lot shallower than my previous one which is a great improvement.
I have used the microwave daily and on occasions I have used the jacket potato button but I have as yet not used any of the other functions.
There is a clock which I was very happy about as I had read somewhere that there was only a minute minder. The numerals are smaller and a little harder to read than my previous one but at least it does have a clock.
Microwaves are not as sturdily built as they used to be but all in all I am very pleased with this machine and would highly recommend it.
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This review is from: Panasonic NN-CT552WBPQ Combination Microwave Oven (Kitchen & Home)
Firstly let’s dispel the myth (lie?) that this is a combination oven. It does NOT have a heating element for convection cooking & instead uses the grill to heat the oven. So what would you expect to happen if trying to bake under a grill, a burnt top with an uncooked underneath? Correct – & that exactly what you get here. So if you’re looking for an small extension to your main oven then look elsewhere.
It’s noisy & rather poorly built. The LCD display would be fine at eye level but on a counter, you get an overall green glow with all of the display faintly lit due to it’s poor angle of view.
I tried a jacket potato just using convection & the skin didn’t crisp as in a conventional oven. I’ve also tried a Yorkshire pudding & that failed to rise, although gave the impression it has by forming a crust with a huge air pocket underneath. So as above, forget baking in it.
I’ve also tried a jacket potato using the dedicated programme of mixed cooking & it was no different to one microwaved only.
But the real concern is that today, it near burst into flames! Tried heating some popcorn & smoke poured out after 90 seconds. The trim holding the door glass in place has melted onto the cavity. Spoke to a Panasonic service agent who said this is known issue when heating “low moisture” items & so not covered by warranty. Thee manual says that microwaving low moisture foods is not recommended but certainly doesn’t say you shouldn’t do it for fear of setting fire to the kitchen. So many of the things I’ve done with previous microwaves can’t be done in this Panasonic. No heating wheat bags. No warming of the kid’s microwavable “hot water bottle” toys. No warming of plates & definitely no popcorn!
The supplier (not Amazon) has agreed to replace it but I’m loathe to take a another microwave that appears unfit for purpose. Note that the same applies to the 562 & 579 which are just different variations & may well also apply to all current Panasonics. I’ve asked Panasonic to comment on their combination microwave that appears unfit for purpose as either a convection oven or microwave but have yet to have a response…
I strongly recommend you avoid this particular model & carefully research any other model from Panasonic.
Update Given the woeful lack of white microwave ovens on sale we accepted a replacement (stainless steel I can understand but who on earth buys silver coloured plastic?). Since then I have discovered that you can’t use the delay function together with any of the cooking programs. So if you want to throw a jacket potato in to be ready when you come home – computer says no!
So to recap; if you want an “oven” that can’t bake, a microwave that can’t cook foods specifically intended to be microwaved, don’t want to auto-cook while you’re out & don’t ever want any support from the manufacturer, this is the product for you…
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noisy and cheaply built,
Having bought this item to replace the same one from 5 yrs ago I found it much lighter in weight and tinny. Also it is very noisy when the turntable is revolving, but it does what it says on the packet.
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|Excellent machine,
I was unsure about which microwave to purchase as I had had mine for over 15 years and so I researched as much as possible.
I have been very happy with the machine and it does not move around on my work top. It is a lot shallower than my previous one which is a great improvement.
I have used the microwave daily and on occasions I have used the jacket potato button but I have as yet not used any of the other functions.
There is a clock which I was very happy about as I had read somewhere that there was only a minute minder. The numerals are smaller and a little harder to read than my previous one but at least it does have a clock.
Microwaves are not as sturdily built as they used to be but all in all I am very pleased with this machine and would highly recommend it.
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|Dreadul, Bordering on Dangerous!,
Firstly let’s dispel the myth (lie?) that this is a combination oven. It does NOT have a heating element for convection cooking & instead uses the grill to heat the oven. So what would you expect to happen if trying to bake under a grill, a burnt top with an uncooked underneath? Correct – & that exactly what you get here. So if you’re looking for an small extension to your main oven then look elsewhere.
It’s noisy & rather poorly built. The LCD display would be fine at eye level but on a counter, you get an overall green glow with all of the display faintly lit due to it’s poor angle of view.
I tried a jacket potato just using convection & the skin didn’t crisp as in a conventional oven. I’ve also tried a Yorkshire pudding & that failed to rise, although gave the impression it has by forming a crust with a huge air pocket underneath. So as above, forget baking in it.
I’ve also tried a jacket potato using the dedicated programme of mixed cooking & it was no different to one microwaved only.
But the real concern is that today, it near burst into flames! Tried heating some popcorn & smoke poured out after 90 seconds. The trim holding the door glass in place has melted onto the cavity. Spoke to a Panasonic service agent who said this is known issue when heating “low moisture” items & so not covered by warranty. Thee manual says that microwaving low moisture foods is not recommended but certainly doesn’t say you shouldn’t do it for fear of setting fire to the kitchen. So many of the things I’ve done with previous microwaves can’t be done in this Panasonic. No heating wheat bags. No warming of the kid’s microwavable “hot water bottle” toys. No warming of plates & definitely no popcorn!
The supplier (not Amazon) has agreed to replace it but I’m loathe to take a another microwave that appears unfit for purpose. Note that the same applies to the 562 & 579 which are just different variations & may well also apply to all current Panasonics. I’ve asked Panasonic to comment on their combination microwave that appears unfit for purpose as either a convection oven or microwave but have yet to have a response…
I strongly recommend you avoid this particular model & carefully research any other model from Panasonic.
Update
Given the woeful lack of white microwave ovens on sale we accepted a replacement (stainless steel I can understand but who on earth buys silver coloured plastic?). Since then I have discovered that you can’t use the delay function together with any of the cooking programs. So if you want to throw a jacket potato in to be ready when you come home – computer says no!
So to recap; if you want an “oven” that can’t bake, a microwave that can’t cook foods specifically intended to be microwaved, don’t want to auto-cook while you’re out & don’t ever want any support from the manufacturer, this is the product for you…
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