SHARP R861SLM, 900 W, Combination Flatbed Microwave, Silver, 25 Litres, 15 programs

Product Information

Noise level: This may or may not be important to you as all microwaves make some level of humming or buzzing when in use. If it sounds noisier than normal, this could be an indication that its time to replace your model. However, cooking was even, you couldn’t tell which way round the pizza had been sitting. The top was nicely browned, the edges crisp – but not too crisp – and on the underside there was no soggy bottom in sight. Keep on top of any cooking or baking elsewhere in the kitchen with this handy timer, easy to set and will alert you once the timer has counted down.

If your budget will stretch a little further to a combi then opt for the Panasonic NN-DF386. If you only need a microwave then the compact Beko MOF 20110 is also worth a look. Verdict Being a flatbed model, cleaning will not be an issue as its easy to access with no awkward turntable to take out and clean separately. To make life simple there are auto menu programs pre-installed for you to get cooking at the touch of a button Your microwave is pre-programmed so food can be easily defrosted by simply inputting the food’s weight. Alternatively, you can manually choose the defrost time. The precise cooking and timer offered by microwave grills makes them perfect for this kind of job, where in a regular grill you’d be likely to forget and overcook or burn the toast.

As you would expect with a flatbed design, cleaning the machine is quite easy as you can access the base with no trouble. You get plenty for your money with the Sharp, plus it cooks fairly evenly and it looks attractive. But the vibration and noise proved annoying. Inverter Technology will mean that your meals are cooked and heated evenly throughout putting an end to repeated goes in the microwave trying to kill the cold spots. As well as being less annoying this will also mean less energy usage and more time for you.

I liked the Sharp’s pull-down door and found the controls intuitive and straightforward enough to use. It combines 3 appliances in 1 with a microwave, grill and convection based oven with a flatbed base (no turntable). The flatbed base gives you much more cooking capacity than a standard turntable microwave– great for those large or awkward dishes. The Sharp 900w Combination Flatbed Microwave R861 comes with non-slip feet leaving little danger of the microwave moving once you set it on your counter. The NN-DF386BBPQ is a 3-in-1 combination microwave giving you a microwave – oven – grill all in one appliance. This offers great flexibility when deciding the best way to cook and heat up your foods.The pull down front door is a nod to more traditional ovens whilst also meaning you can cool down dishes on it. This is particularly handy if you have a smaller kitchen. The power levels and grill temperature not adjustable on combi microwave/grill function, and it's hard to know if combi 1 or 2 is the best choice as the instructions give very little information Using the convection oven to cook a slice of frozen pizza on the supplied baking tray was interesting. The weight options for auto cooking pizza are 150, 300 and 450g, with 18-, 19- and 20-minute cooking times respectively. To be fair. though, this includes the time it takes for the oven to warm up.