RIP

[Audio Al]

Well the time has arrived , after many years its finnaly happened :(

God I loved it

So So much

And now its expired
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Goodbuy Sharp Michrowave , All those combination Jacket potatoes , soft and fluffy inside and lovely chrispy skin

Oh Heven

Off to buy a new young pretender now , It will have big boots to fill :D

[Macca]

That's Sharp for you. My Sanyo is still going strong after 25 years and it was second-hand when I bought it. :D

[Marco]

The question is.... Is it still safe, in terms of not exposing your food to harmful radiation? In that respect, microwaves only last so long, before they become 'leaky', regardless of the fact that they're still able to heat up food!;)

Marco.

[Macca]

They never pollute your food with radiation. That's an old wives' tale.

[Marco]

Sorry, it isn't, *if* the microwave in question is no longer functioning correctly, which can happen if the shielding around the magnetron has deteriorated with age. See here to test if yours is still ok: https://www.wikihow.com/Check-a-Microwave-for-Leaks

It's recommended to keep microwave ovens for no longer than 10 years.

Marco.

[Sherwood]

IIRC Arthur C Clarke wrote about his days in radar development and how the technicians used to warm their hands with the magnetron units! Toasty! :mad:

[Sherwood]

I recently bought a second small microwave for making tea and coffee and heating up soup and precooked food. It is one of the flatbed types. Apart from being much easier to clean it is much quieter than models with turntables.

Geoff

I agree: 10 years is probably as long as you should use a microwave for. Think space shuttle and o-rings!

Geoff

[Marco]

Yup... 25 years, for me, is crazy, and simply not worth the risk :nono:

Never mind,. we'll be able to see Martin coming at night, as he'll glow in the dark! :D

Marco.

[Joe]

I've never owned a microwave. One of the many things I just didn't get around to buying.

[Audio Al]

My Sharp only lasted 18 years :(

[Marco]

Never mind, at least it outlived your libido!:lol:;)

Marco.

[Audio Al]

Never mind, at least it outlived your libido!:lol:;)

Marco.

That went years ago , I would rather have a curry and a beer nowadays , At least you dont have to cuddle that for half an hour after eating it :D

[Marco]

I've never owned a microwave. One of the many things I just didn't get around to buying.

Lol....Have you embraced instant running hot water yet? And please tell me you've at least got a warming drawer!

Marco.

[Marco]

That went years ago , I would rather have a curry and a beer nowadays , At least you dont have to cuddle that for half an hour after eating it :D

:lolsign:

Or put up with any moans about your shtinky farts afterwards!:eyebrows:

Marco.

[Macca]

Sorry, it isn't, *if* the microwave in question is no longer functioning correctly, which can happen if the shielding around the magnetron has deteriorated with age. See here to test if yours is still ok: https://www.wikihow.com/Check-a-Microwave-for-Leaks

It's recommended to keep microwave ovens for no longer than 10 years.

Marco.

That's for leaks it's not the same as irradiating your food though is it? As long as you don't stand too close to it you're fine.

[walpurgis]

They never pollute your food with radiation. That's an old wives' tale.

Quite right.

Bit like objections to irradiated food 'cos it might be radio active. It's not. In fact irradiated food is about the safest thing you can eat, no live bacteria left!

[Firebottle]

It has been known for the amateur fraternity to use the output of a microwave magnetron as a TV transmitter. I only used to used 25W at 1.25Ghz :mental:

[Marco]

That's for leaks it's not the same as irradiating your food though is it? As long as you don't stand too close to it you're fine.

"Fine" is of course open to debate... I personally wouldn't keep the same microwave oven after 10 years of use, especially when basic ones now [which is all I'd imagine you'd need] can be bought brand new for buttons.

As matter of interest, how often do you clean yours? I can imagine after 25 years of use, without proper maintenance, some nice 'wee crusty bits' will have built up inside...;)

Marco.

[Marco]

You want the microwaves to pass through the food to heat it up - you don't want the microwaves to leak out and pass through your body.
If you didn't "expose your food to harmful radiation" it wouldn't warm up - that's how they work
:lol:

Indeed, but there are measurable levels of acceptable safety, and levels which may exceed that, due to key parts of microwave ovens degrading with age. I have a hard and fast rule: never take *ANY* risks whatsoever with the safety of electrical appliances, or the food I eat, especially when it's completely unnecessary.

My good health is the most precious of all commodities, and I'd like it to continue for as long as possible!;)

Marco.

[walpurgis]

I find a microwave oven brilliant for cooking rice. It comes out as evenly fluffed as you could ask for.

[Sherwood]

I find a microwave oven brilliant for cooking rice. It comes out as evenly fluffed as you could ask for.

A bag of spinach cooks brilliantly in a microwave. Just make sure that you get the pre-washed type. Also, sweet potates in the bag. They steam cook in minutes and taste great. :drool:

[Sherwood]

Yes, dangerous microwaves could leak out of the machine, but how would they make the food unsafe to eat?

By rendering the user unable to chew properly? :scratch:

[Marco]

Yes, dangerous microwaves could leak out of the machine, but how would they make the food unsafe to eat?

I don't know, but I'm simply unwilling to take the risk. Replacing a microwave oven after 10 years of use simply seems like a sensible precaution to take.

It always amazes me how folks will not think twice in spending inordinate sums of money on hi-fi systems and TVs, but balk at spending, say, £50 on a microwave... Talk about mangled priorities!;)

Marco.

[Macca]

"Fine" is of course open to debate... I personally wouldn't keep the same microwave oven after 10 years of use, especially when basic ones now [which is all I'd imagine you'd need] can be bought brand new for buttons.

As matter of interest, how often do you clean yours? I can imagine after 25 years of use, without proper maintenance, some nice 'wee crusty bits' will have built up inside...;)

Marco.

I only use it to make popcorn, and that's quite rare nowadays since they moved where it was in the supermarket and now I can't find it.

Why would I buy a new one when the old one still works fine? That's the sort of thing a woman would do. My kettle is 18 this year and the toaster is even older than that.

Plus my microwave is a proper catering job, made of metal, not plastic and made in Japan, not China. You can keep your flimsy modern crap. No wonder they go dodgy after a few years.

No surprise everyone is skint these days if they're replacing perfectly good appliances all the time.

[Marco]

Lol - I'd hardly call replacing a microwave after 10 years (or in your case 25 years) of use, "replacing good appliances all the time"! You'd have a point if it were every couple of years.

It's not only women who like to take pride in their homes, and be 110% safe, when it comes to domestic appliances:ner:

We just have very different priorities, in that respect, as I couldn't look at some manky old kettle, toaster or microwave sitting in my kitchen, far less use it. If I were that hard up, I'd sell my hi-fi system or TV to pay for it [btw, I'm not saying that situation applies to you];)

Marco.

[Sherwood]

Yes, I can accept that a leaky microwave oven could render the owner incapable of eating, but Marco's question said ".... Is it still safe, in terms of not exposing your food to harmful radiation?"
The radiation is harmful is to humans, but that doesn't mean it renders the food harmful. How could it, since a microwave oven is designed to fire microwaves at the food? :scratch:

The answer is it can't. The microwave simply excites the water molecules in the food. Ths means the food cooks from within, thereby reducing the cooking time. Yes, some foods don't taste great when cooked in the microwave, but they are perfectly safe. However, leaking microwaves are extremely dangerous and to be avoided.

I would go far as to say that leaking microwaves make my blood boil! :steam:

[Marco]

The radiation is harmful is to humans, but that doesn't mean it renders the food harmful. How could it, since a microwave oven is designed to fire microwaves at the food?

That still doesn't mean, though, that it's *guaranteed* to be 100% safe, after a microwave oven has been regularly used for many years. Have there been any tests carried out in that respect to prove it?

Call me fickle, but I always like to be as safe as I possibly can, especially when it comes to food hygiene, and if that means replacing ANY domestic appliance after a certain amount of usage, so be it.

My 'fussiness', in that respect, may be one of the reasons why I've hardly [almost never] experienced any significant accidents, major illnesses or damage to my health in the 52 years I've been born;)

Marco.

[Sherwood]

That still doesn't mean, though, that it's *guaranteed* to be 100% safe, after a microwave oven has been used for many years. Have there been any tests carried out in that respect to prove it?

Call me fickle, but I always like to be as safe as I possibly can, especially when it comes to the food I eat, and if that means replacing ANY domestic appliance after a certain amount of usage, so be it.

My 'fussiness', in that respect, may be one of the reasons why I've hardly [almost never] experienced any significant accidents, or damage to my health in the 52 years I've been born;)

Marco.

I have to say that when I recently went shopping for a second microwave, there were many designs that I thought could be "leaking" from new. Cheaply made with suspect seals, they did not inspire confidence.

I suspect many microwave ovens are like colanders. I am sure I am not the only one to feel skin tingles when operating a shared microwave oven.

Even with regular cleaning it is impossible to get at food that has penetrated the ventilation holes and must have accrued on the other side of the oven walls. I would therefore advocate replacing your microwave after 10 years on both safety and hygiene terms. At least get an older device checked out.

Geoff

[Macca]

Shan't. :ner:

[Audio Al]

I only use it to make popcorn, and that's quite rare nowadays since they moved where it was in the supermarket and now I can't find it.

Why would I buy a new one when the old one still works fine? That's the sort of thing a woman ( Marco ) would do. My kettle is 18 this year and the toaster is even older than that.

Plus my microwave is a proper catering job, made of metal, not plastic and made in Japan, not China. You can keep your flimsy modern crap. No wonder they go dodgy after a few years.

No surprise everyone is skint these days if they're replacing perfectly good appliances all the time.

Slight alteration :)

[Marco]

Even with regular cleaning it is impossible to get at food that has penetrated the ventilation holes and must have accrued on the other side of the oven walls. I would therefore advocate replacing your microwave after 10 years on both safety and hygiene terms.

Exactly! And the hygiene aspect you've mentioned hadn't escaped me either. The thought of 10, never mind 25 years worth of accumulated 'crud', sitting there festering away close to where the food I'm going to be eating is, gives me the boak! :spew:

I keep our kitchen spotless, especially where food is liable to be near, so the microwave oven, normal oven, hob, work surfaces, etc, are cleaned thoroughly every time they've been used. High standards of cleanliness and food hygiene are very important to me.

Marco.

[Sherwood]

Shan't. :ner:

Even Fred upgraded his wheels after the last Ice Age!


23254

[Marco]

Slight alteration :)

ARF!:D

Would a real woman go near your place, though?:ner:;)

Marco.

[walpurgis]

Even with regular cleaning it is impossible to get at food that has penetrated the ventilation holes and must have accrued on the other side of the oven walls

I wouldn't worry about that, all the leaking radiation will kill off any germs.

[Macca]

What sort of range do these death rays have anyway? I don't hang around in the kitchen waiting for the ping, once it is on I go back in the warm so I'm at least 30 feet from the device when it is on. Or can it get me as I'm walking away?

If they are so dodgy once they get a bit old there would be waning stickers all over them. They even have warnings on bags of peanuts now just so peanut allergy people don't think it's okay to eat them. But no warnings about the potential mini-Chernoybl in your kitchen?

If it looks like bolllocks and it quacks like bollocks...

[Sherwood]

I wouldn't worry about that, all the leaking radiation will kill off any germs.

... and feed panspermic organisms!

That's not an ivy growing, it's a battalion commander! :carrot:

[Macca]

... and feed panspermic organisms!

That's not an ivy growing, it's a battalion commander! :carrot:

What's wrong with orgasms?

[walpurgis]

What's wrong with orgasms?

They can cause awkward moments when you're on the bus.

[Marco]

I wouldn't worry about that, all the leaking radiation will kill off any germs.

:lolsign:

And Armageddon is nigh, so why worry?:D

Marco.

[Macca]

Ah just looked it up. Like 'Invasion of The Body Snatchers'.

I think it already happened myself, about 1979. But there's still a few of us they won't touch, possibly because we're damaged goods, I don't know.

It would explain how bizarre the world is now.

[Audio Al]

ARF!:D

Would a real woman go near your place, though?:ner:;)

Marco.

Only if they like dusting and vacuuming in a pinny :)

[Audio Al]

New Inverter microwave in the house :)

[Sherwood]

New Inverter microwave in the house :)

Australian import? :)

[Ninanina]

Well the time has arrived , after many years its finnaly happened :(
God I loved it
So So much
And now its expired .
Goodbuy Sharp Michrowave , All those combination Jacket potatoes , soft and fluffy inside and lovely chrispy skin
Oh Heven
Off to buy a new young pretender now , It will have big boots to fill :D

I can highly recommend a Panasonic Inverter combi Al. I've had mine about 15 years and it still works perfectly. I don't own a normal oven anymore and where the oven was now sits a freezer so the microwave combi is used all the time unless cooking on the induction hob

I don't think the Panasonics are the cheapest around but they are very good, mine has 1000w microwave, an oven that will go to 250c and a pretty decent grill as well. I think it was about £400 new

[Ninanina]

:doh:

Just seen your post Al... oops

Is it a Panasonic ?

[Audio Al]

I can highly recommend a Panasonic Inverter combi Al. I've had mine about 15 years and it still works perfectly. I don't own a normal oven anymore and where the oven was now sits a freezer so the microwave combi is used all the time unless cooking on the induction hob

I don't think the Panasonics are the cheapest around but they are very good, mine has 1000w microwave, an oven that will go to 250c and a pretty decent grill as well. I think it was about £400 new

Hi Bev

The one I purchared is a Panasonic NN-CT555W

https://pricespy.co.uk/home-garden/white-goods/cookers-ovens/microwaves/panasonic-nn-ct555w-white--p3153322

Only warmed up some milk for my Barista poncey coffee :eyebrows:

[Ninanina]

That's a bargain Al for a proper Inverter Panasonic

The Inverter bit means that when you, for example, set the microwave to 50% it actually heats at 50% power which is unlike most microwaves that actually use 100% power but simply switch in on and off.. but you probably knew that ;)

I think you will love your new Panasonic Al

[Marco]

It's a handy feature, Bev, as with a microwave oven it's far better to heat food for longer on lower power, than shorter on a higher power, as the latter just dries things up. With ours, you can vary the wattage/power from 80 to 1000W, so you just set it to what you want before the cooking starts:)

Al, enjoy your new Pany!

Marco.

[Audio Al]

It's a handy feature, Bev, as with a microwave oven it's far better to heat food for longer on lower power, than shorter on a higher power, as the latter just dries things up. With ours, you can vary the wattage/power from 80 to 1000W, so you just set it to what you want before the cooking starts :)

Al, enjoy your new Pany!


Thanks Marco

THE test will be baked jacket potatoes :eyebrows:

[Ninanina]

Thanks Marco

THE test will be baked jacket potatoes :eyebrows:

My Panasonic does lovely combi jackets Al...

I don't really use the microwave by itself but do use the convection oven all the time and sometimes the combi

[Audio Al]

Hi Bev

My recipy for the future is as follows
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Funk firm platter mat
External power supply
Poncey power mains cable
Blue bulb and maybe some special feet

Should make it COOK better ;)

[Ninanina]

Hi Bev

My recipy for the future is as follows
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Funk firm platter mat
External power supply
Poncey power mains cable
Blue bulb and maybe some special feet

Should make it COOK better ;)



:rfl::rfl:

[Barry]

Hi Bev

My recipy for the future is as follows
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Funk firm platter mat
External power supply
Poncey power mains cable
Blue bulb and maybe some special feet

Should make it COOK better ;)

Learning how to spell recipe properly (and not use the American spelling) would help! :D

[Sherwood]

Learning how to spell recipe properly (and not use the American spelling) would help! :D

You mean it's not a marcowave oven either? :scratch:

[Marco]

As an expert on microwave science (or something like that), what's your view on how long microwave ovens should be used for, in order to maintain their original levels of safety, or in that respect, does age not matter? :)

Marco.

[Marco]

You mean it's not a marcowave oven either? :scratch:

If it is, I expect to receive the necessary loyalties!

Marco.

[Barry]

My microwave oven is around ten years old, and still works as it should.

I'm not sure about the efficacy of the shielding with time. Certainly the metal enclosure will largely prevent microwave leakage, and the glass window in the door is a fitted with a fine hole mesh to act as Faraday cage to minimise leakage. But such arrangements on domestic consumer units are somewhat pallitative (I can suggest a test of the shielding efficacy you can try - I think you might be shocked with the result!), but presumably pass the recomended safety limit of < 1mW/cm2. (I've never measured the leakage. When I was working I could have borrowed an RF radiation meter, but it never crossed my mind to do so.)

Industrial, or professional units use higher power magnetrons and the shielding has to be better. Perhaps very old units that have had a lot of use (i.e. the door has been opened and shut hundreds of times) might have their microwave shielding compromised with time and use.

My attitude is not to worry about it too much, but at the same time not to watch the food cooking with one's face stuck right up agains the door!

[struth]

Got 2 micros. both old, and big. the sharp is huge and about 15 or so i think.. the Panasonic is nearer 30. both microwave fine and been well looked after.
I used to fix the once upon a time, when the company I worked for leased them to big hotels.. the catering staff really abused the but they lasted a decent time. They all leak to a degree, but the radiation depletes greatly over a fairly small distance so if you are not overly close to it you will be fine

[Ninanina]

I've just noticed my Panasonic has a crack in the door so I might be buying a new one as well :doh:

[struth]

Would be wise to.

[Ninanina]

Well it's lasted so well I can't complain

[Ninanina]

Just ordered my new Panasonic from John Lewis, the NN-CF873S. It's capacity is 32 litres and is a flatbed design, this one:

http://i.imgur.com/1QaEQJc.jpg (https://imgur.com/1QaEQJc)

[walpurgis]

Has it got freeview?

[Ninanina]

Has it got freeview?


:rfl::rfl:

[Audio Al]

Bev . That looks modern and stylish , Hope it lasts as long as the old one :)

[Ninanina]

I took delivery of the Panasonic and it turned out to be faulty so got a replacement and that was faulty as well. After reading a lot of reviews it seems that Panasonic combi's are definitely not made like they used to be

So I gave up on Panasonic and I've now got a lovely Samsung like this one, it works perfectly and is quite nice to look at as well. It comes with 3 years Samsung warranty and it was also £130 cheaper than the Panasonic, bargain

http://i.imgur.com/dj3A7fp.jpg (https://imgur.com/dj3A7fp)

[Ian7633]

What's the picture like?, screen looks quite small :rfl:

[Ninanina]

What's the picture like?, screen looks quite small :rfl:

It's pretty good actually....:lol:

[walpurgis]

Mainly cooking programmes I reckon. :D

[Ninanina]

Mainly cooking programmes I reckon. :D


:rfl:

[Ninanina]

Just cooked a whole chicken in 30 minutes in the Samsung.. it came out lovely and moist on the inside and nice and crispy on the outside.. I'm very impressed

[walpurgis]

lovely and moist on the inside

Hmm. :eyebrows:

[Ninanina]

Hmm. :eyebrows:

Exactly Geoff.... :eek:

[Pigmy Pony]

Got 2 micros. both old, and big. the sharp is huge and about 15 or so i think.. the Panasonic is nearer 30. both microwave fine and been well looked after.
I used to fix the once upon a time, when the company I worked for leased them to big hotels.. the catering staff really abused the but they lasted a decent time. They all leak to a degree, but the radiation depletes greatly over a fairly small distance so if you are not overly close to it you will be fine

How close would you have to be to a leaky microwave to be affected by radiation? In the morningtime I sit on the worktop in front of it while it cooks my porridge. And my back has been pretty bad this last few weeks.

On the plus side it may be shaking up the neurons in my head - I did an IQ test recently and my IQ has shot up to a heady 79! Now I'm learning something new every day, instead of just re-learning stuff. Tied my own laces this morning! My short term memory has improved too. Also I tied my own shoelaces this morning.

[spendorman]

My Sharp only lasted 18 years :(

I bought a combination Sharp microwave for my Mum many years ago, it also lasted a similar time, something like your 18 years. It was exceedingly heavy.

[Audio Al]

I bought a combination Sharp microwave for my Mum many years ago, it also lasted a similar time, something like your 18 years. It was exceedingly heavy.

Thats the one I had and yes it was bloody heavy :eek: