Sharp SuperSteam Microwave Oven Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)First off this is a VERY attractive appliance. The picture on the website does not do it justice, as weird as that may seem. It is substancial, well built, and looks and feels like something from a professional kitchen. Even though the measurements are documented, the oven just seems bigger. Personally, I think it's too big for a counter and would be best mounted into a unit. There could be some problems with mounting because you absolutely DO need the recommended space above, behind and to the sides - you can't get away with putting it up against anything if you plan on using the steam feature.
Good things:
The convention over works exactly as it should - I made a cake and it came out super-fluffy and perfectly cooked in and out, and very moist. Also made a sandwich and the bread was nice and crispy and the tomatoes inside were perfectly cooked. I made two chickens - one with the steam and one without. Both were good, but the one with the steam did get brown (lightly) and looked better, although they both tasted great and moist.
Microwave works fine. Downside is that there is no spinning wheel, so you have to stir and flip things around - AND - the microwave keeps stopping to tell you to do that. A bit annoying.
Although the job wheel feels very expensive and all the options are laid out well - I would prefer some buttons, espcially with the microwave. You can't just pop something in and start nuking. YOu have to press the microwave button and then use the wheel to go down one selection and then press enter and then use the wheel to spin to a time and then you can finally hit start. They should have moved that up one level to make it faster.
You get several well built pans and racks with this, which is very nice bonus.
The instructions are overwhelming, but when you actually go to use the oven, it makes sense.
Putting the water in for the steam function is very easy - a little box/cup thing comes out, you fill it and put it back in. done.
The auto sense microwave warming part works really well. I always want to doubt that it will work, but it actually does.
Overall it's a very intelligent unit, looks gorgeous and can completely replace your oven and microwave. Downside is that interface, which although it is slick, I don't much care for it and seems to require more thought than I care to put into microwaving something.
I would give it 4.5 stars because of that - but really it's a very nice oven.
One more thing - oddly enough, it does not put out excessive amounts of heat compared to your regular oven. You can open it during cooking and not get blasted by heat (although you should be careful). And cooking the chickens didn't heat up my whole kitchen or apartment like the oven usually does. The steam will kick up the humidity, but not that much.
Update - I wanted to add that I made a Flan recently and it came out perfectly. Usually I make it in a regular oven in a water bath. I skipped the water bath and just put it into the Sharp and chose convection oven - it came out perfectly cooked from edges to the middle! Anyone who has made a Flan will know how hard it is to get the center to cook correctly without overdoing the sides. I was pretty happy with this.

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Sharp's new SuperSteam Oven offers a unique combination of the healthiest ways to cook, all in one versatile appliance: SuperSteam Convection, Steam, Convection and Microwave. SuperSteam Convection is a combination of two types of cooking: superheated steam and convection heat. Sharp uses state-of-the-art technology to superheat steam. Unlike conventional steam, superheated steam helps brown and crisp foods on the outside, while adding moisture to the inside. When combined with convection cooking, the results are exceptional. Foods that are good for you look and taste better than you ever expected. The AX-1200S can also be used for traditional steaming, for microwave cooking or as a convection oven for baking or roasting.

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Panasonic SR-MS182 Fuzzy-Logic 10-Cup Rice Cooker, White Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This cooker is supposed to be able to: cook white rice (normal mode), white rice (quick mode), brown rice, sticky rice, rice porridge, steam, cake, slow cook. I tested the functions I would most often use: cooking white rice, steaming, cake, and slow cooking.
[1] Cook rice (white jasmine) in normal mode
This cooker is meant to make as little as 2 cups rice (4 cup yield cooked) to 10 cups (20 cup yield cooked). Cooking takes about 40 minutes. When cooking the minimum (2 cups) with the recommended amount of water according to the markings in the inner bowl, the finished rice seemed a bit dry and undercooked. Whenever I find the rice slightly undercooked for my taste when the machine says the rice is finished cooking, I let the rice steam for a few additional minutes in "warm" mode, and it'll usually eventually get cooked more thoroughly, though still a bit dry. I've had the same problem with my old rice cooker. With smaller amounts of rice, the markings are usually off so I need to add more water than what is recommended. I tried cooking 2 cups again, but this time, added water 1-2 millimeters above the recommended water line, and the rice came out perfect when the machine sounded the "ready" beep. When I made a larger amount in this cooker (4 cups), I added water only up to the recommended line, but this time had no problems with the finished rice. Again, this is the same way my old rice cooker (different brand) performed, so don't necessarily think badly of Panasonic's line, there are problems all around - just keep tweaking water as you get to understand how the rice will turn out the more you use the machine.
[2] Cook rice in quick mode
I tried with 2 cups again. Cooking finished in about 15 minutes, but was far more undercooked than the rice in Task 1. I let the rice steam in "warm" mode for about an hour, and the rice was better - took away the whole point of trying to cook rice quickly, though. Doubt I will bother using this over normal cooking.
[3] Steam
You can set the cooking time for steaming anywhere between 1-60 minutes, adjusting in 1 minute increments. The plastic steaming tray fits into the inner bowl of the rice cooker. The tray is approximately 8.25 inches in diameter and 2.25 inches deep. There are two nubs in the plastic tray protruding inwards that you use to help lift the tray out of the inner bowl when steaming is done. Steamed 4 quartered russet potatoes great, and tray was very easy to clean.
[4] Cake
Instead of cake, I made a batter for pumpkin bread that is normally baked at 350º for about 55 minutes in a loaf pan. Put it in the cooker on "cake" mode and it finished cooking in 55 minutes as well. Cooked nicely though the texture of the crust is slightly different and better suited for actual cakes. There will not be the golden crust on the top of the baked good you are used to with oven baking. The top of the cake/bread will look and feel more like steamed buns. You can set the cooking time in "cake" mode anywhere from 20-65 minutes, adjusting in 5 minute intervals.
[5] Slow cook
A completely frozen block of corned beef was cooked in "slow cook" mode for 3.5 hours. It was nice that I didn't have to worry about falling asleep with the machine on since there are no flames to deal with on the stove and didn't have to watch for spillovers. There is no temperature control, but the machine keeps the temperature so the water stays at a low simmer. Cooking times for slow cooking can be adjusted in 30 minute increments anywhere from 1-12 hours.
Happy with overall performance except for quick cooking rice.
Other notes:
The machine will remember the cooking time settings you last used for the steam, cake, and slow cook options - great so you don't have to reset it all the time when you cook the same thing often. A detail I really appreciated was that the inner cover to the lid had a rubber gasket around the edges with a layer of rubber folded back in such a way that when you open the lid, with all the condensation on the inner cover from the steaming of rice, the water is caught in the groove in between the layers of rubber and does not drip all over the bottom half of the machine. The machine displays the time when not in use, but it just operates on a 24-hour clock i.e. when it is 4 in the afternoon, you will see 16:00 on your time display. There is unfortunately no other option for those of us who like to simply see 4:00 pm. The display lays more horizontal than vertically. I wish the display were more vertical so you could easily see the time on it sitting down in a chair across the room, not only if you're standing over it. Disappointed there is no slot/holder for the rice scoop. It would have been nice since once the scoop starts getting used, there's rice sticking all over it and it would be good to have somewhere to put the scoop in between servings without having to dirty another dish or the countertop.


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Take the guesswork out of making restaurant-quality rice with this easy-to-use rice cooker. The handy appliance offers a 10-cup uncooked-rice capacity, producing up to 20 cups of cooked rice--great when cooking for a group of friends or the whole family. Simply add dry rice, measure in the water, make a selection, and push the "start" button. Equipped with micro-computerized Fuzzy Logic technology, the unit automatically makes fine adjustments to the temperature and heating time to ensure perfectly cooked rice. Choose from a variety of menu options including steam; quick cook; porridge; slow cook; cake; and white, brown, and sticky rice. Once the rice has cooked, the appliance automatically switches over to "keep warm" mode, which maintains an ideal serving temperature for up to 12 hours. The unit's delay timer offers a 24-hour clock with one memory setting for starting the cooking cycle at a later time, and its automatic shut-off function offers peace of mind. Other highlights include a binchotan-type black pan with white anodizing for better tasting rice, a dimple pan that expands heat by 20 percent for enhanced performance, a detachable steam vent, a large orange LCD read-out, a detachable power cord, and a carry handle for convenient transport. A steam basket, measuring cup, rice scoop, and a user manual in English, French, and Chinese come included. The 835-watt rice cooker measures 14-1/5 by 11 by 9-4/5 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.

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MICROWAVE STEAMER 2 TIER Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Used the steamer three time now and found it to be exactly as described and am well satisfied with purchase.

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Steaming your favorite foods in minutes has never been easier. Just pour water into the bottom of this 2-tier microwave steamer, add 1 or 2 food items in to the separate dishes provided, cover, stack and steam!

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