It isn't too many times that I find myself surprised these days and when it comes to purchases, I make. Quite often there is a measure of disappointment now that everything is made in China and so apparently cheaply made and constructed or designed. Technology, though, sure has come a long way in some products though. While shopping in Sam's club I saw a Microwave for sale at a fairly decent price, a Sharp 551ZM model which actually looked pretty decent and promised sensor cooking ability. While it was at at a fairly decent price I didn't have much anticipation that it would be a stand out item, much less actually be able to, at that price point, cook items using an internal sensor, and in a microwave oven. Most Microwaves are used for warming these days as they leave a lot to be desired when it comes to actually preparing meals or foods.
Years ago I remember paying five or more hundred dollars for a microwave and still have it either over cook items or leave you guessing as to what settings to choose and it was still very inconsistent depending on how many items of the same food you placed in the oven. This fairly economical/cheap Microwave from Sharp, today, has sensor cooking and while I've had ovens that had sensor cooking before I've never had one that seemed to work, until now. The sensor in this oven isn't some probe that plugs into the oven and then sticks into the food but rather it actually senses the steam/moisture that comes from the foods during the cooking process.
This oven has a baked potato button that senses from 1-4 potatoes cooking and determines the ideal cook time to provide a perfectly done, thoroughly cooked and hot steaming potato at the end. The actual result? PERFECTLY cooked baked potatoes, this thing works! Same with the Popcorn sensor cooking function. Not a bag of uncooked kernels or overcooked popcorn leaving a burning smell and taste. I was amazed, and still am, this thing actually works and does what it says it will do, a good looking product and all for a price that wasn't too bad.
So while I thought about putting this in the Food section I figured Miscellaneous was a better choice. Finally it seems that someone has finally perfected the sensor cooking function in Microwaves and not charged you an arm and leg for the ability/feature. I have two other microwaves I'll gladly sell and part with but this one is a keeper and I can honestly say that finally there is a Microwave that actually can cook a perfectly done baked potato and cook a perfectly cooked bag of popcorn without burning the kernels or leaving a pile of uncooked, un-popped, kernels in the bag.
Then maybe there just isn't that much to talk about at this time of the morning.
