Does anyone have a Flatbed Microwave oven?

In the early days of microwave ovens, I think most of them were lacking turntables. My first one didn't have one.

The instructions on the frozen dinners used to say: "Half way during cooking, turn container half way".

I was happy to get one with a turntable.
yes 50 years ago they had no turntables but they had a device like a stirrer in the top....
 
I rarely use my 900 watt MW. I don't cook anything in it. I don't always warm leftovers either, often I just eat them cold. I don't reheat coffee; just drop in a few ice-cubes if it goes cold. I don't even do micro-wave popcorn anymore. Forget eggs.

It does help to defrost if I forget to take something out of the freezer. Otherwise, quickly steaming potatoes is about all.
 

I have no issues either with washing the turntable.. however, why have extra parts if they're not needed ?
And if you break it, you have to replace it.

I suggest finding out how the heat is distributed in a flatbed. There's probably articles about that. There's probably YouTube reviews, too. Check out a few of those.
 
They've been out for a while.. about 3 years or more..

They differ in that they don't have a turntable, so the heating is much more uniform.. and of course they're very much easier to clean.

I've read all good reviews about them, so since I I was thinking of changing my microwave oven I've been considering the flatbed..

If you trust the reviewer, then go for it. Sounds like a good machine.
 
If you trust the reviewer, then go for it. Sounds like a good machine.
yes it does to me too Frank.. I have read more info on it, and thus far no-one has any criticism... one person said they found that food wasn't being heated uniformly but they put that down to the brand of MW rather than the ability... because they'd had similar with the same brand with a turntable... fortunately not the brand I'm looking at...which also has a grill , and has great reviews.
 
yes it does to me too Frank.. I have read more info on it, and thus far no-one has any criticism... one person said they found that food wasn't being heated uniformly but they put that down to the brand of MW rather than the ability... because they'd had similar with the same brand with a turntable... fortunately not the brand I'm looking at...which also has a grill , and has great reviews.
Turntable ones don't always cook uniformly either. That's not necessarily the fault of the microwave. Uniform cooking depends on the shape of the container, the thickness and depth of the food, the spacing of your chicken nuggets ( 🤪 )....stuff like that.
 
the spacing of your chicken nuggets ( 🤪 )....stuff like that.

How many different types of shaped arrangements of them, have you tried? 😄
(Solely to determine which cooks the best, of course.:geek:)

And how can you be sure how many times it's best to turn them, sideways and upside down?:unsure:o_O:rolleyes:

Or actually, how can you tell which ones you've already turned and which you haven't turned the same number of times?:oops::eek:

I can see that this would be very stressful!
😁😆☺️

(Thanks for that outcome of your otherwise informative post, Frank! 😊)

@hollydolly
You'd really better get one with a turntable, now that I think about all of this particular issue that he's brought up!😄
 
How many different types of shaped arrangements of them, have you tried? 😄
(Solely to determine which cooks the best, of course.:geek:)

And how can you be sure how many times it's best to turn them, sideways and upside down?:unsure:o_O:rolleyes:

Or actually, how can you tell which ones you've already turned and which you haven't turned the same number of times?:oops::eek:

I can see that this would be very stressful!
😁😆☺️

(Thanks for that outcome of your otherwise informative post, Frank! 😊)

@hollydolly
You'd really better get one with a turntable, now that I think about all of this particular issue that he's brought up!😄
lol...in that case I'll keep the one I have... :sneaky: joking... I never cook chicken nuggets lol
 
My Panasonic has the inverter cooking she was raving about. Imo, I wouldn’t want a microwave without a turntable. I could be wrong but it seems like a gimmick to sell us something we already have. I have no issues cleaning my MW. Just take out the turntable and wash it if something spills over.
In fact, most times it's easier.
 
They differ in that they don't have a turntable, so the heating is much more uniform.. and of course they're very much easier to clean.
Well as I understand the technology the turntable is for actually getting a more uniform heating, and nothing else really. No doubt the oven would be easier to clean without the turntable.
 
Well as I understand the technology the turntable is for actually getting a more uniform heating, and nothing else really. No doubt the oven would be easier to clean without the turntable.
apparently not, from everything I've read. Apparently the flatbed is a better option for uniform heating...
 
How many different types of shaped arrangements of them, have you tried? 😄
(Solely to determine which cooks the best, of course.:geek:)
10
And how can you be sure how many times it's best to turn them, sideways and upside down?
Toss the dice, of course.
:unsure:o_O:rolleyes:

Or actually, how can you tell which ones you've already turned and which you haven't turned the same number of times?
I get out my black marker and put an X on all the other sides.
:oops::eek:

I can see that this would be very stressful!
A great excuse to request a back-rub, though, so it ain't all bad.
😁😆☺️

(Thanks for that outcome of your otherwise informative post, Frank! 😊)
My pleasure, Kaila.
 
But now i'm curious and may experiment because it seems to me one could simply remove the wheel mechanism, flip the turntable upside down and it would emulate a flatbed. My flat bottomed coffee cup sat well despite the raised thing on bottom of turntable that fit over mechanism that actually turns it. Next time i have leftovers to heat will experiment with those. But i didn't notice any difference in my coffee.
:) I wouldn't try that, feywon. Using machines/products in ways not intended by the manufacturer can be dangerous.
 
flatbed microwaves are new !
The original microwaves didn't have turntables. They were included to rotate the food for better cooking. Removing the turntable is nothing more than a production cost-cutting effort where the manufacturer can save money by eliminating all of the turntable materials...but the price of the microwave won't reduce. So, of course these will be pushed as the newest greatest thing and probably will sell for MORE than a regular microwave today.
 
The original microwaves didn't have turntables. They were included to rotate the food for better cooking. Removing the turntable is nothing more than a production cost-cutting effort where the manufacturer can save money by eliminating all of the turntable materials...but the price of the microwave won't reduce. So, of course these will be pushed as the newest greatest thing and probably will sell for MORE than a regular microwave today.
well then you'd be surprised because this flatbed that I'm considering is much cheaper than my MW would be to replace....same brand
 
:) I wouldn't try that, feywon. Using machines/products in ways not intended by the manufacturer can be dangerous.
Already did, MW and i both unharmed. I did give it some thought.

The turning mechanism still turns it just doesn't move the turntable. As i said no significant difference in heating efficiency of the MW, so no point in doing it more.

But thank you for your concern.
 
Did you ever notice that if you place something on the turntable and set the time to an increment of 10 seconds, the item will be in the same position when the oven stops? The turntable is driven by a small synchronous motor that's locked to the AC line frequency.

Also, when a microwave oven fails, it is often a tiny microswitch the burns out. One major cause of this is opening the door when the oven is running. That shuts off the magnetron by opening one of these little switches.

I cook my chicken nuggets in my toaster oven so they will be crispy.
 
Did you ever notice that if you place something on the turntable and set the time to an increment of 10 seconds, the item will be in the same position when the oven stops? The turntable is driven by a small synchronous motor that's locked to the AC line frequency.
actually mine doesn't and previous ones didn't either..it's always been a source of slight irritation to me that they don't return to the same position.. I use 30 second increments when reheating...
 
I never cook chicken nuggets lol
I'm not sure how you live, like that, Holly.
;) 😄
I guess you probably also don't enjoy the similar delicacy of Tater Tots, either, then. :LOL::ROFLMAO:

Thank you for those important additional details you provided on that subject, @Murrmurr (y):giggle:
The marker idea was the best of your valuable suggestions.😁😄😆
 


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