Reliable Simplicity (Sharp R206)

Member Name: aefra

Product:	Sharp R206
Date:	24/10/03 (492 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: reliable , inexpensive

Disadvantages: Does not offer the sophistication of more expensive models

I have owned some half a dozen microwaves since the seventies and if this seems quite a lot it is because the average was brought down sharply by my foray into the world of posher products.

We have come a long way since 1946 when engineer Dr. Percy Spencer, while testing a new vacuum tube, found that the candy bar in his pocket had melted. A few playful experiments later and a lot of work produced the first microwave ovens which stood over 5? tall and weighed 750 pounds.* Microwave energy is natural and is a form of radiation similar to sunlight and I remember clearly the fears when domestic microwave ovens first appeared in our kitchens. There were rumours of leaks and pictures conjured of radiation poisoning. When my mother had a heart pacemaker fitted she would not enter the houses of my sister or I unless assured that the microwave ovens were unplugged. Incidentally, did you know that the glass base on the turntable acts as a clear shelf to allow the food to ?float? in mid air?

My first microwaves lasted me well and tended, although not exclusively, to be produced by Sharp. A couple of years ago with a new kitchen in mind I disposed of my built in oven, bought a small tabletop version until I was ready to replace it with a freestanding cooker and looked for a combination microwave which would roast and grill as well as the standard use. This lasted just long enough to be out of warranty before a sparkly flash and bang signalled its demise. A similar replacement again lasted just over a year before beginning to take longer and longer to heat the food within before finally dying. Enough was enough and with my new kitchen in place and no need for other than a bog standard version to heat baked beans and ready frozen meals, I bought a Sharp R206 for less than £60 and true to previous form it has served me well.

In the past several of my less expensive electricals have tended to be Sharp and I have been happy with them.
Interestingly this Japanese company founded in 1912 was named after one of their first products, the Ever Sharp propelling pencil? Just a little useless information tossed in for interest, but this is a company which have had an impressive number of "firsts" under its belt since it was established.

My Sharp is the standard version although a reasonable size at 28x45x39 cms with a capacity of 0.7cu ft and although I miss touch controls for the accuracy of seconds timing, I have learned pretty quickly to manage without. Since this is a cooking aid which stands on top of my fridge/freezer, I like the fact that it is not as heavy as previous models. Although it can be bought in green or silver, mine is white with a dark glassed door which has an attractively curved edge. The reason for the latter took me a few minutes of frustration as I looked for a button to open the door of my new purchase. Having become used to more advanced microwaves it hadn?t occurred to me to grasp the curved rim and pull. The interior is lit when cooking and the dark glass does not obscure what is going on inside.

Despite the basic design when compared with its posh cousins, the Sharp R206 offers 5 cooking heats including defrost and a manual timer to 30 minutes, both with manual control This means knobs rather than buttons. At 800w (E rating) this is an appliance which cooks quickly and the rotating turntable means that food is evenly heated.

Before beginning to cook I turn the control to the required heat (normally High, but Medium for baked potatoes). Adjusting the time control, I only need to close the door with its satisfyingly firm click and the cooking begins. Opening the door will turn the oven off and all microwaves need a little practice until you discover the timing you want.

The operation manual which comes with your purchase is a clear and comprehensive guide and always worth scanning even though most of us are pretty
proficient by now in use of these appliances. Here I should tell you that this microwave is not programmable and does not have an auto cook, but I didn't use them when I had the opportunity on previous appliances anyway.

The inside of the Sharp is also white and easy to clean. A bonus for me is that the roller stay beneath the glass turntable is inset, so there is no need for the careful and repeated balancing act needed to replace the glass tray on the rollers which I have found with previous microwaves of much higher cost.

So there you go. A simple appliance which achieves very well what it was created to do and which, if my previous Sharp microwaves are anything to go by, will last me much longer than the 15 months it has served me so far.

If you should wonder why a seconds timer is important, did you know that you can safely poach an egg in a microwave? Break the egg into a cup and cover very tightly with cling film. At exactly 26 secs on high (varies by a few seconds depending on the microwave) the egg is nicely poached. Any accidents are taken care of by the cling film.

Comet online are offering the R206 for £48.96 with free delivery at the moment.



*resource; www.gallawa.com

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