Microwave oven with thermometer

December 6, 2006 1:36 PM

I'm looking to buy a microwave oven, but I want a good one. I'm looking for a combination microwave/convection oven with, and this is the tricky part, a thermometer built in.

My mother-in-law bought a microwave with a built-in thermometer (from Sears, I think) about 20 years ago, and we had it for a while when she down-nested. It was great! Now I can't seem to find a microwave over anywhere that has a built-in thermometer. I'd really like to have the convection cooking option too.

Am I not looking hard/smart enough? Have they been banned, or just not enough interest?

posted by ykjay to food & drink (4 comments total)

I have not seen a microwave with built in thermometer in years. They may have them but I have not seen them. They stopped making that feature because it was seldom used.
posted by JayRwv at 2:55 PM on December 6, 2006

My parents had one of those too. And as previously suggested, it was never used in our house.

Not what you're looking for, but if nothing else, there are microwave thermometers
posted by loc-dogg at 5:20 PM on December 6, 2006

The problem with thermometers (based on the ones from about 20 years ago that have been mentioned) is that generally a greater benefit (even cooking) is derived by having a turntable inside the microwave than having a corded temperature probe that would preclude using a turntable. And because the heating is less even when the food is not turned, the temperature probe is less accurate anyway.

To make a short story long, I don't think you're gonna find one.
posted by Doohickie at 11:08 PM on December 6, 2006

Heads up: In case you don't happen to know, combination cooking (heat + microwave) is fantastic. Yea, convection ovens are nice, too, but the combination is the magic. 20 minutes for chicken pieces, crispy and done.

It is also useful if your microwave will let you put in a sequence of instructions. My current one misses that. I use that mainly for defrosting.

Also look for a warm temperature setting for raising dough. Mine does 40 degrees Celcius, fantastic for my yeast-risen pancakes.

You can buy very fast thermometers for checking doneness. The ones I've seen have a small dial and long probe. They have a case with a clip like a pen. I never use my roasting thermometer anymore. I learned using these while doing some institutional cooking in my youth.
posted by Goofyy at 6:37 AM on December 7, 2006