Whirlpool Max 35 Microwave/Steamer: Review

I recently received a fabulous Whirlpool Max 35 Microwave/Steamer to review. The product has a retro appearance and is available in trendy bold colours.  I chose Zesty Orange to add a splash of colour to my newly planned kitchen.  My new kitchen has been designed to have a free standing microwave to fit in a corner and this microwave is rounded at the back to fit neatly into the corner of the kitchen.

The stand out features are Whirlpool's patented microwave distribution system which ensures perfectly uniform cooking by emitting microwaves three dimensionally instead of uni-directionally so food cooks faster and more evenly.

Features a glass turntable for even cooking/steaming/defrosting

There are many useful features including:
- Touch control panel at the base of the microwave
- Turntable diameter 28cm
- Capacity 13 litres
- Internal cavity height 17cm
- Maximum power 700 watts
- Internal light
- Jet Start: Maximum power level for quick reheating of liquids
- Jet Defrost: Unique 3D distribution system for fast even defrosting. This function will quickly defrost meat, poultry and fish by weight between 100g to 1.5kg.
- Cooking and reheating with microwaves only: Four power levels, 160w, 350w, 500w 700w.
- Steamer: Steaming by weight from 150g to 500g.  There are four steaming levels 1-4 and a quick reference guide is conveniently placed on the inside of the microwave.
- Microwave: It is possible to cook or reheat using this function with four power levels 160w, 350w, 500w, 700w.
- Memory: Easy to store the setting you use the most
- Pause or Stop Cooking: Setting can be maintained for 5 minutes
- 24 Hour Clock: Large clear illuminated display
- Kitchen Timer: Can be used instead of a separate kitchen timer

The steamer supplied with the microwave oven.
 Water is put into the base, food in the steamer basket and then place the lid on top.

Review:
There are a variety of functions and I use the majority of them on a weekly basis. I've been using the microwave daily for a few weeks now and I am very pleased with the way it performs.  The touch controls are easy to use and I like the fact that there aren't any buttons to press. After only a week using the microwave we really did become the best of friends. Highlights are the Jet Defrost and also the Steamer features both of which work so speedily and evenly it's impossible not to be impressed.  The microwave is user friendly and it takes no time at all to become familiar with it's functionality.

Steamed potatoes take only a few minutes to cook.

Steamer: I've steamed carrots either diced or in batons (new seasons carrots steamed are fabulous), new potatoes, broccoli, fresh sweetcorn, plums and salmon fillets are some of the foods I have steamed and tested. Although my potatoes cooked perfectly, a few of them looked a little dry after steaming but I turned them out into the liquid in the base of the steamer and then returned them to the steamer basket to drain and their appearance improved, or if you are feeling indulgent dot cubes of butter over the potatoes and they will be amazing. Sweetcorn cobs cooked in the steamer are a revelation, they stay sweet, crisp and retain all of their taste.  Everything needs to be cut the same size for even steaming results, ripe plums will give the best result and salmon fillets of even thickness will cook evenly.

Jet Defrost:  It is easy to use the touch control function - you simply press the Jet Defrost button until it displays the correct weight, a turn food symbol appears on the display part way through defrosting.  It is also possible to increase or decrease the defrost time.

Sometimes I can't decide what to make for dinner, I look in the freezer and then realise I have left it too late to defrost anything, this scenario is now a thing of the past and today I defrosted a couple of chicken legs in approximately 7 minutes. The Jet Defrost will for example defrost 500g mince beef evenly in only 5 minutes. I like to double up on recipes such as shepherds pie, lasagna or fish pie and often make one for now and freeze one for a rainy day.  Instead of leaving frozen goods out in a warm kitchen to thaw the microwave will defrost them in next to no time. I often use the Jet Defrost function and I am in awe of how quick and evenly foods defrost.

Perfectly defrosted home made bread.

Microwave:
700w - for liquids, making a cup of coffee, reheating a bowl of soup or warming a bowl of breakfast cereal.
500w - to part cook two jacket potatoes it takes 20 to 30 minutes, according to size, (don't forget to pierce them or they will explode!) then pop into a high heat oven to crisp and finish cooking.  To extract as much juice as possible from lemons, pierce the lemon with a knife and place on the turntable for 20 seconds. I also use this power level to reheat cooked vegetables.
350w - this setting is useful to reheat casseroles slowly.
160w - defrost bread rolls, slices of bread, defrost and refresh home made bread which has previously been frozen.  A tip here is to defrost bread on a piece of kitchen towel which absorbs any moisture. A useful setting for gently warming bread rolls too. Melt chocolate gently and use to thaw ice cream to a soft scoop consistency. This setting is particularly useful for defrosting home made muffins!

The +/- gives flexibility to all of the programmes.

Cleaning:  The microwave and the streamline door are easy clean, although I've noticed neither get dirty.

Door:  There is a door grip on the side of the microwave.

Pros:
- Bold trendy colours or classic colours to choose from
- Unique Jet Defrost is astonishingly quick - 5 minutes to defrost 500g mince beef!
- Steamer function is quick and efficient
- Steamer supplied
- Even heat distribution
- Turntable
- Touch Control
- Interior Cavity Light
- Audible bleep is loud
- Digital clock/timer the figures are large, well lit and can be seen at a distance
- User friendly
- Well made
- Easy to follow Quick Reference Guide supplied

Cons:
- The microwave is tall and measures 36cm
- When you open the oven door the microwave can move (we have rectified this by placing a piece of twin stick tape under two of the feet at the front)
- Internal cavity height may be a problem if you wish to use large jugs or containers

Summary:  I am delighted with the microwave, not only does it look great, it works speedily and efficiently too.

For more details please visit Whirlpool - the microwave is priced at £160.

Thank you to Whirlpool for the review sample.

Coming Up: Whirlpool Max 35 Microwave/Steamer - Recipes.