SHARP R861SLM, 900 W, Combination Flatbed Microwave, Silver, 25 Litres, 15 programs

Product Information

Noise level: This may or may not be important to you as all microwaves make some level of humming or buzzing when in use. If it sounds noisier than normal, this could be an indication that its time to replace your model. Finally, cleaning the appliance was a breeze, thanks to the glass flatbed. If you’d suffered a culinary explosion then cleaning would be more fiddly as result of the exposed grill element at the top and the ventilation holes in the rear and sides. But still, on a day-to-day basis the Sharp R861SLM is easier to clean than a microwave with a turntable. If your budget will stretch a little further to a combi then opt for the Panasonic NN-DF386. If you only need a microwave then the compact Beko MOF 20110 is also worth a look. Verdict Something that may not be entirely to everyone’s taste is the white branded internal base though this certainly gives it a clean feel. In addition, the noise and vibration on some programs maybe something you notice but are not deal-breakers. It combines 3 appliances in 1 with a microwave, grill and convection based oven with a flatbed base (no turntable). The flatbed base gives you much more cooking capacity than a standard turntable microwave– great for those large or awkward dishes.

The Sharp looks modern thanks to its oven-style pull-down door and flatbed design; there’s no turntable. This results in significantly more cooking space, which is great so long as the appliance does a good job of cooking food evenly. I liked the Sharp’s pull-down door and found the controls intuitive and straightforward enough to use. Easy to use, easy clean counter-top microwave: The adjustable timer helps ensure your food is cooked ideally, while the flat contours are designed to be simply wiped clean. 12 month warranty includedInverter Technology will mean that your meals are cooked and heated evenly throughout putting an end to repeated goes in the microwave trying to kill the cold spots. As well as being less annoying this will also mean less energy usage and more time for you. Keep on top of any cooking or baking elsewhere in the kitchen with this handy timer, easy to set and will alert you once the timer has counted down. The Sharp 900w Combination Flatbed Microwave R861 comes with non-slip feet leaving little danger of the microwave moving once you set it on your counter. However, cooking was even, you couldn’t tell which way round the pizza had been sitting. The top was nicely browned, the edges crisp – but not too crisp – and on the underside there was no soggy bottom in sight.

To make life simple there are auto menu programs pre-installed for you to get cooking at the touch of a button The precise cooking and timer offered by microwave grills makes them perfect for this kind of job, where in a regular grill you’d be likely to forget and overcook or burn the toast. Overall the Sharp 900w Combination Flatbed Microwave R861 is a fantastic flatbed combination microwave with lots of features that will leave your happy you made the choice.

Using the convection oven to cook a slice of frozen pizza on the supplied baking tray was interesting. The weight options for auto cooking pizza are 150, 300 and 450g, with 18-, 19- and 20-minute cooking times respectively. To be fair. though, this includes the time it takes for the oven to warm up. This Sharp model has a sleek appearance and is cost-effective. It’s best suited to those who want a combination microwave for occasional use, but won’t be relying on it in place of a regular oven and grill. Being a flatbed model, cleaning will not be an issue as its easy to access with no awkward turntable to take out and clean separately. The power levels and grill temperature not adjustable on combi microwave/grill function, and it's hard to know if combi 1 or 2 is the best choice as the instructions give very little information Your microwave is pre-programmed so food can be easily defrosted by simply inputting the food's weight. Alternatively, you can manually choose the defrost time.