I just want a microwave with an analog dial for time and a switch for low, med, high. They can keep the computer.
That approach enables use of a smaller motor, requires fewer moving parts, and makes the interior very easy to clean.
Seems good so far.
(It does not have the physical dial though, it has buttons like most other microwaves)
It has a button to cycle through the power levels (the typical couple seconds on, couple seconds off duty cycle power levels), and four buttons to set the time: one under each digit (adds one to the digit and overflows to zero), the start button, something for temperature cooking if you have the probe (they don't). Actual buttons, because touch buttons hadn't been invented yet. A total of 8 buttons, plus the door open.
Anyway, no turntable there.
But I sure loved the fine grained time and power control. Figure out the setting put once and then it is unattended perfection every time.
Thinking about it now, it must have had some kind of plastic spring mechanism. Wish I had busted it open and looked.
https://www.amazon.com/Nordic-Ware-Microwave-Micro-Go-Round-...
But that produces a stationary pattern (averaged over a rotation). Depending on where your food item is, some spot in it may never actually get high power energy if the overall scatter pattern is weak there. Actually rotating the food through a stationary pattern is likely to provide better coverage.
This is not proved. It is possible to set up an experiment to prove it. But it's reconciled me to the idea of the turntable. Also, consumer microwave turntables have, in my experience, been reliable.
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/boil-on-troubled-waters/
The turntable's motion ensures the water is somewhat "disturbed" and minimizes superheating.
I still miss it.
The dials feel cheap, but it's fine.
I was tired of pushing buttons and setting clocks. I don't want everything to be a gizmo.
The only button I ever pressed on it is to open doors (mechanical), and once in a while I turn the timer to max (when I notice).
Unfortunately it was one of the most expensive ones in the stores: https://www.breville.com/us/en/products/microwaves/bmo850.ht...
Biggest annoyance is that it's 1500W so any time I'm microwaving packaged food I have to scale down power to 70-80% to match the wattage on the package.
...which is far easier and more consistent than trying to counting seconds in my head.
It's also more repeatable and transferrable when someone else is cooking the same thing and asks me how long I heated it for.
My toaster oven has a dial, I have no idea of the values, just how far I turn from muscle memory. I love it
It's a skill like any other, which of course has vanished, much like reading maps and math in head.
I could also just have an "on" button I have to hold, count seconds in my head, and stop when I think it's done, but thankfully no one is advocating for regressing UI quite that much....yet.
I love how microwaves work, there’s a real art to it. 25 seconds , everything is cold but 40 seconds is boiling.
25x2 seconds , with a very short break in between the two, is not equal to 50 seconds.
Making these numbers “up” but anyone who has used a microwave with skill and attention will understand me.
Also, free tips: 1- put a moist paper towel over pizza and bread to keep it from hardening like a rock later on. 2 - microwave stale bread for a second life.
1x120 seconds means it's completely cold in the middle, but molten lava at the sides and even the dish is too hot to touch.
1x30-45 seconds, mix with spoon, 1x30-45 seconds and it's just right.