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

Brilliant microwave The oven function is brilliant especially for power saving. Not good for potatoes though as they become dry. Otherwise, the quality of heating when tested against other microwave ovens is insane, it will not make your food soggy and wet and lose taste. Great value for money The size is good and the front opening door gets rid of that awful need to contort yourself to grab food out of it adding control to your kitchen The buttons and controls are easy to use

This could have been a fantastic combination microwave/oven/grill but it is let down by the most counter-intuitive controls I have ever seen. On the control panel, there is a silver section with a large up and down button. It is intuitive to go to these buttons to adjust settings up and down, such as the time. Not so. The time is set by pressing the 10 min, 1 min, or 10 sec buttons and they cycle through the relevant periods. This is fine if you don't make a mistake, but means starting over or going through the cycle to correct any issues. Pressing the up and down buttons doesn't change the timer. To change the oven temperature, microwave power, or grill settings, you keep pressing the button for the microwave, oven or grill, not the up and down buttons. While the oven changes by standard degrees, as all ovens do, the microwave power changes by percent rather than power. If you want to follow a recipe for something that is microwaved at 800w, you can't because 90% of 900w is 810w not 800w. There is a delay start timer which is very useful, as long as you want to delay until a certain time, not for a certain period. I use this in combination with an air fryer, so I often set the air fryer to cook for 25 minutes, and want to cook something in the microwave a few minutes before the air fryer finishes. I can't set the microwave to start in 21 minutes, it has to be set to the time of day you want it to start. The up and down buttons are mainly used to adjust the pre-programmed setting Sharp built into the unit. These programs are listed on the top front edge of the unit and can only be seen when the door is open. Again, in the most awkward place. The sticker is perfectly sized to go on the top of the door where it can be seen all of the time, so placing it where it is defies logic. These are just a couple of examples where the control panel and system designers seemed to go out of their way to make it as difficult as possible and limit everything. The flatbed is great and far easier to clean than the usual turn table design. Like other reviewers, I would love to have had a shelf included as there are ledges for a shelf but they don't make one to fit the unit. The pull-down door is excellent for me because most microwaves open the wrong way for the space I have in my small kitchen. However, it is very easy to slam the door closed accidentally. The other annoying issue I have found is that, even with gaps all around the unit and a powerful-sounding fan going, steam builds up in the unit very quickly. This has meant that the light bulb flickers. When in use, the unit looks like something out of a horror movie. Where my previous microwaves have always had access to change the bulb, this one doesn't. I have had the microwave for less than 4 months so this is rather ridiculous in my opinion. I use the unit every day, at least once or twice, so it isn't something I can easily return, and it is too heavy to carry to the post office. I like the concept a lot, and it does a good job, it is just annoying that nothing is logical about it. I want to love this and it does do everything I wanted, it is just that Sharp seem to have thought about the most annoying way of doing things and gone with it.

I had to wait a while for the item to be delivered but glad that I waited and didn’t buy a different microwave. Love everything so far - cooking is good - easy to clean the interior which is great. The grill function doesn’t work the best from limited experience but love it as a normal microwave

Literally the best microwave I’ve ever had!! I’ve had it for quite some time now works well, I love the way the door pulls down. Absolutely no issues.

Saw and used one in a holiday rental and really loved it so bought one exactly the same. Would never go back to a turntable ever again. Recommend this to anyone. Brilliant and easy to use cuz I’m usually really thick with gadgets.

Yes, it took a few mistaken purchases to get here, but this microwave is absolutely beautiful as well as functional, and I love it. The other two had a tint on the door so dark, or a light so dim, that I couldn't see if things were boiling over or not! Who designs things like that? This one has a bright internal light and a very clear door. Perfect. In addition, the design is very sleek and attractive. And Sharp have figured out what is the minimal number of button presses to give the user what he wants. This microwave is number one :-)

States timer disappears when you set clock it doesn't. Doesn't heat food through evenly. Extremely noisy. To return to ao I lose £30 even though they are now selling it £20 cheaper. Anyone else unhappy with there's. Toast bread and it catches fire. Have spoken to sharp who said its a fault with the heating element. It's being returned. I won't buy sharp again.

Awesome microwave combi oven love flatbeds, ❤️ easy access drop down door, clear operation panel with digital timer and clock, tonnes of cooking options, built in grill & convection oven amongst other defiantly recommended for the kitchen and home chef