If there’s ever been a product or brand that has stood the test of time while showcasing their skills as an innovator within their market, it’s General Electric and their popular line of microwaves. From the early days when large, bulky ovens sat right on your countertops, to the versatile and sleek cooking devices we have all come to know them as, the common household microwave has dramatically evolved over the last few decades. And GE has been there for the entire ride.
Whether you’re looking for convenient cooking or a simple way to make popcorn, microwaves have become a must-have kitchen appliance for nearly every homeowner across the world. Spotlighting an ample set of features and advanced cooking methods, this type of oven is designed with convenience in mind. Compact enough to sit on your countertop or install within your cabinets, yet remaining versatile enough to support the diverse cooking needs of families both small and large.
When it comes to shopping for the best microwave that fits into your lifestyle, it can be somewhat tricky to dig into all of your options. There are literally dozens of brands that sell microwave ovens, with each brand having their own unique assortment consisting of different sizes, types and features. In fact, as I currently write this, there are over 2,500 microwaves available on Amazon. Think about that for a moment, where do you even start?
That’s what we’re here to help with. To help you avoid blindly sifting through a sea of appliances, we’re going to take a closer look at GE microwaves and highlight why you should consider this brand. From child locks to cooking sensors to a conglomeration of cooking methods, here’s what you should expect if you buy a GE microwave.
How General Electric Helped Invent The Microwave
General Electric was formed in the late 1800’s. Within a few years after the company was founded, GE started to create and launch a variety of kitchen appliances. They launched the first electric toaster in 1905, followed five years later with their first electric range.
Over the last century, they have transformed into a Fortune 500 company, established a reputation for being an innovator in a variety of industries and even had two employees win the Nobel Prize based on research they had done for the company. But, when it comes to the microwave oven, one could say that the concept of the device itself is rooted to a GE research lab.
Shop For A GE Microwave On Amazon
Meet Albert W. Hull: The Physicist With A Vision
It all started back in 1918, when a physicist by the name of Albert W. Hull was tucked away in a lab at General Electric working on a new vacuum tube that will eventually change the world. His vision was a magnetron, ultimately called the Dynatron, and it completely revolutionized how magnetic fields were utilized to regulate power output, giving it the ability to act as both an oscillator or amplifier. Because it could manipulate such a broad spectrum of frequencies, Hull’s magnetron played a key role in the evolution of telecommunications and radar systems for the United States, and was especially useful during WWII.
At this point, you may be wondering what this all has to do with microwave ovens. Nearly a century after Hull’s invention, and many years of continual development, magnetrons are still used in microwaves all across the world. It is the magnetron inside your microwave that generates the energy used to cook your food. Unless you are using a convection microwave, which uses a combination of energy sources, but that’s a story we will save for another day.
Enter Percy Spencer: The Engineer With A Candy Bar
This is probably a good place to note that Hull, or General Electric for that matter, is not credited as being the inventor of the microwave oven. That title goes to an engineer by the name of Percy Spencer, whom accidentally stumbled upon the idea nearly two decades after Hull invented the magnetron. As the story goes, Spencer was testing a radar magnetron when he noticed that the candy bar in his pocket had melted.
It wasn’t long before he figured out how it happened. He continued to test it out and built a device specifically for the purpose of cooking food. In 1945, he patented the microwave oven. Two years later, the microwave made its debut on the consumer market. The RadarRange, as it was called, was nearly 6 ft tall, weighted over 750 lbs and went on sale at the low price of $5,000.
While Hull or GE are not credited with inventing the microwave, if it wasn’t for Hull’s original vision in that lab at GE, the discovery of microwave ovens would’ve taken a different course through history. Or perhaps never been invented at all.
Why You Should Consider A GE Microwave
With over a century of experience designing, manufacturing and selling kitchen appliances, General Electric is easily one of the most reputable brands within this industry. Due to their history of innovation, their line of microwaves are widely regarded as some of the best available for consumers.
From countertop to over-the-range to built-in, we can pretty much guarantee that there is a GE microwave that will fit your specific needs and lifestyle. With nearly one hundred different models available, some of which are available in a variety of colors and finishes, GE has a deep product assortment all of which showcase innovative features, luxurious designs and durable versatility.
If you’re in the market for a new microwave, you would be doing yourself a disservice by not considering GE.
Tips to Buying a Microwave For Your Home
Whether you buy a GE microwave or one from a different brand, it is wise to have a general idea of what you are looking for while shopping for this type of appliance. You can read our in-depth overview here: Microwave Buyer’s Guide.
While we would encourage you to read the full buyer’s guide, we also want to make it easy as possible for you to find the best microwave for your home. Continuing on here, we will highlight many of the same buying tips, with the focus being on how to find the best GE microwave.
Everything You Need To Know When Buying A Microwave
Don’t Rush Your Purchase
It is ill-advised to rush the decision and simply buy the first microwave you find. An ineffective microwave will likely cook food improperly, which will not only result in lost time when you need to replace the ruined meal, but a waste of money as you just bought an appliance that isn’t accomplishing the very goals it is intended for. And there is definitely no shortage of terrible microwaves available to buy.
Start With Brand Reputation
As with any new purchase, but especially with appliances you plan on using for years to come, a good starting place is to identify which brands are leaders within that market.
We’ve done the research for you. Here is a list of the most popular brands that you will likely come across while shopping for a microwave. Our list provides a high-level overview of their reputation and what customers are saying about the microwaves they purchased. We would recommend you start your search with one of these brands. At the top of that list, is General Electric.
A trustworthy brand with a long history, GE has an excellent track record and has been in the microwave oven business nearly longer than anyone else. This alone should give you confidence that you will not be purchasing a low-quality device that will likely need to be replaced in a few years.
Know The Differences In Types of Microwaves
Knowing why you want a new microwave, as well as how you plan on using it, will help guide you through the buying process and narrow down the options in front of you. Whether you are needing something small for a dorm or you’re in the middle of a kitchen remodel, there are many different types of microwaves to choose from, all of which are designed to be utilized for different purposes. Here are the three types of microwaves you will need to choose from.
Countertop:
This type of microwave is designed to sit right on your countertop. No installation is required, they are affordable and you can move these at your convenience. Countertop microwaves come in all many sizes and are probably the most common type of microwave out there. Click here to learn more.
Over-the-Range:
This type of microwave is installed directly above your cooking range in your kitchen. These save you countertop space, provide extra light for cooking and act as a vent for fumes and odors. An ideal choice if you’re remodeling your kitchen, and often found in newly-built homes, this is an elegant option. Click here to learn more.
Built-In:
Much like an over-the-range unit, this type of microwave is designed to be seamlessly installed pretty much anywhere in your kitchen. You often see these installed in the wall directly above the oven. Click here to learn more.
Shop For A GE Over-The-Range Microwave On Amazon
General Electric sells all of the above types of microwaves. While they have a large selection of all three types list above, approximately half of their product line is designed to be installed over-the-range. So, if you’re specifically looking for that type of microwave, you should be aware that GE is a true innovator for this specific type. View all GE over-the-range microwaves on Amazon.
Wattage & Cooking Power
The amount of power a microwave has is measured in watts. Units with higher wattage levels are not only more powerful, but they will cook your food at a quicker pace and, generally, in a more even and efficient manner. General Electric offers microwaves ranging from as little as 700 watts to more than 1,200 watts.
While everyone’s situation will vary, you will likely want to shoot for a wattage level somewhere in the middle of that range. Microwaves on the lower end of the spectrum will have a more difficult time handling strenuous cooking tasks. While microwaves on the higher end will give you more flexibility in what you can cook, but may be a little out of your budget.
It all comes down to how you plan on using the appliance. If you just want to heat up leftovers or make a bag of popcorn, and don’t plan on using the microwave for heavy cooking, then a 700 watt microwave will work for you. If you plan on using the microwave for cooking a wide variety of meals, then you would be better served with a 1100 watt microwave.
Measure the Size
This is going to be more important if you plan on installing your microwave, either into a wall or above the range. However, even with countertop microwaves, it’s still wise to know the precise dimensions of each microwave, in order to ensure you’re getting the right one for your kitchen.
If you are replacing or installing a built-in or over-the-range unit, you will need to get precise measurements and try to find a microwave that meets those. If you are replacing a unit, try to find the model number listed on the back and look it up online. Hopefully, this will give you precise measurements without requiring you to do much work. As well as give you a good starting place on buying a new GE microwave. If that’s not an option, then you will have to measure either your old unit or the space in which you plan on installing it. Knowing the height, width and depth are all crucial to determining which microwave is best for you.
The good news is that GE specializes in over-the-range microwaves, so they have many sizes available. Once you know the dimensions of your space, finding a microwave that works for you will be a relatively simple process.
The 3 Best GE Microwaves Based on 3 Common Scenarios
At this point, I hope you have a better idea of what to look for when buying a microwave. If not, please check out our buyer’s guide above. Let’s skip ahead and take a closer look at a few common scenarios in which you may find yourself in. To make it as easy as possible, we have provided links to the best GE microwaves to accommodate each scenario, as well as the SKU so you can do your own independent research.
1. You Want Something Simple & Basic
Forget all the bells and whistles, you’re just looking for the most basic microwave functions at an affordable price. Typically, the best microwaves to accomplish this are going to be countertop devices that have smaller capacities. With easy-to-read functions and a few pre-programmed cooking controls, these microwaves from GE aren’t trying to steal the limelight. They just want to do be left alone and make the occasional bag of popcorn.
Start Your Search With These Three:
GE JEM3072DHBB — 0.7 Cu. Ft. Black Countertop Microwave
GE JES1145SHSS — 1.1 Cu. Ft. Countertop Microwave Oven
GE JES1656SRSS —1.6 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Countertop Microwave
2. You Need Something Larger For Families
Ah, the nightly game of getting the family fed. With two toddlers, I play this game every night. Anyone in my shoes understands how helpful a microwave can be. Whether you’re preparing large meals or just need to quickly heat up some leftovers, you will be better prepared for this nightly dance with a microwave that has a larger capacity, is user-friendly and durable enough to handle the gentle-touch of teenagers. More pre-programmed settings, higher cooking power and built-in sensors will help simplify the cooking process and accommodate a wide variety of different meals. You can even find some GE microwaves that include child protection locks.
Start Your Search With These Three:
GE JVM3160RFSS — 30″ Over-the-Range Microwave Oven
GE PEB7226SFSS — 2.2 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Countertop Microwave
GE JVM7195SFSS — 1.9 Cu. Ft. Over-the-Range Sensor Microwave Oven
3. You Want The Best Tasting Food
If you find yourself using the microwave often or really just want the best-possible quality from the foods you use it for, then you will definitely want to consider buying one that doubles as a convection oven. This is unique type of cooking combines the conveniences you have come to expect from a microwave with the cooking quality you would receive from a conventional oven. From broiling to roasting, a convection microwave is the most versatile type of microwave available and will provide you with better tasting food when all is said and done.
GE has convection microwaves available in both countertop and over-the-range styles, all designed to minimize the space it takes up in your kitchen and add to the convenience of quick cooking.
Start Your Search With These Three:
GE PEB9159SFSS — 1.5 Cu. Ft. Countertop Convection Microwave
GE PVM9179SFSS — 1.7 Cu. Ft. Over-the-Range Convection Microwave
GE PSA9120SFSS — 1.7 Cu. Ft. Over-the-Range Convection Microwave
Image: Wikimedia / Bubba73
Final Thoughts About GE
When it comes to buying a microwave, you have plenty of brands to choose from. Some manufacturers are better than others, but for the most part, they all make decent products and offer a deep selection designed to add convenience to your life for many years to come.
GE is one of the best manufacturers of not just microwaves, but a wide variety of kitchen appliances. They have over a century of experience making appliances, and played a very important role in the very creation of the microwave itself. While GE is a true pioneer in this industry, they are not the only reputable brand out there, they just happen to rank pretty high up on the list.
Hopefully, all the information above has helped you garner a better idea of whether a General Electric microwave is a good fit for you. As one of the most popular appliances found in kitchens around the world, it’s easy to see the importance of doing your due diligence when shopping for a microwave.
Whether you go with GE or not, before you make any purchase, we would recommend that you read through customer reviews, as well as read through more in-depth product reviews for any model you are considering. This extra research will go a long way, especially considering you will be living with this microwave for many years to come.
The post GE Microwaves: A True Pioneer of Convenient Cooking appeared first on Compact Appliance.