GE JES1142SJ Stainless Steel 1100 Watts Microwave Oven
A great basic need is met in my kitchen -
This microwave has been the perfect solution for our needs! We remodeled and included a built in microwave shelf in the cabinetry. We wanted a stainless steel microwave to match our other appliances, but also wanted the microwave to specifically fit into the space of the cabinet.
Because of our specific size requirements, we ended up having three microwaves to choose from out of the entire catalog at the appliance store. We liked the sleek looks of this one as well as the smooth lines, plus we were amazed to see how cheap microwave ovens have become! We picked this one up for just over $100, but some of the ones we looked at were down to the $40 mark!
Some of the specs…..measurements, etc.
This microwave seems to be in the mid range of the sizes available on the current market. The overall exterior measurements are 21.25 inches wide by 11.88 inches high. Additionally, it is 15.75 inches deep and has a capacity of 1.1 cubic feet.
The turntable is just under thirteen inches in diameter and is a nice size for really large plates. Gone are the days of a plate not being able to turn in my microwave because it is too big or oddly shaped! This one is roomy enough for all of my needs.
Using this microwave -
This microwave is a lot stronger than our last one at 1100 watts and we find that it easily does the jobs we need. We don’t use the microwave for much more than quick meal heat ups or making instant oatmeal. Occasionally I will soften a stick of butter for a recipe in it, but we are not heavy microwave cookers. This microwave does have capabilities for people who might use their microwaves for expanded tasks.
The touch screen is intuitive and fronted with smooth glass for easy cleaning. One of the important things for us was a nice clear clock display and we are pleased with this one! This microwave has lots of nice features! There are preprogrammed buttons like popcorn, frozen pizza, and beverage. Although these are preprogrammed, I would still keep an eye on these items while they are cooking - especially the popcorn! I have had two microwave fires in previously owned microwaves which both were a result of that darned popcorn button feature! From my experience in this department, I am absolutely banned from the popcorn button on all microwaves!
There are also two buttons to cook or reheat food. I tend to ignore these because the start button at the bottom of the panel is an “express cook” button, so that you can put in the time and press start. I use the express cook function for almost everything including the reheating of food. One minute is usually enough for most servings to heat thoroughly after coming out of the fridge.
This microwave also has a couple defrost options which I might be giving a try soon. There is a time defrost button and an auto defrost button for defrosting food. I typically will take frozen chicken out and put it in a bowl of hot water for a few minutes to defrost it, but I like the idea of doing it in the microwave, so I plan to try that one of these days.
There is a kitchen timer on this microwave as well. This is a nice feature, but I already have two on my oven, so I do not use this timer. My husband likes to use it for his outside grilling timer alarm and this works pretty well.
Lastly, this microwave gives you the ability to cook on ten different levels, so the butter softening goes much smoother if done on a lower setting. This is a nice feature, although I will admit I like to just nuke the heck out of things, so I am working on my finesse and ability to use this handy function to its greatest extent.
Cleaning the inside -
Cleaning is pretty easy – the turntable comes out and goes right in the dishwasher and I easily wipe the surface down with a mixture of lemon Pinesol and water. Most of it comes clean with minimal scrubbing if done once a week. When I forget to do it every week, a little more elbow grease is needed, but for the most part, this microwave stays clean.
Lastly -
This is a nice microwave with some great features and easy operation. We are pleased with our use of it over time and look forward to trying even more of its features down the road. It is attractive and easy to keep clean, plus it is powerful and gets the job done!
Some more small appliances -
Toastmaster Sandwich Maker
Viking food processor
Cuisinart Breadmaker – (yum)
Jura/Capresso Espresso Machine
US Appliance
