Guest blog by Terry.
Hughes has been selling microwaves for many years. In the early days (1970’s) the main brands available were Toshiba, Sanyo and Sharp. The units from that time happen to be large and quite noisy in operation, but they now operate much more quietly.
As time passed the microwave became part of most kitchens purely for quickness, convenience, and of course the fantastic cooking results.
I have worked for Hughes for a similar amount of time and have been a user of a microwave since around 1980.
My most recent purchase was the Sharp R272SLM microwave in silver (also available in black and white). When selecting this microwave, I found that not only did it have all the features and benefits I required but it also offered great value for money at £59.99*.
Firstly I have to say how impressed I am with the general quality of the unit and in particular how easy it is to use. The microwave boasts a massive 800 watt power level, which can be adjusted to suit your cooking needs. This microwave has a total of 11 power settings, as well as a defrost function, auto-cook function and countdown timer. What’s great about this unit is it sits nicely on my worktop without taking up too much precious space in my small kitchen.
What I find, on a regular basis is customers telling me “I only use a microwave to heat things up” however I use my unit for so much more such as to cook casseroles, chilis and browning meats so I encourage you to do the same. In fact, I’m going to share my secret “Microwave Magic” casserole (below).
Thanks to its 20L capacity it’s ideal for the whole family, accommodating most size bowls and an average dinner plate with ease.
I particularly like this model because its intuitive touch controls makes it very easy to use. You simply select the function you require, make any preferred adjustments to the wattage/settings and select start. The door release has a push button, which means it is a little more difficult for young children to pull open the door during operation, invaluable for parents of young children. Once all the cooking is complete its easy clean oven interior means that you don’t spend ages cleaning up, which is always an added bonus.
As promised, here’s one of my quick recipes for a chilly autumnal day…
Ingredients: 500g lean braising beef, 4 finely diced shallots, 2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce, 2 large tomatoes (quartered), 1 large carrot peeled and diced, 1 cup of peas (preferably frozen), 1 medium potato peeled and diced, 1 OXO cube, 1 teaspoon of plain flour and 1 teaspoon of coriander powder.
Cube the meat and heat in a microwave-proof dish for 4 minutes until the meat is browned. Add all other ingredients (except flour) and cover with water. Cook on level 4 for 40 minutes until the meat is tender. Sprinkle the flour over the casserole to thicken.
Serve with fresh vegetables (microwaved of course). One final cheat from me to really complete this easy peasy stew: towards the end of cooking add some Aunt Bessie’s frozen dumplings and cook on full power for 2 minutes. Enjoy!
This Sharp microwave is available to buy online, today for free delivery or why not use our Click & Collect service to collect it in as little as one hour. Why not go via the butchers and you too could be enjoying my 40 minute casserole tonight! If you’d like to see one before buying, just call your local store and ask about a demo.
