Emerson Microwave Oven MW8780 - Quality on a Budget

This inexpensive microwave oven gets high marks for energy efficiency, quality microwave cooking and numerous features for fine food preparation. Purchased for less than $40, right on Target for our budget, the 800 watt microwave oven by Emerson, model MW8780SS/SB, boasts a rotating turntable, a compact size, easy to access controls, and a better-than-standard safety rating. The operation guide explains how the oven cooks by weight; quick cooks dinners, snacks, beverages and reheats; locks children out for safety; will defrost by weight or speed defrost; and can cook in one stage or multiple stages for variable power settings.

For these models installation is simple, requiring a 120 volt, 60 Hz power supply. A three pronged outlet is recommended but a two pronged adapter with grounding wire can be used safely, and any extension cord utilized must be rated as highly as the appliance. Both the door latch and door seal are of high quality, and when closed the door automatically locks shut. If the oven is running when the door is opened the magnetron that emits the microwaves will shut off immediately. The door seal prevents any microwave leakage.

There are numerous bells and whistles that we've enjoyed in the brief period since buying the appliance. Defrosting by weight is efficient and prevents precooking or over cooking, as does the cook by weight feature. Both of these are easily selected with their own pads. There are also 'quick pads' to reheat, and to prepare frozen dinners, beverages, popcorn, pizza and baked potato. For popcorn there is a way to override the quick pad for smaller or larger popcorn packages. Perhaps the best feature is the 'cook by weight' selection, which allows codes for beef, lamb and pork to be entered for setting the appropriate temperature, and requests the approximate weight to be entered so the cooking time is automatically set.