Posted on 11/20/2025 11:07:24 AM PST by DallasBiff
Are you wondering how long do microwaves last?
You’ve come to the right place! Understanding the lifespan of your microwave can help you plan for its replacement and budget accordingly.
The lifespan of a microwave can vary depending on the frequency of maintenance, type, brand, and extent of use. A well-maintained microwave can last up to 10 years.
(Excerpt) Read more at applianceanalysts.com ...
Thank you. My options are very limited. Very, very few microwave ovens don’t have a turntable. The last thing I need is one more thing that can go wrong in any appliance, and I like a flat floor for whatever container I need to use. Bells and whistles are to be avoided here, too.
LOL! I bought our current one in 2008--17 years.
I kept the glass turntable from my last failed microwave and it is identical to the one in the new microwave—they must be an industry standard. It comes in handy because I can put a clean one in the microwave and put the food-dripped one in the dishwasher whenever I’m ready to run a load, without being inconvenienced if I need to nuke something during the dishwasher cycle.
Been there. Christmas time: wanted roast chestnuts. I poked the necessary holes in the chestnuts to let steam out, but they exploded in the microwave anyway. It was loud and spectacular!
Good idea. If we’d ever had a turntable, I would’ve kept it for a trivet or something, lol! I found an Anchor-Hocking microwave tray that just fits into the oven. It keeps the oven’s floor clean and lets me pull out the food in whatever container it’s in without burning fingers. And it’s manual! :D I use a Panasonic commercial microwave oven so the inverter does the work of a turntable. However, I’ve noticed that nothing is as effective in distributing the heat as does stirring the center to the outside and the outside to the center and flipping non-liquid food items over.
I just keep hoping my oven doesn’t give out. My aging arms aren’t able to lug ovens around if replacement is necessary, and I use mine for nearly everything I used to use a regular oven for. Speed is addictive, lol!
I know how long microwaves last. I heated up a Stouffer’s Spaghetti and meatball dinner and it took 6 minutes and 30 seconds then a buzzing sound indicated the microwaves dissipated....
Totally agree. As for the weight, a lot depends on the size of the cavern. If you're not going to be roasting a turkey but just cooking for one or two, you should be fine as long as you can fit a small dinner plate in there, so when you go to an electronics or warehouse store, you can try lifting the various ones on display. If it sits on your counter, you only have to lug it from your car to your counter once. Maybe a neighbor can help. The store will probably help you get it to your car.
Some of the newer models have air fry and convection settings as well as microwave, but that's also more things that can go wrong. It might be worth investing in a warranty. I think Best Buy has that on some products. I have bought several appliances from them and have been happy with the customer service.
I discovered that my little microwaves were rusting.
The condensation from the food.
So now I leave them open for a few minutes after use
Friend went to microwave demonstration at a department store in early 70s.
The demonstrator chose to cook a lobster for the audience. The lobster screamed and fought inside the oven.
No microwaves were sold that day.
The turntable allows the food to rotate and thus evenly recieve the beam of microwaves,’
A microwave lacking a turntable is an inferior product producing inferior results.
Our micro wave was exhibiting rust in several locations and it could not be cleaned up. My wife wanted a new one.
To our amazement, the old one was 30+ years old.
There were dimensional considerations that resulted in the very recent purchase of a new and current model of the old one. So, we got the new one.
Guess What? It is extremely similar in size and appearance but the operational considerations are a big improvement. Although seemingly the same, the new one is in fact better.
I had been replacing the new little ones about every 5 years. Currently on year 7
Ours is 35 years old and used everyday by a family of four. The older ones were better made than what you get now at twice the price.
I bought a new one, but by 40 year old Tappan small microwave in my bar still works great.
the original amana radar range
Thank you.
That works; thank you.
My Panasonic microwave oven has inverter technology so it doesn’t need a turntable. The heat is constant while ovens with turntables use an on/off technology. I’ve used both and think that either way, stirring/flipping the food helps a lot if you want to decrease the time it takes to heat or cook something. I don’t think either way is superior to the other other than not having to fix or replace a broken turntable and having more room for non-round food containers in a flatbed oven. It’s just a preference.
You’re welcome. Happily, they are a lot easier to clean than a regular oven. I suspect that’s one of the major charms, aside from speedy results, for those of us who aren’t limber, lol!
I have a 1983 Panasonic microwave with the glass turntable that I bought in college. It still works perfectly. Wish that appliances today were still made to that level of quality....
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