Tesco Value MCM01 Review

Overall Rating

Cheap...£24.43
Fuss-free
Simple controls

Not at the moment

£24.43 for a 700 Watt output microwave oven! You can't go wrong can you and even if it should fail just after the 1-year Tesco guarantee runs out, at that price I would feel I'd had my money's worth. We bought our first microwave in 1978 costing close to £400. It was a larger model than this one with 850 Watts output but my cup-of-water test didn't show much difference in the time it took to boil so there doesn't appear to be much between 700 and 850 Watts.

The oven interior measures 28 X 28 X 21 cms (11 X 11 X 8 1/4 inches) approx. and has a rotating glass turntable 27 1/2 cms (10 1/2 inches) in diameter. The whole oven is made from steel finished in white. I checked for steel with a magnet. In time, this could start to rust as so many inevitably do due to the moisture produced by the cooking process and normally starts in any seams. The door closes firmly with no play whatsoever. Unlike certain other models.

Controls are fully mechanical (hooray, less to go wrong) with a 'dinging' 30-minute timer. Provided the timer is set, opening and closing the door actuates the oven -- there is no separate start control apart from the timer. One less button to press!

One little point: should the interior light fail, the oven's outer cover will have to be removed to enable a new bulb to be fitted. This is not a bad thing from a safety aspect as I have known folks of a non-mechanical bent getting into trouble trying to replace bulbs on models that have an exterior panel for bulb access and I think most will be deterred from trying to remove the complete cover. I think the servicing of mains-powered equipment should be left to those with the necessary expertise. All makes for safety in my opinion.

As I've not needed Service and Support and only time will tell regarding Durability which I've rated 10 because this review will not be accepted unless I give a figure, and to be fair this Tesco Value microwave oven looks and feels durable. My emphatic Overall Rating is one of amazement that such an attractive and functional item can be sold so cheaply.