Kenwood GT/AL 17 > Reviews > STYLISH & PRACTICAL, WHO WOULD OF THOUGHT

Author's product rating:   

Performance	Excellent
Ease of use	Satisfactory
Cleaning & Maintenance	Very easy
Safety	Very safe
Value for money	Excellent

Advantages:	Lots of settings, Grill feature, Price, Looks
Disadvantages:	Fiddly Controls

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I'm not normally the type of person who goes out to the after Christmas sales, but I was in the mood to shop. I have been looking for a new microwave for while, and so decided to see what the sales had to offer.

I didn't really have a specific model in mind, just that it had to have a digital timer, and look nice. The Kenwood GT/AL 17 fitted the bill perfectly. It was a good brand name, very stylish looking, and had a digital timer. So let me tell you a bit about it.

The Kenwood GT/AL 17 is an 800W, Microwave & Grill Combi with Electronic timer control, 8 Auto Cook Menus, Delay Start, 5 Power, 2 Microwave/Combi settings and 1 grill setting. In a stylish Silver case with a mirrored glass door, which hides the control panel.

The Microwave power settings are:
P100 - 100%
P80 - 80%
P50 - 50%
P30 - 30%
P10 - 10%

G - 100% Grill
C-1 - 55% Micro/45% Grill
C-2 - 36% Micro/64% Grill

The Auto cook menus are for different types of food.

A-1 - Pizza
A-2 - Fish
A-3 - Vegetable
A-4 - Meat
A-5 - Pasta
A-6 - Chicken
A-7 - Rice
A-8 - Soup

For each menu you can select the nearest weight for your item, and the microwave will heat for the time needed to cook it correctly. Menus are explained in more detail in the instructions provided.

To set up the microwave you obviously have to plug it in. The first thing you need to do is insert the Turntable ring and Glass turntable, then set the clock. All instructions are provided in the easy to read manual which is only in English. You also get a Grill rack for using the Grill setting. When choosing where to place your Microwave the instructions tell you to allow for extra space around the Microwave so the vents are not blocked. They suggest a 10cm space around the oven and at least 30cm above.

Using the controls:

The Microwave has one large Time/Weight/Auto Menu button, which rotates to select the settings which are displayed where the digital clock is. Following the instructions allow you to correctly choose which method of cooking is required. The first thing is to press the Microwave button which is above the Main time select switch, this button shows the Power settings, which if need changing you simply rotate the time button. The digital display will show the P100-P10 settings. You can also just press the Microwave button continuously until the correct Power is reached. Once the correct one is selected you then press the Start button which is on the Right-hand edge of the microwave at the front. This button can be accessed with the door closed. Once you press the start button you can then use the Big Time switch to select the correct time. The digital display will show the time as 00:00, and the value of this will go up in seconds, so if you want to set the Time for 2 minutes and 30 seconds the display should read 02:30. When this has been set you close the door and press Start. Easy. Well, this does actually take a bit of getting used too, but all settings work on the same principal, so doesn't take a genius to work it out.

Next to the Microwave button is the Grill/Combi button. So, if you want to use the Grill you press this button, which you can then rotate the time button to select C-1, C- or G. Then as before you press the Start button and use the Time button to choose the correct Time for the item.

To select the Auto Menu you need to just rotate the Time switch when you first open the door. Once the Correct Auto menu is selected you then press the Start button and then use the Time switch to select the correct weight. The weight will be shown in Grams. They will show as 200, 300, 400 etc... on the Display.

You can also set a Multi Stage cooking function. This will allow you to defrost and then cook. So you can set the Microwave to complete 2 tasks. Pretty neat ah?? You can also set a delay start which I have never seen in a microwave before. All of these settings are set out in the microwave instruction, so I won't go into those now.

As you can probably see, this is quite a Multi-purpose microwave. The controls do take a bit of getting used to, but the buttons are easy to press, and the rotating switch is very impressive. The digital display is nice and clear and can be seen easily when the door is closed. Unfortunately it is not very easy to see into the microwave with the door closed and you have to be careful when boiling milk in, as you may well know with milk it tends to boil over quickly. Always open the door and check the heat instead of letting the time run to the end. You may end up with a puddle of milk in your microwave.

The normal retail price for this Microwave is between £70 & £100. I picked it up in the Sale at Curry's for £49.99. Great value for money, and a nice little gadget to show your friends when they pop round. And for the ladies out there that like to look at themselves, the Glass door is mirrored, so you can make sure you look great before greeting your guests.

In summary, a very versatile Microwave with lots of added features and all in a very stylish looking case. A bit fiddly to begin with and keep those polishing cloths handy for that glass door.

Please let me know if you would more info. Thanks