First of all, the Redmond RM-2302D microwave oven has an elegant appearance. In addition, it is equipped with a number of interesting features, some of which will undoubtedly prove useful: quick start, button lock, 8 automatic cooking programs, defrost by time and weight and staged cooking. There is nothing superfluous in the device, and there is everything you need. Well, during the tests we will check whether the oven is comfortable to use and how well its additional functions are implemented.

Characteristics

Manufacturer	Redmond
Model	RM-2302D
Type	Microwave
Country of Origin	China
Warranty	2 years
Estimated service life	3 years
Rated input power	1250 W
Rated microwave output	800 W
Location type	freestanding
Chamber volume	23 l
Housing material	metal, plastic
Coating of the inner chamber	polymeric
Door opening type	vertical handle (pull)
Control	electronic
Button type	membrane buttons
Display type	LED display
Number of microwave power modes	5
Number of automatic programs	eight
Peculiarities	backlight, child lock, stage cooking function, timer, quick start, defrost by weight/time
Pallet diameter	27 cm
Internal chamber dimensions (W×H×D)	31×20×34 cm
Network cable length	1m
Instrument weight	12.5 kg
Instrument dimensions (W×H×D)	48.5×29×41 cm
Shipping weight	14.1 kg
Packing dimensions (W×H×D)	53.5×32.5×44 cm
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Equipment

The oven arrived at the iXBT.com test lab in a large cardboard box. The packaging contains information that allows the user to fully form the impression of the purchased device: a photograph of the microwave oven, a list of its advantages and features, technical specifications. There are recesses for hands on the sides – thanks to this, a heavy and voluminous box can be carried without much difficulty.

To prevent damage during transport and storage, the oven is encased in foam inserts that securely hold it in place. Additionally, the body is wrapped in a plastic bag. The roller ring and the pallet are laid in specially allocated places from the outside of the top foam insert. Opening the box, inside we found:

• glass dish;
• roller ring;
• microwave body;
• book “100 recipes”;
• instruction manual and warranty booklet.

Collecting the device in the box is not difficult.

At first sight

The oven looks, according to the author, very good. The body walls are made of painted metal. The body is black, the door is made of darkened transparent plastic – it looks elegant and will especially come in handy in kitchens decorated in a modern or high-tech style. A number of control buttons are placed in the usual place – to the right of the door. The display was detected only when the door was opened. It is located at the top of the plastic bar. A transparent window is cut out in the black plastic of the door opposite the display so that the display is visible when the microwave oven is operating.

On the back of the case, you can see ventilation holes, a label label with information about the device and a number of warnings. In the upper right part there is a limiter that protects the cord from bending. The length of the cord is short – this is a typical situation for microwave ovens. So the user should provide for the possibility of installing a microwave oven near the outlet.

There is another row of ventilation holes on the left side of the case.

On the bottom side there are numerous ventilation holes of various shapes and four legs about 1.5 cm high. There are no anti-slip inserts on the outer surface of the legs, however, the case stands quite stable on the table and slides only if it is deliberately moved or the door is opened / closed .

Now let’s look inside the oven. The door opens to the left by pulling the silver vertically oriented handle. The two locks are not overly tight, but it is still better to hold the oven body lightly when opening and closing the oven.

According to the manufacturer, the inner chamber is treated with a polymer coating. To the touch and in appearance it resembles classic enamel. The shape of the working chamber is familiar to everyone who has already dealt with microwave ovens. In the center of the bottom there is an elevation with a swivel mechanism. A roller ring and a glass stand are installed in the recess along its perimeter.

The magnetron is located in the center of the right wall of the chamber. Under the grate, just above and to the right of it, there is a lamp for illuminating the working chamber of the oven.

The roller ring and tray are of conventional shape and design. The diameter of the glass tray is 27 cm.

The first acquaintance with the Redmond RM-2302D microwave oven left us with the most pleasant impression. The device is carefully manufactured and assembled, has a design familiar to everyone, so there should not be any surprises during operation.

Instruction

The A5 brochure is printed on thick glossy paper. Information is presented in three languages, the first of which is Russian. The manual acquaints the user with the oven itself and all aspects of its operation. A diagram with the names of the individual parts will help you to know the design of the device, a list of safety precautions will warn the user of possible dangers when using the device. In the extensive section “Operation of the device” recommendations for use are given, functions are described, their purpose and start, information about automatic programs is clearly presented. Studying the document will not take much time. At first, you can keep it in close proximity, if necessary, to check with the algorithms for launching individual functions or program parameters.

Additionally, the set includes a bright book “100 recipes”. The book is colorful and interesting. All recipes are divided into categories: cereals, appetizers and salads, soups, main dishes, side dishes, sauces and creams, bread, pastries, fondue, desserts, preservation, drinks. There are both exotic and quite viable recipes in Russian realities. The form of providing the recipe is very clear: the ingredients, the order of preparation and a photograph of the finished dish. Without a doubt, the book will be useful for both beginners and experienced cooks.

Control

The control panel is represented by a number of buttons and a display. The buttons are membrane, each of them is equipped with a pictogram, the meaning of which is intuitively clear. When pressed, a beep sounds. The display is located under the door, respectively, is visible when the door is open in idle mode and closed during operation.

Let’s describe the purpose of the buttons, listing them from top to bottom:

• power adjustment. Microwaves can work in 5 power modes: 100%, 80%, 50%, 30% and 10%;
• clock setting;
• setting the defrost mode by weight;
• setting the defrost mode by time;
• timer setting;
• stop/reset;
• increase the value of the parameter;
• decreasing the value of the parameter;
• starting work, setting the time in steps of 30 seconds, confirming the entered settings.

The Redmond RM-2302D microwave oven is equipped with automatic cooking programs. In total, the device can independently select the cooking parameters for eight dishes. Moreover, in each category, the user has the ability to select the weight:

• pizza weighing 200 or 400 g;
• meat – 250, 350, 450 g;
• vegetables – 200, 300, 400 g;
• paste 50 g per 450 ml of water or 100 g per 800 ml of water;
• potatoes – 200, 400, 600 g;
• fish – 250, 350, 450 g;
• drinks – 1 (120 ml), 2 (240 ml), 3 (360 ml) cups;
• popcorn – 50, 85, 100 g.

We list a few more interesting features that a microwave oven has:

• during operation, you can see the installed power – for this you need to press the power adjustment button – the power value will flash on the display for three seconds;
• the “start work” button can be used to quickly turn on the oven. When pressed in standby mode, the heating process starts at maximum power. Each subsequent press increases the operating time by 30 seconds;
• locking the control panel can be useful for families with small children. To lock, you need to press the stop / reset button for a few seconds. The panel will be locked when a long beep sounds and the corresponding indicator lights up on the display;
• there is a possibility of staged preparation. The first step can be, for example, defrosting by weight or time, and the second can be directly cooking. Automatic cooking programs cannot be selected as one of the stages.

The display shows the hours in standby mode, the remaining cooking time during operation, the options for automatic programs at the time of selection, as well as a number of indicators to help make interaction with the oven more intuitive. Digits and indicators are perfectly visible even in a sunny or brightly lit room.

At the end of the operation, the device emits five beeps and goes into standby mode. In general, there are no particular difficulties with controlling the Redmond RM-2302D microwave oven. Reading the instructions once, pressing the buttons once and playing with the modes is enough for further successful and trouble-free interaction.

Exploitation

Before starting work, wipe the oven body with a damp cloth. Wash the glass tray and roller ring in soapy water. The device must be placed in compliance with safety rules: on an open surface, at a distance of 20 cm from walls, shelves and other surfaces, from above the distance must be at least 30 cm.

In general, the safety measures and rules for operating the Redmond RM-2302D microwave oven are no different from those typical for microwave ovens. The same applies to the choice of dishes and food preparation.

Due to the lack of anti-slip pads on the legs, the oven may move when opening and closing the door. Therefore, it should be slightly held. The door swings open quite smoothly, the lamp illuminates the interior well. During operation with the door closed, the inner chamber is not particularly visible.

There are no problems with management. Note the convenience of the quick start function. The step-by-step preparation is also curious, especially in the case of, for example, frozen semi-finished products for dinner. It seems convenient for us, after returning from work, to get a ready-made dish from the freezer and throw it into the microwave. As experiments have shown, the parameters of automatic programs are quite adequate. Too bad there’s no way to turn off the beeps.

Care

Before cleaning, make sure that the appliance is unplugged from the power supply and has completely cooled down. The oven must be cleaned regularly, and food residues or splashes on the walls or bottom must be removed immediately after cooking. The outer surfaces, inner chamber and door seals can be wiped with a damp cloth. Use of non-abrasive detergents is allowed. The roller ring and glass tray should be washed in warm water and detergent. Do not use coarse cloths or sponges, abrasive pastes or chemical aggressive substances to clean the microwave oven and its accessories.

To clean the inner chamber and remove unpleasant odors, the instruction recommends pouring 300 ml of water into a suitable dish, adding the juice of half a lemon and running the microwave at maximum power for 5 minutes. When finished, gently wipe the oven walls and door with a soft, dry cloth.

Our measurements

In rest mode, the power of the Redmond RM-2302D microwave oven is 0.4 watts. The maximum power value is fixed at 1342 watts.

We investigated the rate of heating water in a standard half-liter jar at maximum microwave power. The initial temperature of the water in the jar was 16 °C, the heating time was 5 minutes. The data is summarized in a table.

Time	Temperature
30 seconds	24.5°C
1 minute	33°C
2 minutes	49.1°C
3 minutes	63.9°C
4 minutes	77.1°C
5 minutes	89.1°C

So, the heating rate is quite satisfactory – if you do not interrupt the work, then 500 ml of water with an initial temperature of 16 ° C boil in five minutes.

practice tests

To assess the ease of use, we used the Redmond RM-2302D microwave oven in the usual mode for a week: we heated ready-made meals in it, defrosted minced meat and meat, and also cooked several dishes, including using automatic modes. Especially without further ado, for cooking we used the recipes from the book that came with the appliance.

Defrosting minced meat

The traditional experiment for testing microwave ovens involves defrosting minced meat made from pork and beef in equal proportions. We took an 800g piece, put it in the oven and set it to defrost by weight. The device calculated that the minced meat should be thawed for 19 minutes 12 seconds.

After 9 and a half minutes, we opened the oven and examined the piece. From above, the minced meat retained the same appearance as at the beginning, but on the underside, a certain amount of meat thawed. The mince is cool to the touch, but soft. We scraped that part off, left the piece upside down, and put it back in the oven, continuing the cycle.

When the signals for the end of work were heard, we left the minced meat inside the oven for another 5 minutes. However, when we pulled the minced meat out of the oven and peeled off the defrosted part, we found that a piece weighing 232 g remained unfrozen.

We put it back in the oven and proceeded to defrost by weight. The microwave considered it possible to thaw a product of this weight in 4 minutes 48 seconds. Given that the minced meat had already been partially processed by microwaves, we decided to remove it from the device after 3 minutes – and the experience did not let us down. The piece was completely defrosted – just a little more, and its edges would begin to cook.

Result: excellent.

We appreciated the quality of the defrosting, because it is better to manually finish the process and keep the product of normal quality than to get curdled protein in meat or half-cooked vegetables.

Champignons with cheese (recipe 10)

Mushrooms – 250 g (6 pcs.), Semi-hard cheese – 40 g, sour cream – 20 g, greens – 5 g.

Greens and cut legs of champignons were crushed. Then grated cheese and sour cream were added to them. Then the mushroom caps were stuffed with the resulting mixture.

Cooked at maximum power for 3 minutes. Mushrooms are pleasantly elastic, the cheese in the filling has completely melted and entered into a wonderful symbiosis with mushrooms and mayonnaise. The filling is heated evenly. The device consumed 0.066 kWh for this test.

Perfectly! Preparation takes five minutes, cooking – three.

We liked this dish so much that it was included in the regular diet after testing. Significantly ennoble and enrich the taste of a couple of slices of good sausage, finely chopped and added to the filling for stuffing mushrooms.

Result: excellent.

Meatballs (recipe 36)

For the preparation of meatballs, we used minced meat successfully thawed in the first test. In general, for this dish you will need:

Minced meat (from pork and beef) – 500 g, onion – 180 g, carrot – 160 g, tomato paste – 30 g, garlic – 5 g, water – 100 ml, cream 10% – 100 ml, sour cream – 30 g, butter olive – 30 ml, salt, spices.

The onion was cut into strips, the carrots were coarsely grated. We put the vegetables in a plastic container, poured olive oil, mixed it and put it in the oven. We set the duration of work to three minutes, taking advantage of the possibility of a quick start.

Then they took it out, mixed it and continued cooking for another two minutes at maximum power. Mix and set aside half of the cooked vegetables in a separate bowl.

Of course, it was impossible to call onions and carrots fried, but we did not expect this. When the vegetables had cooled, they began to prepare minced meat for meatballs. Salt, spices, chopped garlic, cream and reserved vegetables were added to the minced meat. Mix well and form meatballs. They put them in a plastic container and poured a sauce made from tomato paste, sour cream, water and the remaining vegetables.

Covered with a lid and installed in the microwave, setting the following parameters: maximum power for 7 minutes.

However, this time was not enough, the meat balls in the center were damp. Therefore, the extinguishing continued for another four minutes.

It took 0.416 kWh to cook the oven dish.

Result: excellent.

The cooking time in the recipe is less than required, but, for our taste, it is better than overcooking, and as a result, overdrying the dish in the microwave.

coho salmon steaks

This experiment will demonstrate the adequacy of the settings of automatic programs.

Pieces of fish were salted, peppered, sprinkled with a mixture of spices and smeared with oil. Two small pieces gave a mass of 270 g. Great! We placed a plate with them in the oven and set the automatic program “Fish” weighing 250 g. The device calculated that it took 3 minutes 50 seconds to cook.

When the signals for the completion of work sounded, they removed the fish from the microwave oven.

The pieces are perfectly cooked, not overdried, the meat at the ridge is freely separated from the bone. In the second portion, we prepared a large piece, the weight of which was 263 g. The fish separated freely from the bone, but at first it seemed to us that the meat was damp. However, after looking closely, we realized that we still imagined. So for cooking fish, you can safely use the automatic program, setting the exact or slightly lower weight of the piece.

Result: excellent.

Charlotte (recipe 62)

In conclusion, we present the results of the Redmond RM-2302D microwave baking test.

Apples – 250 g, eggs – 150 g (3 pcs.), Premium wheat flour – 100 g, sugar – 100 g, butter – 20 g, baking powder – 5 g, salt, cinnamon, vanillin.

The apple was peeled and core, cut into medium-sized cubes. 20 g of sugar and cinnamon were added to the apples, mixed and set aside for now. In a separate bowl, mix the sifted flour with salt, vanilla and baking powder. Beat the eggs with the remaining sugar until a stable foam, then gently mix with dry products from top to bottom.

The bowl in which they were supposed to cook was smeared with butter and half the dough was poured into it. Spread the apples in an even layer on top and pour over the remaining batter.

Cooked at 50% power for 15 minutes. Then we increased the power to the maximum and baked for another 6 minutes.

As a result, the dough is cooked, the apples are soft.

The biscuit is lush, finely porous, but somewhat dry, especially at the edges. For our taste, the total cooking time can be reduced by a minute – or soak the finished charlotte with a mixture of syrup and rum or any other similar mixture.

Result: excellent.

10 minutes prep, 20 minutes bake. In conditions of busyness and lack of time, this is an excellent result: the slow cooker will bake longer, and the oven will only warm up for about 10 minutes.

findings

The operation of the Redmond RM-2302D microwave oven gave us exceptional pleasure. The stove looks stylish, neatly made and assembled. The oven copes with the heating of ready-made dishes in the standard way, with defrosting – perfectly. The test with minced meat showed that the central part of the piece did not thaw completely, but this is much better than removing half-cooked minced meat from the oven. Automatic programs turned out to be a very curious and useful feature, since their settings are quite adequate and allow you to cook a dish without breaking your head over the power and cooking time. Note that in each program it is possible to select the weight of the product.

The manufacturer separately notes the quality of the polymer coating of the working chamber, but during the tests we were not able to fully appreciate its advantage over conventional enamel. We cooked some open dishes, such as coho salmon steaks, with a special plastic lid, so the walls and ceiling of the chamber turned out to be only slightly soiled after the experiments. All impurities were freely removed by wiping with a damp cloth.

We will refer only one point to the minuses: when opening and closing the door, it is necessary to hold the case with your free hand. Otherwise, the oven may move.

pros

• elegant appearance
• good workmanship and build quality
• simple control
• even heating, defrosting and cooking
• automatic programs and stage cooking

Minuses

• legs are not equipped with anti-slip pads