Farberware Classic FMO11AHTBKB Review

While the Faberware Classic did not give an outstanding performance, it also did not disappoint. Its most notable feature is its ease of use. The intuitive interface ranked as one of the higher rated among the products tested. If ease of use is a top priority, this product may be for you.

Performance Comparison

Heating

To test the product's overall heating performance, we conducted many tests. In order to determine the evenness of heating, we spread marshmallow fluff across a piece of parchment paper cut to the size of the turntable. We then cooked it for two minutes to measure the browning across the marshmallow. The marshmallow from the Farberware Classic was uncooked on the edges, with inconsistent heating throughout and a hot spot in the middle. This resulted in below-average results when compared to other microwaves.

We also tested how effective each microwave is at heating water. We measured this by recording the increase in temperature the water reached in 45 seconds. After 45 seconds of heating, the water temperature increased by 108 degrees, going from 60.1 to 108. While this was not the top performance among the different products tested, it was above average.

After reheating leftover mashed potatoes, sausage, and green beans, we were pleased with the results. All the leftovers were heated throughout, with the sausage being the most consistently heated.

We also tested how each product heated canned soup according to the instructions. After heating for the three minutes recommended for 1000-watt microwaves, the soup was too hot for large bites but not so hot you couldn't eat. The temperature seemed consistent throughout, but we weren't entirely pleased with the final result. To further test reheating performance, we reheated a slice of pizza for 45 seconds. The pizza was cold to the touch in spots, with very uneven heating throughout. When we increased the time to 50 seconds, the results were better overall with more even heating. Overall, the Farberware Classic performed slightly above average in our heating tests.

Frozen Foods

The second metric we tested was how well each product heated frozen food. We tested frozen burritos, lasagna, chicken pot pie, and hot pockets. The first frozen food item tested was a frozen burrito. According to directions for a 1000-watt microwave, the burrito was heated for one minute and 15 seconds. This resulted in very uneven heating with the middle of the burrito not reaching the 161 degrees necessary for consumption according to directions.

The results were much better when testing the lasagna. After being heated, the lasagna was evenly cooked throughout with no burnt edges. Hot pockets also had mostly even heating throughout, although the crust was soft and dense. Considering all the different frozen items tested, the Faberware Classic had slightly below-average results. Although not the worst of those tested, the results are not noteworthy.

Defrosting

To test the defrosting abilities of the Faberware Classic, we used 1 lb of ground turkey and defrosted based on the product's instructions. For this model, the defrosting time is based on weight. For 1 lb, nine minutes is required with turning or flipping throughout. At the end of the nine minutes, the middle of the turkey was still frozen while the outside was thawed. If we kept the turkey in for longer, the outside would begin cooking — so don't expect to use this unit for thawing meat.

Ease of Use

While performance has been generally average over the testing thus far, the ease of use with the Farberware Classic does set it apart from the rest. The one-touch buttons, memory settings, interior lighting, and popcorn-popping performance were exceptional. This microwave has a +30-second button that automatically starts once pressed. It also has quick start functions for buttons 1-6. The popcorn-popping function of this microwave was great, with no burned pieces and very few unpopped kernels. Lastly, the design is quite sturdy. Even when we yank the door, it stays in place.

Should you buy the Farberware Classic?

Although the Faberware Classic performs all the basic functions a microwave should, it did not stand out for its performance. Comparing the price to the other microwaves we tested, this microwave has an above-average cost. Unfortunately, the Farberware is too much for what you get in return. You would be better off spending less on a similar-performing microwave.

What other microwaves should you consider?