Shopping for the best microwave oven can be daunting. Even if you narrow your search to a compact microwave oven, there are thousands of brands and microwave models to choose from.
Ordinarily, the product description should be enough to determine if a microwave oven is a good fit for you or not. Sadly, that is not always the case. There are many microwave brands out there, and each claims to deliver value. Unfortunately, it is often the case that the actual product does not match up to the product description.
I have been a victim of this, as well as many people I know personally. That is why I carry out microwave reviews to ensure that you, the customer, do not have to buy a microwave oven and find out it wasn’t a good fit.
If you have used a variety of microwave ovens, you will agree that red is one of the best colours out there. It adds a sparkle to your kitchen and breaks up the monotony. That is why my team and I focus on red microwave ovens. In this article, we’ll talk about the Galanz Retro Red Microwave Oven and explain why it could be a great option for you!
Why the Galanz Retro Microwave Oven?
The Galanz Retro Red Microwave Oven (unit #: GLCMKA07RDR-07) has created a buzz in the microwave industry, with a lot of glowing remarks. At the same time, some users had not-too-good tales to share. So, my team decided it was time we tested the device for ourselves and separated the noise from the facts.
What you will find in this article is our unbiased review of the microwave oven. In this review, we’ll discuss the appearance, size, and features of the Galanz Retro Red Microwave Oven. It will also cover the pros and cons of buying this microwave. At the end of this article, I’ll share my thoughts on whether the Galanz Retro Red Microwave Oven is an excellent oven to purchase or not.
Reviewers have different benchmarks on what makes a microwave oven a good buy. For us, we focus on ease of use, speed, size, and durability. We consider the price too, but we prioritize quality over price.
The Galanz Retro Red Microwave Oven is a countertop microwave oven. In my opinion, the best countertop microwave oven has to be easy to operate and reliable when it comes to defrosting, heating, and baking. Most countertop ovens are compact, but what qualifies as “compact” varies from model to model.
As you will find out later in this microwave oven review, the Galanz Retro Red Microwave Oven is compact and reliable. It also comes with many extra features. However, we discovered specific issues during the review. For some people, these issues are not significant. For others, these issues are deal-breakers.
Galanz Retro Red Microwave Oven Review
The microwave oven presents itself as a space-saving, ultra-compact cooking machine. It comes with a retro red colour that creates a nostalgic feeling for the ’90s while offering modern design and functions. It weighs just 25.3 lbs and has a 0.7 Cu ft. capacity.
The compact size makes it a perfect fit for small offices and kitchenettes. If you operate a small office and need something that can snuggle into tiny spaces, the Galanz Retro Red Microwave Oven is precisely what you need.
Although it is small in size, this retro red countertop microwave oven can perform all the tasks of a standard size microwave oven. It can cook, heat, and defrost. The only limitations are your imagination and the 0.7 cu ft. cabinet.
If you are in the market for a compact microwave oven, you should consider the Galanz microwave oven. It is more than up to par with other compact microwave ovens on the market in terms of functions.
A Tinge of Retro Red to Break the Monotony
When we first received our shipment of the Galanz Retro Red Microwave Oven, the first thing that popped out to us was the vintage red appearance. It gave off a feel of old-school microwave ovens with a touch of modernity.
The sharp red was beautiful and added colour to the scenery. If you have a white-tilled or similar themed kitchen, this is what you need to add a splash of brightness. Even if your decor tends towards a darker theme, the vintage red will still work its magic.
That said, there is an alternative for people who simply do not want the retro red to be a constant kitchen feature. The microwave oven is so tiny that it can fit into a typical kitchen cabinet. This means you can put your Galanz Retro Red Microwave Oven in the cabinet even when it is not in use.
I’m giving the retro red oven a full point for colour. The bold colours are sure to trigger a beautiful nostalgic feeling in any kitchen, office, or dorm room.
Easy Fit for Small Kitchens and Office Spaces
We tested the microwave oven in our office. We don’t have much space, so you can imagine our delight when we realized the Galanz Retro Red Microwave Oven didn’t need much space in the first place.
But don’t let this small red countertop microwave oven fool you. It has enough space to handle all your basic cooking needs. We tried fitting in full-size dinner plates with 10.5” diameter into the oven cabinet — with great success. This ultra-compact microwave oven takes half the space of a regular-sized microwave and still delivers the same.
Another great feature is that the countertop oven isn’t so heavy to lift around. Additionally, if you are short on space, you can easily move the oven into a kitchen cabinet and bring it out when you need it.
I can think of many places where the Galanz Retro Red Microwave Oven will be a great fit. One such place is studio apartment kitchens. Yes, the Galanz Retro Red Microwave Oven is a good choice when it comes to compact microwave ovens for studio apartments.
Another place where the microwave is a great fit is a dorm room. If you are a student and in need of an ultra-compact microwave to use for your heating and defrosting needs, then this is a good option. I recommend Galanz Retro Red Microwave Oven as one of the best compact microwave ovens for students.
If you are looking for a microwave oven for the office kitchen, this is also a great fit! You can store it in a cabinet and bring it out when you need to reheat take-outs and pizzas for those late-night office sessions.
However, I don’t recommend this oven for a large family or commercial use. While it is certainly up to the task of defrosting, heating and baking, it cannot handle large volumes of this. If you are looking for a microwave oven for a large family, I would consider checking out our other microwave reviews.
If you have a small kitchen and don’t see yourself microwaving food in large volumes, the Galanz Retro Red Microwave Oven is an amazing microwave to consider purchasing.
A Small Sized Powerhouse
So far, I have given glowing compliments for the Galanz Retro Red Microwave Oven, size, weight, and appearance. However, these are secondary. The primary functions of a microwave oven are to heat, bake, and defrost. If you want to know how well this retro red compact microwave oven functions in those areas, read on.
Powerful for Your Household Needs
First, let’s talk performance. The oven is a 700-watt microwave. This makes it sufficient to handle many household cooking needs. The cooking machine comes with 6 variable power levels, so you can specify the cooking level to your requirement.
The microwave oven also performs quite well due to its simple control design. You can start your heating with a one-touch menu. The 6 adjustable levels are beneficial when it comes to deforesting food items.
You can set the time using the timer or simply push the knob. Each push adds 30 seconds of cooking. There is also a LED screen that shows you how much time you have left for your microwaving purposes.
Glass Turntable for Evenly Heating
Most of the modern microwave ovens we have reviewed have turntables, and I’m glad the Galanz Retro Red Microwave Oven isn’t an exception.
What is the big deal about a turntable? Microwaves are not evenly heated. The sections closer to the door have less heat than the sections closer to the back. A turntable ensures that all sides of the food are exposed to the same amount of heat, assuring that all sides are properly cooked.
It also reduces the cooking time. If you don’t want a microwave oven that cooks one part of your food well and leaves the other part undone, then you need a microwave that has a turntable. The turntable in the Galanz Retro Red Microwave Oven is made of glass and removable, making it easier to clean.
Transparent Door and Interior Light for Easy Checking
One of the things I liked about this 700-watt microwave was the interior light. We didn’t have to open the microwave oven to see if the food was done or not.
Of course, the Galanz Retro Red Microwave Oven comes with a timer feature, and we made use of that. Still, I enjoyed the sight of watching popcorns pop while they were in the microwave oven.
Not to mention, the interior light makes it easier for you to know when your food is approaching prime cooking colour. This avoids having to stop the cooking midway.
Defrost by Time or Weight
One of the features that make this microwave a small-sized powerhouse is the defrost feature. Of course, you’d expect the defrost feature in a modern microwave oven, but this particular machine stands out.
For a machine of its size (0.7 cu ft.) and power (700 watts), we were amazed by how easy it was to thaw frozen pizza. You can choose to defrost food items by time or weight. If you are unsure how long you need to thaw your food, like chicken, choose the weight option.
Not to mention, the turntable is large enough to defrost cold cuts and other frozen foods.
LED Display, Child Safety Lock, and Pull Handle
The LED display screen and pull handle are now commonplace in most countertop microwave ovens, but they still deserve some attention. The LED screen shows you how much cooking time you have left. It is straightforward to read and understand.
Then, there is the pull handle. The pull handle is a shift from the pull-down system of many traditional microwave ovens. Conventional microwave ovens typically open from top to bottom. The handle is at the top, and you pull it down towards you to open the door.
Another great feature is the child safety lock. This feature makes the machine tamper-proof for small children. If you have children or you have them regularly as guests, you will appreciate this feature. We did too — but for a different reason. Because of our limited space, several team members had regular brushes with the machine. Without the child safety lock feature, that could have easily turned on the device.
For the Galanz Retro Red Microwave Oven, you simply have to pull the handle from right to left, and the microwave is open. These are not exactly innovative features, but they are nevertheless excellent features to have.
The “Quick Start” Feature: Our Experience
Before we talk about the pros and cons and our final thoughts, I’ll like to share our personal experience with you.
We were pretty excited to receive our Galanz Retro Red Microwave Oven. The first thing that impressed us was its ultra-compact size and retro red finishing colour. We also found other things in the package. Your shipment should contain the following:
- A beautiful retro red countertop microwave oven
- 1 removable glass turntable
- 1 roller ring
- 1 shaft
- 1 power cord
Since we were eager to test it, we started with the “Quick Start” feature.
The Quick Start feature allows you to heat something for 30 seconds with the touch of a single button. Someone in the office was having a pizza, so we grabbed a slice and tossed it on a plate and into the microwave oven. In 30 seconds, our slice of pizza was warm and ready to eat.
However, someone on the team pointed out that a previous microwave oven we had reviewed had a faster result. Nevertheless, seeing as the Galanz Retro Red Microwave Oven did an excellent job in 30 seconds, we don’t consider that a deal-breaker. Besides, the machine makes it easy for you to add more time — as we later found out.
In situations where 30 seconds isn’t enough, you can simply hit the button again to add an extra 30 seconds. If 30 seconds seems too constricting, you can also turn the dial to add seconds. One turn gives you 10 seconds. However, make sure to go right when you are turning the dial. If you go left, it will start at a very high amount of time.
The machine also makes a beep every time you turn the dial. I personally would have preferred a silent microwave oven. However, you might appreciate the beep if you decide to get this product.
Pros of the Galanz Retro Microwave Oven
Here is a list of some of the things I liked about the Galanz Retro Red Microwave Oven:
- Ultra-compact size
- Relatively large turntable
- Easy to use
- Quick start feature
- Beautiful red appearance
Cons of the Galanz Retro Microwave Oven
Here is a list of the things I didn’t like about the Galanz Retro Red Microwave Oven:
- Not the fastest compact microwave oven we have reviewed
- Not ideal for a large family
- Setting options might be hard to understand for people inexperienced with microwave ovens
Final thoughts
The Galanz Retro Red Microwave Oven is an excellent compact countertop microwave oven on the market right now. It comes at a terrific price deal too. I like that it does exactly what it claims to do – and in good time too!
I wholeheartedly recommend it to people who need a small watt microwave oven to take care of their cooking needs. If you cook for a large family or need a microwave oven for commercial uses, check our site for other reviews.
Overall, the Galanz Retro Red Microwave Oven is perfect for offices, college dorms, studio apartments, and people who simply need a microwave to take care of their cooking needs.
If you would like to read more about red countertop microwave ovens before you make your final decision, we have got you covered! You can read about our review of the best red microwave ovens available. You can also see our review of the best red compact microwave ovens around. We also have reviews of the best red retro microwave ovens and best red budget microwave ovens.
Not to mention the many individual microwave oven reviews on great microwaves, expanding on the pros and cons of the microwave, dimensions and extra features, and how the microwave could be ideal for you.