A microwave oven is one of the most essential kitchen appliances. Even people that don’t cook need a microwave oven to reheat coffee, pizza, and defrost food. Indeed, almost everyone needs a microwave oven!
The technology behind the microwave oven has become so common that there are many brands and models. In fact, a simple Google search for microwave ovens will bring out hundreds of thousands of search results.
While there are many brands to choose from, many people prefer to buy from established brands. We are talking about brands that have been perfecting the art of making quality and affordable microwave ovens. Nostalgia is an example of such brands.
In this review, I’ll consider two microwave oven models from the Nostalgia brand. These are the RMO400RED and the RMO4RR model. These two models are similar in size, design, and function. Yet, there are significant differences between them.
Instead of simply comparing the two models, I’ll review them individually and then draw comparisons between the two models. This will help you decide which model is best for your needs.
The Nostalgia Retro Red Microwave Oven (RMO400RED)
The RMO400RED model of the Nostalgia Retro Red Microwave Oven is a 0.9 Cu Ft countertop microwave oven, paired with an 800-wattage cooking power. It was first made available in 2011, and it has been in demand since.
What makes this decade-old microwave oven still in demand? The answer is a combination of the following main features: size, cooking power, appearance, easy-to-use controls, and LED display. We will discuss each of these features in this review.
Specifications
- Product Dimensions: 19 x 15 x 11 inches
- Item weight: 30.7 pounds
- Item model number: RMO400RED
- Date first available: July 2011
Size
The Nostalgia RMO400RED Retro 0.9 Cubic Foot Microwave Oven is not your regular compact microwave oven. It weighs 30.7 pounds and has an actual size of 19 x 15 x 11 inches. That places the microwave oven out of the ultra-compact category.
Due to its relatively large dimensions, the microwave oven can easily accommodate most dinner plates. This is due to its 0.9 Cubic feet cooking cavity. The spacious cooking cavity is ideal for people who handle a relatively large volume of cooking.
Despite its large cooking cavity, this microwave oven still qualifies as a countertop. Suppose you are looking for a large microwave oven that can still fit into your kitchen. In that case, this is an excellent option to consider.
Cooking Power
The Nostalgia RMO400RED Microwave Oven is powered by 800-watts of power and comes with 5 power levels and 12 pre-programmed cooking templates. This makes it a good option for people who want to cook, heat, or defrost without having to apply too many settings. Simply load your food, select one of the pre-set cooking templates, and let the machine do its job.
I was especially pleased with the cooking templates. They can be used for everything ranging from casseroles to leftover pizza. My only wish was that it packed more power due to its large size. We found a way around this by increasing the cooking time.
Appearance
I have no complaints about the Nostalgia RMO400RED Microwave Oven’s appearance. In fact, I was enamored by it.
The countertop microwave oven comes in a retro design with a red colour finishing. The retro design took our minds back to the traditional microwave ovens we all loved; The red colour also adds excitement and sparkle.
The retro-inspired design comes paired with chrome lines that make the red coloured finish more appealing. When it comes to appearance, this is a great microwave oven.
Easy to Use Controls
Many modern microwave ovens are going for the number pad control system. The Nostalgia RMO400RED Microwave Oven takes a different route. Instead of a number pad, we have a simple turn-and-push program dial and four buttons.
The program dial can be used to select a pre-set setting, cooking time, or food weight. The other buttons are setting the clock, selecting options for express cooking, adjusting the power level, and stopping or canceling functions.
The controls also include a child safety lockout mode to prevent unsupervised or accidental handling of the microwave oven.
LED Display
The LED display on the Nostalgia RMO400RED Microwave Oven serves two functions. These functions show the current time and highlight the auto cooking menu.
The clock function shows the current time and how much cooking time you have left. It also shows the power levels. While the auto cooking menu helps you choose between the 12 pre-programmed cooking templates on the microwave oven. These templates are specifically designed for beef, chicken, fish, dinner plates, pizza, bread, rice, potatoes, vegetables, frozen entrees, popcorn, and beverages.
The Nostalgia Retro Red Microwave Oven (RMO4RR)
The RMO4RR model of the Nostalgia Retro Red Microwave Oven is an upgrade of the RMO400RED model. Like its earlier version, it is a 0.9 Cu Ft countertop microwave oven. It is also paired with an 800-wattage cooking power. It was first made available in 2019 — eight years after the RMO400RED model was available in the market.
At first glance, both models look similar. They also spot the same stunning retro red appearance and offer the same cooking power and pre-programmed cooking settings. But as they say, looks can be deceiving.
Without further ado, let’s do a quick rundown of the Nostalgia RMO4RR Microwave Oven.
Specifications
- Product dimensions: 19 x 15 x 11 inches
- Item weight: 34.6 pounds
- Manufacturer: Nostalgia
- Item model number: RMO4RR
- Date first available: May 2019
A Splash of Retro Red for Modern Homes
The Nostalgia RMO4RR Microwave Oven has a retro-themed red design. The red is accentuated with chrome lines, giving the microwave oven a stunning vintage appearance. Despite its vintage appearance, the microwave still has a feel of modernity.
This microwave is sure to stand out in any kitchen. It’s a good fit for people that want to add life and personality.
Simple and Effective Controls
Like its predecessor, the Nostalgia RMO4RR Microwave Oven has a simple turn-and-push program dial and 4 buttons. In this model, the buttons were arranged horizontally from right to left. That said, the functions of the controls are similar.
The program dial can be used to select a pre-set setting, cooking time, or food weight. The other buttons are setting the clock, selecting options for express cooking, adjusting the power level, and stopping or canceling functions.
The controls also include a child safety lockout mode to prevent unsupervised or accidental handling of the microwave oven.
Nostalgia RMO4RR Vs. RMO400RED
To the ordinary eye, there is no difference between the two models. However, a deeper look will reveal a lot of differences.
Age
The Nostalgia RMO4RR Microwave Oven is a relatively recent model. It was first made available on May 20, 2019. On the other hand, the Nostalgia RMO400RED Microwave Oven was available almost a decade before (July 1, 2011).
Does the age gap make any difference? In my opinion, no! Both models are pretty effective.
Control Options
Another visible difference is the arrangement of control in the two microwave oven models. The Nostalgia RMO4RR Microwave Oven control buttons are arranged and labeled horizontally — from right to left. They are placed below the turn dial. You have the power button, followed by the express button, then the delay/clock button, and, finally, the stop/cancel/child lock button.
The Nostalgia RMO400RED Microwave Oven features a different kind of arrangement. The buttons are placed above the turn dial and arranged vertically; they are also labeled. At the top is the micropower button, the express button, followed by the pre-set/clock/defrost button, and finally the pause/cancel button.
Handles
Both microwaves have door handles for easy access. However, the designs here are also different. The Nostalgia RMO4RR Microwave Oven has a curved handle, while the Nostalgia RMO400RED Microwave Oven has a straight handle. In our experience, the difference in handle designs does not make much difference but it may vary user by user.
Cons on the Nostalgia Microwave Oven Models
There are a few issues we had about both models. These aren’t deal-breakers, especially at the units’ price. Still, they need to be mentioned.
Cooking Power
For microwave ovens this big, we have come to expect powerful cooking powers. I’m talking about 900 watts — even 1000 watts and above. The 800 watts is sufficient for many household needs, but I wished it was more powerful.
Ease of Use
For basic cooking processes such as reheating pizza, using any of the models is pretty straightforward. The auto cooking menu functions make it easy to cook without stress.
For people who prefer a more hands-on experience, you might need to read the manual. The upside is that the manual is easy to read and understand.
Final Thoughts
Overall, we can recommend the Nostalgia RMO4RR Microwave Oven and the Nostalgia RMO400RED Microwave Oven to people who want a large-sized microwave oven that gets the work done. The cooking programs make them easy to use, even for beginners. Not to mention, 800 watts of cooking power is sufficient for most cooking needs.
The appearance is also a plus. The retro-themed metallic red appearance is a beauty to behold and will add life and colour to any kitchen. I also love the red and chrome combination.
If you are wondering if you’d be pleased with their performance, I’m confident that you will. The 800 watts cooking power means you might have to wait an extra 10 seconds, but that is all to it. For microwaves in this price and size range, we don’t have much to complain about.
All in all, these microwave ovens have all the basics. They have a beautiful design, are fast, and you become an absolute expert at using them in a short amount of time. This is very good for those who want simple to use microwaves or have no experience using a microwave oven.
It is worth saying that this microwave oven will be a good fit for medium-sized families. The 0.9 Cu Ft. cooking cavity on both models is enough to handle most cooking needs. They are in the sweet spot between compactness, size, and performance.
For all the features mentioned before, we highly recommend the Nostalgia RMO4RR Microwave Oven and Nostalgia RMO400RED Microwave Oven that have beautiful appearances, powerful performance, easy-to-use control panels, an LED display, and a child safety lock.