microwave ?

[stevescooby]

Can i use a household microwave in my motorhome or do i need one specificly for motorhomes / caravans . cheers

 

[AndyPK]

An often asked question! A low-powered one (800w) should be ok......but best to have ehu!

Would it be free-standing or fitted in a cabinet.......? If so, consider airflow around it and venting to the outside......

And try to get one without a turntable - less to rattle around if you forget to remove it before travelling!

 

[cmcardle75]

Can i use a household microwave in my motorhome or do i need one specificly for motorhomes / caravans . cheers

You can use what you like if you've got enough power through your EHU (and turn off the heating/water heating/kettle/electric hob). However, if you're intending to run off batteries. Don't bother. You'll spend thousands in equipment to beef up energy storage/solar/inverters when you could just use the hob or conventional oven.

 

[tonyidle]

I replaced my junk gas oven with a microwave / fan-assisted oven. We only use it on EHU so not too often but it's much appreciated by my young lady.

 

[the1andonly]

Do you realy really need a microwave, really? If not its a lot of wasted weight/space.

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[Where to next?]

I’ve been considering the same dilemma. My conclusion was that anything is possible but at a price. The amount of power required ( batteries, EHU, inverters etc.) and the associated cost makes me question whether it makes financial sense. I had the same intentions for a Nespresso coffee machine and have concluded that it’s not worth it. There are many alternatives which still deliver a great end product but without the draw on energy supplies and up front costs.

 

[tonyidle]

A microwave is cheap enough to carry for the odd occasion EHU is in use. I agree that to attempt 12v / inverter operation costs more than it's worth for most of us but if it makes cooking meals easier on the odd occasion then the cost of the appliance itself is well worth it.

 

[AndyPK]

I replaced my junk gas oven with a microwave / fan-assisted oven. We only use it on EHU so not too often but it's much appreciated by my young lady.

Which microwave/oven did you use, Tony? And what gas oven did you replace......?

 

[Two on Tour]

Do you realy really need a microwave, really? If not its a lot of wasted weight/space.

Ours was fitted from new and we are rarely on EHU, so we use ours as a bread and egg store.

 

[Otter Spotter]

Only use our Bosh Microwave/grill when on EHU and it works fine, its 800 and the grill makes lovely toast but takes longer than Remoska to make crispy bacon.
Dee tends to use it to pre cook spuds before roasting in Romoska or steaming veggies and the 2 minute rice/ quinoa etc.
have to admit not tried via invertor

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[funflair]

We use ours every day from the inverter as we very rarely hook up to mains, and we did with the previous van for years, yes you need a decent battery bank and a bit of solar but very doable,

 

[Jev88]

Google. There is a UK company that downgraded microwaves to order to about 300watts. Slower yes, but less strain on batteries.

Here.

 

[tonyidle]

Which microwave/oven did you use, Tony? And what gas oven did you replace......?

It was a Dometic oven that was attached to the top of a Dometic Tech Tower fridge. The oven door opened upwards meaning that it was necessary to duck below it to see inside. And whilst doing that use your hands at ear level to perform any task inside the oven. If the oven had performed the risks involved in using it might have been worthwhile but it didn't. It's much safer resting in my loft. I was lucky with the microwave. The one we had in our kitchen was the right size and front colour to fit in the gap left by removal of the gas contraption so I was able to try it for fit before buying another for the van. If you send me a pm to remind me I'll locate make & model & attach a photo tomorrow. The pm is needed because I'll have slept between now and then and I suffer from overnight brain-wipe .

 

[autorouter]

Can i use a household microwave in my motorhome or do i need one specificly for motorhomes / caravans . cheers

I use an inexpensive microwave with non-digital controls, bought in Wilko. It was the first one I found that fitted the space available (where the built-in slideout TV used to be). It's quite low-powered at 700 watts, but that wasn't the reason I chose it.

It's mains voltage, so can be used on EHU, or through an inverter provided the batteries are adequate, and there's a suitable way to recharge the batteries

 

[KiwiKampers]

I wish microwaves were an optional extra in motorhomes. I would rather have the cupboard space.

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[funflair]

I wish microwaves were an optional extra in motorhomes. I would rather have the cupboard space.

They are in the more expensive vans then its something else they can charge extra for

 

[Clive Mott]

Yes.I fitted a small Daewoo 600 watt microwave into our little Hymer. Found that if it sits on top of a 80mm tall spacer that it will fit behind the cupboard door.. No butchery required. It does take full sized plates but does have a turntable. I cut a chunk of foam rubber to leave inside it when travelling. Mains yes. Battery via an 1800 watt pure sine wave inverter. Battery is 150ah of Lithium Ferrous Phosphate. Battery draw when working close to 100 amps. Ideal for defrosting burgers before going on the griddle.

 

[Casper46]

We have a cheap microwave and an inverter. We use it for making porridge and for frozen veg as we are rarely on hook up. The oven in tower is dangerous it's In a stupid place , I can't reach it. I've taken the shelves out and use it as a cupboard.

 

[PeteH]

No issue I took the One we replaced in the house, and use that. It has a dedicated bracket that fits in the top of the Seat belt Mount, fabricated from an old T-V mounting. and travels in the boot of the "toad". We only take it when we know we are going on EHU. But I have run it off the Generator before t-day, when we where Marshalling at Festivals.

 

[ToBoldlyGo]

I googled as Jev88 suggested and found

https://microwaveexpert.wordpress.com/

It looks an old blog to me, co. still active or no, I don't know.

We tried our domestic microwave, and it was fine, but not being in a cupboard, we found the space it took outweighed its usefulness. Also, in terms of what power you get on an EHU, the wattage rating of a microwave on its front is the output wattage, and it will consume a lot more watts input.

The other thing is, when we holiday, a large part of the pleasure is getting great and/or interesting local food, it's not heating up supermarket heatups.

I think if we move vehicle again, we will be pleased to get a microwave, but then there's the space issue again as Two on tour says, will the mirowave just be an egg box.

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[Neil Bedwin]

Ours was fitted from new and we are rarely on EHU, so we use ours as a bread and egg store.

Strangely enough we do exactly the same.......

Been thinking about taking it out and using the cupboard space with a breadbin and other boxes in it's place.

 

[Reallyretired]

Ours is a non digital one which will run off the inverter. It is not used very often and things are stored in it when not in use. I sometimes cook fish in it as swmbo is allergic to it so avoids any cross contamination with whatever she's having.

 

[EdwardFT]

I wish microwaves were an optional extra in motorhomes. I would rather have the cupboard space.

I have a gas oven in my motorhome and it IS cupboard space.

 

[nights]

Speaking personally I removed ours to make more space and reduce the payload.

 

[Murrays]

Like Funflair we use ours (built in) every day, via an inverter. It's an 800w Russell Hobbs that uses 1400W, 6 amps when operating. Pretty well as soon as we got our motorhome Hubbie was making modifications. He was adamant I should be able use the microwave off grid (which we pretty well always are now) and I liked the sound of being able to use a hairdryer/straighteners). So he swapped out the leisure battery for lithium ion, added another solar panel and an inverter and now I can use them all. Microwave is used every day for warming the milk for my lattes! . Much quicker, easier and less fuss than a pan on the hob. Plus great for everything else a microwave is great for at home. Soon get used to the routine of taking the plate out each day. I’d whimper if I didn’t have it now..... E x

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[EdwardFT]

IMHO it is very much horses for courses: how do you personally like to cook? I gave up the microwave even at home because I would rather have the space. I have had the following in my motorhome: electric steamer, slow cooker, portable hob. they were all useful while I was parked up away from home for work (so time-limited) but I have since given them all up because I would rather have the space. By contrast, I do carry a Weber barbecue because it is worth the space, to me.

What can you do with a microwave?
Heat up supermarket dinners? I don't eat them, YMMV and I am not judgemental.
Reheat my own pre-cooked meals i.e. leftovers? Same way I cooked them in the first place, a pot or pan on the hob.
Defrost food? Either plan ahead, or soak wrapped in water 30 minutes.
Quick heat beans etc? A pot does that too.
... etc. Your balance of convenience and space may be different but I really thought it was an idle want-to-have -occasionally, that would not earn its keep in terms of space. Qualification: I am off EHU more often than on it, so for me it would either be only occasional, or a big investment in power supplies.

 

[62272]

We have a standard household (with turntable) samsung microwave fitted in our Hymer M/H, removed the cupboard door above the fridge/freezer. It works on mains rating (we never use undocked - as our van doesnt have 240v supply when undocked). It works fantastically, have never had a problem and have used across europe on all sorts of amps (down to 6 amps). Not tried it on 3 amps, but we tend to go to nice sites, which are generally 10 amps or greater. Probably wouldnt run kettle/or other mains appliances if using the microwave, however it cooks or heats in such short time it isnt a problem.

we made a soft casing to pack the glass turntable plate into after we have cleaned out after use. Also, when travelling, you can use the space inside to store some light soft items (loaf of bread).

we go for 6 weeks minimum usually when touring Europe and pack a number of frozen homemade meals which are quickly brought to life with the microwave and make quick (but healthy) inexpensive meals really easily.

 

[LilacSea]

We found roasting bags a good option for storing home prepared green veg, which you can microwave after freezing.
Usually scald for a minute or too then drain off well, broccoli florets, any variety of green bean, sliced sprouts, most things really.
We have a stand alone 600w not too heavy to move around, it’s usually under the dinette table in a large sports bag ..the handles allow for easy extraction!
We like the vacuum packed (room temp storage) meals from Parsley Box
you can get wheat free low salt low sugar etc if needed.

 

[tonyidle]

I think the simple answer is that if you find a microwave to be a major convenience at home then it will be doubly so in your van. Space and weight considerations allowing of course.

 

[Stuart]

As soon as her indoors dropped the stupidly designed grill pan, with the fall off handle, while getting it out of the tower oven, and scratched the full length of the fridge door, its days were numbered. We swopped it for a microwave and never looked back. This was in the last van, the new one came with one fitted. Whoever designed those towers never had to use one!