Miele Speed Ovens - any recent experience with them?
We're in the midst of a kitchen reno and considering replacing our microwave w a Miele Speed Oven to increase our cooking/broiling options. Does anyone have recent experience with this appliance? I did review prior posts.
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We included the Miele speed oven as part of a 27" stacked configuration with their warming drawer, convection oven and the combination speed oven up top. We debated between a classic double oven vs the SO and made the latter choice based on it's microwave capability and thus freeing up a bit of counter space. We were concerned that it's smaller size (Miele SO is really a 24" width with trim kit to fit in their 27" module....actually in metric) but the fact is the size is fine for virtually all of our casseroles and bakeware. We use it as a standard microwave daily. Also as a bake oven, a small roasting oven, small broiler oven, combination convection features with roast and broil, a surround baking oven and also as a combination (speed function) microwave+bake oven. There is a learning curve to determine which function is most appropriate to a specific task. You can default to your simple tried and true habits but if you want to be creative and intelligent in your approach to cooking their SO is a brilliant machine. It has limitations like not being able to handle the family 27 lb thanksgiving turkey but we just broiled a 4 lb side of salmon on a cookie pan (using convection broil function) to perfection. The salmon was barded with some strips of bacon that splattered around a bit and the smooth surface SS interior wiped up in literally 15seconds. The memory function is a godsend as once we dialed in the optimal setting for the nuking of popcorn "bags" the risk of burned kernels vanished. All in all would purchase it again
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re: ThanksVille
Breadcrumbs
Mar 16, 2012 11:09 AM
ThankVille, thank-you for your helpful post. We opted for the exact configuration that you did - the 3 stack w the SO on top. Our new SO arrives on Monday. Unfortunately the first one was defective - the microwave didn't work at all. This seems to be a bug for Miele as I read other posts about this online.
I like your advice about programming in favourites via the memory function. I love the "Sensor Reheat" function on our existing Panasonic Genius microwave as we often re-heat a plate of food for dinner. Have you found a similar power level/time that works well for this on the SO as yet? Once the SO arrives I've vowed to retire the Panasonic to the basement to force us to transition to the SO right away and take advantage of all its features as you say.
If you have any tips to share, I'd love to hear them.
We have been using the 27" MasterChef oven and the warming drawer and just love both of them. Such a joy to have these lovely appliances.
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re: Breadcrumbs
Surprised to hear that Miele had a problem with defective microwave components in their speed ovens....my fear with their sophisticated electronics was the potential degradation due to heat exposure so I cut a series of 2" diameter holes in the support shelves behind each of the stacked devices positioned a couple small computer equipment fans on the side at the top of the appliance cabinet (venting into the adjacent basement stairwell) And put a black metal grill in the cabinet toe kick base to ensure I could move about 60 cfm of air up thru the cabinet keeping the devices relatively cool. In hindsight I think that was overkill as the Miele equipment comes well insulated and power vented into the room......but clearly the extra- venting can't hurt in the long run.
Cooking last night a wonderful Portugese shrimp in parsley and cilantro sauce (Serios Eats blog site) wanted to get the SO up to 500 degrees but was limited by the max. Setting of 475 in the surround bake mode so did the first 7 minutes at 475 then had it switch to full broil for an additional 5 minutes. Results were perfect and now stored for a repeat performance. Wife agreed good enough for entertaining. Perfect example of the SO enabling you to achieve your desired results if you can define them well and think about how the oven might best achieve them.
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