Cuisinart CMW-100 Review

The Cuisinart CMW-100 didn't disappoint in too many areas of our testing, but considering its price, we had higher expectations for its performance. That's not to say it's a poor appliance, as it does well in certain aspects. It efficiently handles defrosting, and the interface is user-friendly.

Performance Comparison

Heating

We conducted a series of tests to assess the product's heating performance, including microwaving various food items.

Heat Map Test

To start, we evaluated the evenness of heating. We spread marshmallow fluff on a parchment paper piece sized to match the turntable and heated it for two minutes to gauge the uniformity of browning. The Cuisinart had no visible scorch marks, and the fluff was cooked pretty evenly, minus a couple of hot spots.

Heating Speed Test

Next, we monitored each microwave's heating speed. We quantified this by heating a 125 mL beaker of water for 45 seconds. We measured the temperatures before and after heating and then measured the discrepancy. During this duration, the Cuisinart increased the water's temperature by 78 degrees, progressing from 42 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. While it didn't claim the top spot among the products tested, it delivered a decent performance.

Leftover Heating

To see how efficiently the microwave could reheat a well-rounded dish, we loaded up a plate of leftovers, including potatoes, green beans, and sausage links. We employed a preset microwave option set for two minutes and 30 seconds. The sausage links and green beans were heated adequately, maintaining relatively consistent temperatures, with minor variations of 12 and 15 degrees, respectively. However, the mashed potatoes had a much larger temperature range. Mixing up the potatoes after heating would likely lead to more uniform results, although this action falls outside the scope of the test.

Soup Heating

We tested each microwave's performance in heating canned soup. After heating for the recommended three minutes, the soup was very hot but still edible at 162 degrees. Unfortunately, the CMW-100 didn't boast the same results with leftover pizza. We warmed two slices for 45 seconds, resulting in uneven temperatures throughout. Each slice was heated to different temperatures, and both included large cold spots.

Frozen Foods

In our next metric, we assessed each product's ability to heat frozen food, including burritos, lasagna, and hot pockets. Our first frozen food item was a burrito, heated for a minute and a half per the 1000-watt microwave instructions. The outcome was favorable, with even heating and a perfect tortilla texture. It was free from hard or soggy areas while remaining thoroughly cooked. This was a big win for the Cuisinart.

Next, we placed a personal-sized frozen lasagna in the microwave. Adhering to the package instructions led to slightly undercooked lasagna, with a cool center around 140 degrees Fahrenheit. It was close to the ideal temperature but would require additional cooking time to reach it. The hot pocket fared slightly worse here, not cooking evenly at all. The center was mostly undercooked and soggy, while the outer edges were overcooked.

Defrosting

To test the defrosting abilities of the Cuisinart CMW-100, we used one pound of beef and defrosted based on the product's instructions. This model offers warming options based on time or weight. We chose the weight option, which led to satisfying results. The meat was uniformly thawed after nine minutes and 20 seconds, with only a small frozen section in the middle.

Ease of Use

We were quite impressed with the ease of use with this appliance. The interface is well-labeled and straightforward to use. The microwave includes all the essential functions, such as a timer, item-specific cook times, power control, and defrost. In use, it offers good stability, remaining steady during operation.

Should You Buy the Cuisinart CMW-100?

While the Cuisinart CMW-100 covers essential microwave functions and is easy to use, it doesn't excel among top performers. It was inconsistent among our heating tests, resulting in some items being cooked thoroughly while other items needed extra time. Its price is above average compared to other models we tested, which doesn't completely align with its ability. Choosing a similar-performing microwave at a lower price point would be a better investment.

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