Panasonic NN DF386B Combination Microwave Demonstration

[@michaelmcist]

Well done sir, I bought a Panasonic combi microwave after watching one of your videos, I knew how to use it before it arrived. It made using it very simple. Keep up the good work.

[@Leadfoot_P71]

He's the best isn't he?

[@pip5461]

I was thinking about this model with no turntable, it appears easier to keep clean... Do you find the pull down door to be secure, as i've seen some reviews with it breaking after a few years...

[@michaelmcist]

@@pip5461 I bought the normal type door version he did an earlier video for. i would probably have given this version a try.

[@julietmurray2331]

Wish I had seen your video a year ago when I bought mine. Your instructions are so easy follow and I will use all the functions much more in future! Thank you.

[@lords-electrical]

Glad it was helpful!

[@lizrobinson4039]

Love mine but only used straight forward method up to now but having watched tour video I'm going to get more ambitious from now on thank you xx

[@PatriciaForster]

So easy to understand, took me a while to discover how to use temperature control from downloaded instruction, hope the proofing temp for bread works and now not so tentative about using my microwave.

[@frankclack9096]

I had a combination unit about twenty five years ago and I am sorry that I got rid of it when I moved house. The thing that surprised me was the large metal rack for use when combined cooking. A great company.

[@siegeism]

Just bought this so thanks for the intel. FYI the grill rack IS designed to be used either the microwave that’s why it’s the accessory designed for multi-stage cooking as in you can programme it to microwave and grill using the rack.

[@Busy3]

I purchased this model recently and want to thank you for making the instructions simple to follow- I did read the booklet but was a bit unsure of how to best use it.👍👏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@lords-electrical]

No problem, glad it was helpful for you. Thanks for the feedback

[@tonygrayson4132]

What a pleasant instructor. He's a joy to listen to. Thank you sir, excellent show!

[@lords-electrical]

I'm glad you found this useful, thanks for the great feedback.

[@maureenstearman4610]

Thank you; after watching your demonstration last month I purchased this model and you were completely correct on the easy to use programme I use this and an air fryer for all my cooking needs and would not be without it, thanks again for your help

[@lords-electrical]

No problem, glad the video was useful for you, thanks for the feedback and enjoy using the microwave

[@janeweller5549]

Excellent video tells you exactly what you need to know about the microwave, thanks.

[@TheReargunner]

BRILLIANT Review, well done, and thank you

[@lords-electrical]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@johnderbyshire2250]

Mine being delivered tomorrow, this is an excellent into. Thank you.

[@owelnote3702]

really good review thanks a lot i already ordered this microwave still waiting for delivery 📦, greetings from Berlin 😎

[@lords-electrical]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@devshi1234]

Love your skillful and informative presentation

[@lolelvwhitaker7347]

Very clearly explained thanks. Is the back flat to the wall or has it the 'bulky' bit pls?

[@lords-electrical]

It has got bulky bits at the back

[@valeriejones4724]

Thinking of buying a DF386 and think I read somewhere that because of the many comments about the grill not being easy to clean, the grill is now covered. Is this correct or is it on a more recent or different model? I also note comments about the earlier models having a metal tray, metal grid and glass tray - I think the CF873 but cannot find this anywhere so presume it's now been replaced with newer model. Can you clarify? Very good video and nicely presented. Thank you.

[@lords-electrical]

To be honest, on this model the grill is not that easy to clean. Some of the earlier models were a bit easier to clean but are no longer available.

[@growinsane9123]

Nice review, I think this is ok for the money but sadly previous generation NN-CF778S was superior in many ways. It came with a pyrex tray and the grill rack slid in like the metal tray in this which it had as well rather than the aukward floor standing one which prohibits the use of both it and the metal tray together. Also the glass pyrex tray could be positioned below the grill rack to catch dripping which was one up from cleaning it off the base. The controls were more tactile and it had a fantastic whole chicken auto cook program which gave a roast chicken using combination cooking in 45 minutes on the pyrex dish. I have not seen any of the newer range do this and I have this oven in the review and the larger steaming one neither of which matched the NN-CF778S. I owned three of the NN-CF778S and it was produced for 10 years and still looks good. I have one left now that works and dread the day it packs up! Panasonic are probably leaning towards today's buyer who is more interested in simpler automatic cooking of fillets rather than joints. The previous didn't have 'sensor cooking'. Chicken on the bone must be something of a niche food group these days!

[@lords-electrical]

I know what you mean as i have had an NN-CF778S and love it.

[@growinsane9123]

@@lords-electrical Yeah, I just bought one of these NN-DF386B for the office, quite disappointing to be honest. I note that whilst it is sold as a 'combination' microwave oven, in fact it is a combination grill & microwave OR an oven but not both. That is to say there is no oven + microwave functions (see manual page 29), unlike the NN-CF778S . Furthermore, the NN-DF386B is not fan assisted, it uses a heating element below the oven and then relies on the grill as the top element. It takes much longer to heat up than the NN-CF778S and if you use multiple levels of cooking, it will leave the oven cold in-between food layers. e.g I cooked two pizzas simultaneously today in it, one on the grill rack which I sat inside the metal tray which was mounted on the first level (note the NN-DF386B prevents insertion of the metal tray on the floor level). The top pizza came out overcooked on top (due to the grill being employed) and underdone on the bottom due to the metal tray blocking the floor heat. The bottom pizza was overcooked on the bottom and underdone on the top. A fan assist would balanced it all out much better and the NN-CF778S cooks food on multiple levels easily. There is another drawback to the grill being the top oven part... in the NN-CF778S you can effectively put food in from cold like a chicken, set the temperature and put an hour 30 on the clock. The NN-CF778S then heats up slowly like a normal oven using only the oven parts and the food is fine. However on the NN-DF386B, there is not a normal heating method so it is impossible to put food in from cold without risking it burning from the initial overuse of the grill so oven cooking from a cold oven is not really an option for the NN-DF386B, unlike its predecessor. In hindsight I wish I had bought the NN-SF464MBPQ which would have made a decent microwave, flatbed, less cost and at least it doesn't pretend to be more than a microwave. I also own a NN-CS894 which is a much higher price point and steam but its still not as easy to use or as good as the NN-CF778S is. I miss the days where I had two NN-CF778S stacked on each other and was able to manage a roast dinner and trimmings with greater ease! If you ever see something matching the NN-CF778S, even from another manufacturer come back and post, I'll probably buy two from you!

[@bioden2]

Yes I agree had one for years, loved it thrashed it to death ,it just died and is not in production, sigh, However bought one of these in vid, far better than turntable ones and so far so good

[@creative-media]

My NN-CF778S let out a cloud of smoke and now it trips the fuses if I try to microwave. It's only 6 years old, which is disappointing, and I can't find anything quite like it to replace it. I've been put off Panasonic's steam microwaves by a lot of reviews that says they break far too easily. I've so far failed to find anyone to repair it; I suspect I'll have to pay a call-out fee and then be told it can't be fixed anyway... 😞

[@growinsane9123]

@@creative-media Yes, I would stay away from the steam ones or just not use that functionality. I put my panasonics through a lot but I am sad to say that whilst they look slicker than ever they are more badly made than ever. I have had 5 panasonic combi units over the last 10 years and I do use them alot but the NN-CF778S was the best, I'm amazed you found one 6 years ago. Most of my units last about 3-4 years but the NN-CF778S I got 8 years out of. My current NNCF87LBBPQ had a clever jacket potato program where it didn't need the potato weight unlike the NN-CF778S except that instead it melted the plastic around the screw on the tray it instructed me to use, made an awful smell but I made the mistake of not registering the device with Panasonic and it was only 1 yr and 3 months but Panasonic wouldn't do anything, I was supposed to register to get the 5 year warranty, even though I had proof of purchase so don't make that mistake. This is my last panasonic combi now, I wouldn't buy another, sorry to say there just isn't a good product that fills this role that I can identify any more. Was never bothered about the cost, just wanted quality. May end up looking for a merry chef!

[@margaretryan9848]

Really clear and easy to follow. 😊

[@ianware5681]

Excellent product but lacks a backlit display feature. My mum has AMD and finds the buttons difficult to see.

[@rosalofiego2668]

Excellent explanation ! Thanks a lot! Best regards! 👍👌❤

[@MegaJonWilliams]

Great video - really useful. Only comment I’d have is that you showed what pre-heating the oven looked like but didn’t display what the display showed once it reached the desired heat. Otherwise, great video to show the functions. Fingers crossed my roast lamb goes well.... our normal oven isn’t working as well as it could!

[@rrf5616]

If using microwave only can I use the plastic bowls, microwave cooking dishes that I have used in the past in my old microwave switch was not an inverter microwave. another sample would be my plastic microwave rice cooker. Thank you for your help and for a very helpful reveiw does this microwave not come with a metel basket for like chips Many Thanks Ruth

[@m888eve]

Thank you for the video. Bought it 3 years ago and wasn't aware of so many features. How do you clean it after using it for over 3 years especially the grill which is covered with stubborn brown stains?

[@marlenelongman8846]

Really good video, before I buy this one can you tell me - when in oven mode can you sit a casserole dish straight on the bottom (without the tray) because I might need the height, Thank you.

[@JG-nx3jg]

Would this microwave be suitable for steamed hams?

[@A-Name-101]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/q2nUZoKIh898ldU

[@pip5461]

@@A-Name-101 lol ....Simpson does it again...

[@marlenelongman8846]

Hi, when this is in oven mode - is it safe to rest a Dutch oven / casserole dish straight on to the ceramic bed for cooking, thank you.

[@valsmith4976]

If I roast a chicken in the combination microwave can I put it in a roasting bag?

[@lords-electrical]

If you select the oven option only then there should be no difference in how you cook compared to using a normal oven

[@marlenelongman8846]

Hi, when this is in the oven mode, can casserole dishes rest directly on the flat bed while cooking?, (I need this for height), thank you for any information.

[@slate2103]

When using the oven funtion can you use say a cake tin or would it have to be some other kind of dish?? And is it possible to slow cook using say a dutchoven?

[@angelt4901]

Do you really have to scrape that tray the way you did!!

[@lord-lala]

TLDR: No combination microwave/convection function. I've had a Panasonic combi microwave for a few years, which I used all the time especially to cook things quickly in the convection oven using microwave at the same time. Sadly it recently developed a fault. I bought this as a rather lovely looking "upgrade" and there is a lot to like but apparently no combination microwave/convection function. Am I just missing it?? I can't believe it. So disappointed.

[@phillambrose3496]

Does this Oven have a Fan for Convection Cooking?

[@waynegriffiths9122]

Silly question, but is grill one or three the highest setting?

[@sandradrax]

How can I change language. There are Germany, but I want to change to English. I do unplug and plug in again and press Start, but nothing hapend even I press Start several times. There are no sound. Can you help me?

[@craigfisher4918]

Is the grill easy to clean?

[@annetteedwards7641]

Would like to hear the sound volume please

[@denisebil3371]

Hi, what’s the energy class rating for it? Thanks

[@harrytaylor5412]

Mine stops after 3minutes what could be the cause please?

[@user-el1rk9rp5j]

How do you change light its not working

[@jeanbrown9127]

I’m trying to find out how to take the lock off!

[@krazzyash40]

How to remove the door?

[@bobaslam5758]

That was cool

[@paulvickers8633]

Could someone please tell me how to clean the grill elements after they got spattered with food, it wasn't cleaned immediately as wasn't noticed - now baked black spots which smoke when using the grill - Thanks

[@Avdarmaly]

Has it got a fan inside?

[@Chipchase780]

My older Panasonic combi microwave was easier to use for baked potatoes. You weighed your spud, put it in the micro, inputted the weight, pressed on, and it baked it for the correct pre programmed time. Easy, and perfect results every time as they say. Now this new model. No baked potato programme. Put your spud in. Er, press grill, which prompts you to then select micro, er, then you guess how long it will take to bake your potato, set your guessed time, and good luck.

[@pip5461]

Isn't the built in sensor meant to assist ?

[@Chipchase780]

@@pip5461 For chilled or frozen meals according to the handbook, not baked potatoes. You need the micro and grill for a baked potato, the sensor setting doesn’t do combi cooking as far as I’m aware.

[@andreaoconnell8950]

Can’t get crispy skin jacket potatoes any suggestions please?

[@jacquelinehigson5522]

I love this microwave, but the flatbed has cracked and seems to have a sma hole in it .....what has happened and what should I do, we have only had it about 3 months

[@lords-electrical]

If it is cracked then do not use it. It will need to be looked at by Panasonic. It is very odd that it cracks, has something been dropped on it, if this is the case then it will not normally be covered under the warranty. If nothing has been dropped then contact the retailer you purchased it from and they should be able to get it looked at by Panasonic.

[@afzulRashidkhan]

it turn off after 5 second. Why???

[@thisisabsolutelystup]

Hi! I recently bought one of these from another supplier, and it seems like the interior light doesn't come on. Am I meant to pull a tab somewhere or is the bulb broken? Thanks in advance!

[@Chipchase780]

I bought the same model, no tabs to pull out, the light should come on automatically. It might not be the bulb, it could be the mechanism in the door that is faulty and not activating the light.

[@thisisabsolutelystup]

@@Chipchase780 thanks for this. Turns out the unit was faulty. Kept cutting out mid cook.

[@pip5461]

@@Chipchase780 Is this a common issue, and covered under warranty..? I'm considering buying this pull down door version with no turntable, as it seems far easier to keep clean...

[@Chipchase780]

@@pip5461 If you’ll take my advice, do not buy this model. I regret doing so, but I just have to live with it now. Runs with moisture on the inside after doing a chilled meal so the interior needs to be dried off. My previous model didn’t. As I said, doing a baked potato is guess work. The previous model was automatic after setting the weight. It’s personal choice depending on how you use it, but if I had my £234 back I’d go for a stainless steel model as sold in John Lewis with the push button selections - INCLUDING baked potato option.

[@pip5461]

@@Chipchase780 Thanks ...

[@djangorheinhardt]

Just bought one but NO instructions book enclosed ! !!!

[@lords-electrical]

Hopefully this was useful for you. Even the instructions are not that great that come with it.

[@djangorheinhardt]

@@lords-electrical oh ok.Thanx for the reply I will try and elicit the secret by watching the video.( It's me age y'know .Stuff dont stay in me brains anymore )

[@djangorheinhardt]

@@lords-electrical Just sent a msg of thanks but it's gone!Anyway thanx again !

[@djangorheinhardt]

Er ..... er ..... I have just found the instructions in a bag that the baking tray is in .It was upside down in the oven but the instruction books underneath !Sorry fellas I did not look hard enough It's me age innit !

[@pip5461]

Can this air fry ?

[@lords-electrical]

Unfortunately not

[@pip5461]

@@lords-electrical Thanks

[@krane15]

The dial is ackward and makes cleaning the exterior more difficult.

[@pip5461]

Surely the ease of cleaning the inside, compared to a turntable model, outways the "awkward cleaning of a dial"? or did I misunderstand your review ?

[@krane15]

@@pip5461 I was pointing out the awkward knob placement design, not making a comparison. My microwaves have always had flat panels, so one straight wipe and the panel is clean. This is the first time I was considering a combo oven just to save space in my small kitchen.

[@MahmudulIslam-tz3ky]

It seems the door is not see through while cooking. Is it?

[@lords-electrical]

You are correct it is very dark so you struggle to see through it while it is cooking

[@Chipchase780]

It’s more important that it looks cool and expensive rather than being easy to use and functional right ?

[@pip5461]

@@lords-electrical Oh, nearly ordered one... hmm that could be a problem !every time you open it to have a look, you loose the heat...

[@Chipchase780]

@@pip5461 If you like your baked potatoes I found this machine is actually a backward step over the excellent older model it replaced. There is no auto programme, you have to play trial and error. I’ve adapted to it, but if you gave me my £230 back would I buy it again ? NO. I’d consider Samsung next time.

[@pip5461]

@@Chipchase780 That's so true, I might look at the Sage Wave 3 in 1, looks interesting...

[@CarolynHuang-i3l]

Lewis William Garcia Kenneth Taylor Scott

[@fogbullit1000]

Mine lasted 2 hrs and went pop

[@GarsinoYarsonParsinVacrson-w8d]

Harris David Jones Ruth Hernandez William

[@Margaret-g7w]

Rodriguez Paul Lee Michelle Taylor Sarah

[@BoothCyril]

Davis Edward Martinez Steven Walker Dorothy

[@dfveiga9]

Bought it and it came in german...

[@sandradrax]

Did you change language? Mine is in German too, but I can't change

[@MrPojmen]

It works grate as a oven, as a microwave so so its warm up food very unevenly. Build quality is poor, almost like a toy in comparison to older microwaves.

[@lords-electrical]

Thanks for the feedback. Most of the feedback we have had is positive so far from these microwaves.

[@MrPojmen]

@@lords-electrical It depends what people expect, it is not a bad product but in comparison to my old convection Whirlpool microwave this looks like toy, i am talking about parts inside.

[@greenspaces4683]

Good but more like users manual

[@thegougy]

Piece of crap, bought yesterday, today (first oven usage after the "20minutes burn in") the bulb cracked, the fuse in the house out and here we go with Panasonic "quality". Returning this heavy crap that looks so good on the paper after the weekend. Also the "child lock" is laughable, can not be used during cooking and allows kids to alter the time of cooking by simple rotating the button - very "useful" and clearly designed by someone who (luckilly for all the humanity) does not have kids. Overall - huge disapoinment by Panasonic made in China.

[@rosalofiego2668]

Excellent explanation, thanks a lot! Kind regards! 👍👌❤