Hotpoint Curve Microwave Review
In many kitchens there is a wasted space if you have a corner work surface area. Hotpoint have realised this and have developed the £129.99 Hotpoint Curve Microwave (model no. MWH 1311 B) to place in this forgotten zone.
Design & Ease of Use
Its all black curvaceous design with front glass window to keep an eye on your contents definitely appears similar to a retro tube TV. This is in no way a bad thing and only adds to it becoming a talking point whilst it neatly sits in your kitchen corner area. Despite not being a true right angle, it squeezes tight into the corner and utilises all the space left and right via its curve brilliantly, so we still have an area left in front to prep. Opening the door will reveal a smaller area inside than you may be accustomed to, yet we can still fit our dinner plates within this 13L area however. One large positive we’d like to raise is that the Hotpoint Curve has a firm grip, thanks to its rubber feet, on our oak worktop and so getting contents in, as well as out, is straightforward.
Controls
A really simplified set of functions are printed on the front. The Hotpoint Curve Microwave doesn't have grill or oven functionality - hence the compact design. On the left there’s a knob to control the power, with auto defrost offered and 700W, 500W, 350W and 160W modes. On the right is the timer - ranging from 30sec to 30min. Knobs make selecting functions really speedy, but the downside to this minimal control scheme is the lack of any memory functionality.
Perfromance
Chocolate Brownies: This tried and tested favourite from a 1980s microwave cookery book was a good test for the Hotpoint Curve. Despite the lack of any grill, the brownie mix developed a definite crust on top after being left to cool. Furthermore, it was fluffy throughout and took only 9 minutes to cook on the maximum 700W setting. Preparing the mix took 3-4 minutes, including melting the butter in the Hotpoint Curve. So for speedy cooking this compact design still proves capable.
Baked Sweet Potato: A paper towel and preferably a bowl are the key to getting the sweet potato right in this microwave, as the potato dispenses much water and steam during cooking. After 10 minutes at 700W we had a steaming baked sweet potato. Whilst creamy and sumptuous when cut into and with no excess moisture, the lack of any grill or oven functionality raises its head here, as we could not achieve a crispy exterior.
Verdict
Born out of a desire to find some practicality for your corner area, the well built design of the Hotpoint Curve Microwave is equally charming due to its reminiscence of a classic tube TV. It’s got an ample capacity, is speedy and the simplified controls will be a welcomed by many. If you don't have a corner area then the traditional rectangular design will better serve, but if you do have an unused corner the Hotpoint Curve could be just the thing to usefully fill it.
