GE JVM1490 Profile Microwave/Convection Oven

Author's Rating:

Pros: Attractive. Easy dial features. Cookbook with instruction.

Cons: Convection & fast baking is not the best method for delicate items.

The Bottom Line: 
I recommend this GE JVM1490 Profile Microwave/Convection Oven because it has always been very reliable for me. It has all the features you could possibly need.

Author's Review
GE JVM1490 Microwave Oven

We purchased the GE JVM1490 Profile Microwave/Convection Oven in February 2004 from Sears (the physical store).

GE JVM1490 Profile Microwave/Convection Oven features.

~~ 900 Watts Microwave Oven
~~ Removable Turntable for microwaving
~~ Removable Shelf to use with the Baking or Fast Baking features.
~~ Window with Metal Shield
~~ Control Panel and Selector Dial.
~~ Microwave Cooking Time and Auto Feature…

1. Time Cook
2. Micro Express (to add 30 sections)
3. Defrost
4. Power Level
5. Sensor Features (Popcorn, Reheat, Beverage)
6. Baking
7. Fast Baking

BAKING (CONVECTION) FEATURES

During baking, a heating element is used to raise the temperature of the air inside the oven. The GE JVM1490 Profile Microwave/Convection Oven allows this feature to be used when the temperature of 225 to 450 degrees F is used. A fan circulates this heated air throughout the oven, over and around the food producing brown exteriors and moist interiors. This circulation of heated air is called convection. Convection cooking is usually much quicker than regular oven cooking. Please see the bottom of my review for my personal opinions on this feature.

FAST BAKING FEATURES

This GE JVM1490 Profile Microwave/Convection Oven also offers this option of Fast Bake which is a cross between convection baking & microwaving. Using this feature requires the use of only the metal shelf instead of the removable microwave turntable.

THE MICROWAVE CONVECTION OVEN COOKBOOK

The GE JVM1490 Profile Microwave/Convection Oven comes with a very handy & much needed cookbook. This is ultimately needed if this is your first convection oven purchase. This is a 142 page, soft covered book that was made by General Electric and copyrighted in 2001.

This book with take you step by step through all the features of the GE JVM1490 Profile Microwave/Convection Oven much more so than the owners manual. Everything is separated into 3 categories: Microwave, Convection and Fast Bake. There are full color pictures for just about every recipe.

There is a “Cookware and Utensil Guide” which explains EXACTLY which types of items are allowed during which baking process is chosen. The chart is extremely easy to use and has everything from Aluminum Foil to Wax Paper covered.

To give you a basic idea of the kinds of recipes included in this book I will list just a few:

~~ Appetizers such as Sausage Crescents, Vegetable Crispers, Ribs, Cheese Balls and Chicken Wings. (19 varieties of appetizers included).

~~ Chicken such as Sweet and Tangy Chicken, Chicken Noodle Soup, Curried Chicken and Rice. (30 recipes in all).

~~ Beef such as Flank Steak Florentine, Stew, Taco Salad (32 recipes in all).

~~ Desserts such as Boston Cream Pie, Toffee Cake, Caramel Bundt Cake, Peach Torte (too many dessert recipes to count!)

~~ Many side dishes such as Beets, Cabbage, Artichokes, Eggplant & Sauces.

MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH EACH BAKING METHOD

Microwave Feature
I felt the microwave feature of this GE JVM1490 Profile Microwave/Convection Oven was satisfactory. It is a touch slower than my old counter top microwave which was 1,100 Watts of power. This GE JVM1490 Profile Microwave/Convection Oven is a lower 900 Watts, but serves it’s purpose with grace. I have not had any problems microwaving to date and enjoy the easy dial to change the power level with ease.

Convection Baking
Here’s a the feature I purchased this GE JVM1490 Profile Microwave/Convection Oven for because I was looking for a quicker method of baking for those days when the children’s soccer practice seems to be 5 minutes after the girls’ dance classes, yet I didn’t want to microwave everything & have dinner turn into an old boot.

My experience with the Convection Baking is somewhat mixed. I use this feature all the time when baking items such as potatoes or veggies, yet I find it actually dries out meat. I really don’t think it’s worth the few minutes in baking time it saves me if the meat doesn’t come out tender & tasty.

Just as I don’t care for the Convection Baking for baking meats, I also give it very low grades for baking anything that needs to rise. I tried baking Sticky Buns and they barely rose, finished cooking on the outside yet the inside was barely cooked. It was a mess!

I do give this GE JVM1490 Profile Microwave/Convection Oven high marks for everything EXCEPT baking meats and cakes.

I’d like to add that I don’t feel the Convection Baking problems are due to the GE JVM1490 Profile Microwave/Convection Oven yet just in convection baking in general.

Fast Baking
I simply did not find a huge difference between the Fast Baking feature and the Convection Baking feature. The main difference is that the Fast Baking does not require the oven to pre-heat. I find I use the Fast Baking feature when I am reheating food only.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The GE JVM1490 Profile Microwave/Convection Oven has many great features that you find use for. It has always been very reliable for me & helps tremendously during times when I’m entertaining & need that second oven.

The GE JVM1490 Profile Microwave/Convection Oven will save you money in the long run by not using nearly as much energy than the large wall or stove ovens do. The preheating I find takes a shorter amount of time than my regular oven. The vent underneath can be used to vent directly outside the kitchen or use a charcoal filter to exit the air back into the kitchen. We have our vent go directly outside the kitchen so there is virtually no odor while baking. This comes in handy when baking fish. I cannot comment on the charcoal filter as we have never used this feature.

The Convection Oven has it’s place in the kitchen yet I don’t use this feature as I thought I would have. Nothing bakes as well as the good old-fashioned wall or stove oven. I do use it daily for veggies and potatoes and prefer this method for those items.

The Microwave Convection Oven Cookbook is an excellent & invaluable book to have. I could not have began using this GE JVM1490 Profile Microwave/Convection Oven without it.

GE JVM1490 Profile Microwave/Convection Oven
900 Watts
1.4 cubic feet
Over the range oven
Depth - 16.22 inches
Height - 16.09 inches
Width - 30 inches