LG NeoChef MS4296

HIGHLY RECOMMEND LG 42L 1200W NeoChef Smart Inverter Microwave White MS4296OWS – As I was cleaning this microwave today, I realized I hadn’t reviewed it yet. After two years of heavy use multiple times a day, it still looks and works like new! Just check the photos. Before this, we always bought Kmart microwaves, but they would rust out quickly, even though we kept the door open to dry them. My microwave is stored in the… Read more

pantry.

I chose the LG 42L 1200W NeoChef Smart Inverter Microwave (White, MS4296OWS) mainly for the "soften" setting for butter, which has been fantastic.

As for the fancy defrost settings, they’re nothing special, I’ve stopped using those due to the typical cooking the edges before defrosting the food issues.

While it’s more expensive than a Kmart microwave, if you’re replacing those every year, this is a much better investment in the long run. Highly recommend!

Love this microwave! – I purchased this Microwave because I wanted one I could use to cook meals as opposed to just thawing and reheating. This microwave has exceeded my expectations. There are many options available yet also amazingly easy to navigate and find them. Reheat, sensor cook, soften, melt, proof, keep warm, inverter defrost. With 1200W It leaves my old 700W… Read more ·  1

behind. Looks. Well it certainly does not look like most microwaves as it has a single piece tempered glass door which not only looks good but makes cleaning easy. I can access the plus and minus button as well as start stop without opening the door. The remining functions are accessible via a panel when the door is opened. There is a list of menu instructions on the top rim of the microwave which can be hard to read sometimes but I use the one in the included book instead. The book is quite easy to follow and I found myself confidently using various options very quickly. The hexagonal ring under the glass plate makes it more stable and the Anti-Bacterial Easy Clean interior coating makes cleaning a breeze. Using this microwave is so easy and the results are very impressive. I wanted to be able to use it where possible instead of my stove as my old solid plate electric stove takes forever to heat water to boil/steam my few vegetables I cook and the oven heats my whole unit long before it has heated my leftovers. I have poached an egg (yes, it can be done) with success and steamed vegetables right in a fraction of the time. I have cooked risotto which is a fair and tasty alternative to stove top version. It turned my frozen meal into something close to freshly made without the usual overcooked and/or cold spots, it was delicious. Butter from the fridge softens, not melts, ready to use and food is defrosted evenly. And when it is done there is no “beep”, instead, it plays a little tune! I have not used all the functions yet however so far; I am happy with what I have used. Can it completely replace my stove? No, but it can do many tasks that previously would take a whole lot more time and power than doing them on the stove. I would certainly recommend this Microwave.

LG 42L Stainless Steel Microwave – I purchased this microwave in hopes that it would last me a long time, Let me tell you I will have this microwave for the next 10 years ! (according to the 10 year parts warranty) The microwave itself is a snug fit in my pantry, it fits on the shelving almost perfectly, allowing me to hide it from view, thus giving me more room on my kitchen… Read more

bench.

It heats cold items extremely fast, my old microwave would take a very long time, where as this one is very zippy.

Its also extremely easy to clean, after putting chickpea soup in the microwave i forgot to cover it, causing it to explode everywhere, I was able to clean the inside with just a paper towel due to the internal ceramic coating.

My only issue is sometimes it wont register the press to start the microwave, meaning you may have to press quite hard to get it going.

Used multiple times per day, no issues – We bought this microwave 12 months ago as part of a kitchen renovation. The size was right and it matched in well with our oven. Reading other reviews, there seem to be some concerns about longevity. After a year of using multiple times per day we haven’t had any problems - touch wood! Things I love: Big size, sleek design (no buttons on the… Read more

front), great touch pad controls. Nice solid opening and closing. Easy to clean the inside, we wipe out each day and it takes seconds. Cute tune when it finishes cooking. Seems to cook evenly and quite quickly. I liked that it had a white casing with black front as it worked with our white cabinets.

Things I don’t use: Automatic cooking programs. We generally just heat on high. If you do use these functions you need to open the door to access the controls.

Things I don’t love: If the power goes out you can only reset the clock by turning it off at the power source which is tricky for us as it is recessed into a cabinet. Black front does show finger marks but easy to wipe off with a microfibre cloth. When cleaning it is easy to accidentally set off the cooking function by wiping over the touch controls. Condensation does build up inside. We leave the door open after use to dry out so it doesn’t cause issues.

Tips: As above, wipe out each day with a tea towel or microfibre. Only takes seconds and it stays looking like new.

Leave door open if condensation has built up

Learn the different ways to set the timer. Eg, you can slide your finger along the timer thing to increase or decrease, you can press the plus button to go up by 10 seconds or press and hold the plus button to increase the time quickly. Or you can kick it old school and keep pressing the start button to go up in increments of 30 seconds.

If there is a power outage you need to turn it off at the power point to reset the clock.

You cannot turn off the jaunty tune playing function and you can’t turn it down. If you don’t open the door it will keep playing the tune at intervals.

One of the better ones, maybe? – We have all enjoyed the many advances in technology over recent years, and microwaves are no exception. Very much like motor vehicles, you now get more power with less weight. We have just purchased our first microwave in at least thirty years. Yes, that’s how long our old Panasonic lasted. It was so heavy, I struggled to remove it from it’s… Read more ·  3

place of work. It’s at least double the weight of the new LG MS4296OWS. The LG is so light in fact (11.3 Kg) that when I first pulled on the door to open it, the whole unit slid towards me. Off I went in search of a sheet of thin rubber matting I had put away somewhere. Shortly after, that problem was sorted. Maybe LG need to make the tiny rubber like feet at the front considerably bigger. Now I suppose I should be thankful that there was an instruction book at all, given that so many gadgets and appliances we buy now days tell you to go online to download the “user guide”. LG have included an instruction book, but I have not found it easy to follow at all. In fact, the very first instruction it gives you is wrong. It says to set the clock with the door open. If you open the door, nothing at all will happen, clearly a safety design factor. LG need to revisit this book asap as it is a real mess. Basically, you have to work it out for yourself, and for many people this will be quite challenging. For this reason, I have reduced my star rating. The book does take you through the ten power levels and which foods each of them is most suited to. There is a main sub section called "Cooking Mode", but immediately below that is says "reheat mode", confusing. At first glance, it looks like there has been a lot of "cut and paste" in the compilation of this book, and it doesn't work for me at all. A prefect example of this is on page 15, where there are two identical illustrations side by side with no possible explanation for it. Another example is where page 19 shows a recipe for Beef Stroganoff and the ingredients are noodles, mushroom soup, tuna and milk. Good luck with that one! There is also neither index or appendix, a real oversight to me. I think Choice's review was being too kind when they said you will need to keep the reference book close at hand to refer to. I was interested to see that recycled paper or cardboard should not be put in the microwave due to the possible impurities it may contain. Apparently there is a chance it may overheat and catch fire.

Now to the unit which is one of their larger models. My main purchasing criteria was to ensure that the turntable was no smaller than what we were used to, as there had been several occasions where we needed all that room. So the 42 liter model has a 35 cm. turntable which almost exactly matches our old machine, even though the external dimensions of the unit are smaller. As usual, I did my research including ProductReview.com.au and Choice which I subscribe to. One limiting factor of this great website is that many of the reviews are for items which are either no longer available, or in scarce supply. The one which rated highly on this website was not available at either of our two local white good retailers, and I would not usually buy this type of product without seeing it first. This is obviously partly due to the fact that many reviews are written about items purchased some time previously. I have written a few such reviews, and the irony of it is that any manufacturer can make an item which is excellent, and for some reason which just leaves me wondering, it is superseded with one which is nowhere near as good. “On dash” GPS’s are a great example of this. The main benefit of this website is that reviews are written by people like me who do so with the sole intention of helping others, so they are believable. This LG model is current and readily available.

After a reasonable amount of research, I settled on the LG MS4296 OWS which was given top spot by Choice magazine (their website). Although we wanted an all white model to match the other kitchen appliances, we had to place “function” over “form”. The all white ones seemed to be in the smaller range. The main body of this LG is white, but all you really see in our installation is the door which is black glass. It’s a smart looking unit with very clean lines, and a clear LCD time display. Embedded in this glass front is a very clever feature with a “touch” area very similar to your mobile phone. There are plus and minus signs and a stop, start and clear area whereby all you have to do is lightly touch the plus sign and it increments by ten second segments. In other words, if you simply want the microwave to run for thirty seconds on full power, touch the plus sign three times and hit start. Just as clever is the start button which increments in thirty second segments in the same way. The difference here is that it starts the machine, so you need to have your food or drink in it before you do this. These touch areas are very sensitive which makes operation quick and easy, however as I found out when I went to wipe off some finger marks, you can accidently start the machine while in the process of cleaning it. Lesson learnt, just open the door to clean it and the machine won't start. The door shuts easily and just as quietly as I expected given that even with food in it, it’s essentially an empty box. Now let’s look inside. Most of the controls are hidden behind the glass door on a separate panel, and while Choice listed this as a negative, I can see no problem because you have to open the door to place your food inside anyway. There is an array of choices separated by two main areas of “Auto Cook” and “Manual Cook”. We used our old machine mainly for heating, reheating and defrosting, so many of the benefits of this clever technology will be lost on us. Having said that, we can experiment with actual cooking and see how things go. We have done this on odd occasions such as Christmas when our double oven has been full, so we have cooked some vegies in the microwave. There is a well placed LED light inside the LG which provides a clear view of what’s happening during function. The glass turntable rests on a hexagonal frame which LG have designed to prevent the turntable from tipping should you have a very uneven load on it. The inside coating of the machine is a mid grey color and appears to be a similar material to an oven. I haven’t needed to clean it yet, but it should be easy. The operation time looks to be reduced generally by around 25 % compared to our old machine, but all these years later, I have no idea how many watts it was. Surprisingly, it’s not written on it anywhere. The new LG has a huge 1,200 watts and comes with a two year warranty on parts and labour. I have read the many negative reviews about this machine, and if we experience any of the problems listed I will certainly update my review to reflect this. At least one review talks about rust inside the machine and I will say for some reason there is a lot more steam build up in this microwave than what we are used to seeing. I am wiping it dry at this early stage, but can easily understand how this could become too tedious. I guess if the platter support which has three points that just rub does scratch the bottom of the machine, rust could start quite easily. In conclusion, I’m happy with this new microwave and would have no hesitation in recommending it to others as this early stage. If we start actually cooking with it any time soon, I will do an update, but at this point in time it’s Four Stars. Again, I wish we had half stars like the energy ratings, and if we did this would get three and a half stars as I think it sits between 3 and 4. P.S. What appear to be scratches on the control panel are just reflections of light, and hard to eliminate. Purchased on 17/08/2021 at Bi-Rite Electrical for only $280.

Significant rust found ! Recently discovered rust formulating in the interior of the microwave. The microwave is out of warranty by two months of the two year warranty period. I’ve contacted the Lg customer services department and have had a reply requesting more information and there response with regard to the rusting issue as follows - … Read more

“Humidity and Steam: High moisture levels from cooking can accelerate rust formation. - Food Spills and Residue: Leftover food particles and liquids can trap moisture, leading to corrosion. - Lack of Cleaning: Regular maintenance helps prevent rust by removing moisture and food debris. Also note that the Customer Service department have asked whether the oven is still heating.

As many other consumers who have posted about this product., I’m concerned about the potential safety outcomes of further use.

I will update this review when I get a reply back from the Customer Service department with their final decision having read other reviews regarding rust on this product , I don’t hold out much hope of a positive resolution with LG .

To update LG as suspected failed to give a positive resolution, and have ceased email communication, my customer service experience has been appalling, I contacted the OFT for there assistance of which to my knowledge LG ignored their communication.

I hope this review is helpful to other consumers and that they might think twice before buying LG products, I will certainly never buy anything from LG again.

This Microwave Oven completely rusted out at 3 years old. As you can see in the photos it's rusted all over. My previous microwave lasted 24 years before it failed with an electrical fault. Don't see why this one should rust so quickly. I contacted LG support about the issue. They saw the photos and agreed it was rusted. They asked what I… Read more

was heating in the microwave and what was the 'moisture content' of the food. They then said it was caused by improper use by the customer due to heating up food that was too wet. I only said I was heating up leftovers. When I asked to speak to a manager, they changed their story and want me to drop it off to a repair centre for inspection when they already know what the fault is.

They not only have a faulty product, but their policy is also to lie to customers on the first instance, and then to make it as difficult as possible to get a faulty item replaced. A good company would just offer a replacement or refund.

Purchased this microwave from JBI Hi Fi in July 2022. Rust started appearing a year ago but was mild. Now the interior surface has bubbled and rust on the door surface. LG states it maybe a manufacturing fault and to take it to a LG service provider… Read more

to be assessed. All White Goods at Wetherell Park, who say I must pay $70 up front for a report.I believe it is obvious a faulty interior surface and the unit needs to be replaced. LG is not interested and have been sent in circles

I purchased my LG 25litre microve in September last year, so it's not even l year old. Although the time shows on the outside panel and it can heat, when l open the door (which one has to do to avail ones self access to the functions) none of the… Read more

functions are working, it's like it's dead. I informed Appliances On Line of this and today l had a call from LG service centre. I was on the phone for 15minutes explaining and all l got from him was that l should take it to a service centre in Wetherill Park, which happens to be FIFTY FOUR KMS from where l live. When l explained that l'm an 86yr old woman who walks with a stick, he said that's okay, you can courier it in!!! So l'm expected to pay for a 54 km courier to their warehouse and another 54km back. Are they insane, that would probably cost more than the microwave. OMG l've just read LG reviews here and they are so negative that l wish l'd read them before purchasing this microwave. It replaced my last microwave which was fantastic for 10 years. This microwave is still under guarantee and l cannot get it fixed. I've emailed AOL with my grievance and l'm waiting on their response. I have purchased every main and small appliances from them and they have been fantastic, so l'm hoping for good news. When l told the person from LG, that l was gonna leave a review, l had no response, so l ended the call. His answer was to send me a text with the address in Wetherill Park. Disgusting attitude and l'll NEVER buy anything from LG. The photo shows the door open with the time but ALL those functions do not work‍‍♀️

Don't waste your money. We bought an LG magnetron microwave 2 years ago, now has a significant rust spot (which means it can't be safely used) and LG service said "it's not a manufacturing issue". Were going back to sharp microwaves which I've had for close to 10 years previously without problem. I won't buy an LG product again. Show details

Don’t expect it to last much beyond the manufacturer’s warranty and don’t bother chasing it up – I purchased the LG Neochef 42L smart inverter microwave oven from Bing Lee Bankstown in October 2021, with two years warranty. In January 2025 I was cleaning the microwave when I noticed that the paint underneath the turntable had bubbled up and a rust spot was present. This defect meant that the microwave was no longer safe to use. I contacted… Read more

LG and spoke to a resolutions team member. After discussing the issue he told me that he does not know how the defect may have occurred, “Maybe food got caught under the turntable”. I told him if that was the case why is the defect confined to only one spot? Would it not have dragged along and created a circle of rust? I also told him that I was not happy with his response and I will be going to Fair Trading. His reply was that the microwave was out of warranty and I can do whatever I like. I contacted fair trading and was advised to go back to the seller, Bing Lee Bankstown which I did. I was attended to by a gentleman whose name I cannot recall. He advised me to contact LG. When I told him that Fair Trading advised me to go back to the store where I purchased the microwave he offered to take photos of the defect and send them to LG and he added that the microwave is now out of warranty and he cannot do anything about it. I emailed LG customer support Australia, Fair Trading also attempted to contact LG customer support but it seems we both have been ghosted by LG Electronics. I will never waste my money on an LG product again and I would think twice about purchasing from Bing Lee Bankstown.

Beware of faulty microwave ovens – BUYER BEWARE. I bought this microwave from Harvey Norman just over 2 years ago because of the raving positive reviews and reputation. Unfortunately it has started to decline - making loud buzzing sounds and won’t heat food. Called LG and because it’s over 2 years old I have to pay out of pocket to fix it. Called the repair company with an estimate… Read more

of $300 plus to fix it. $70 initial cost just to diagnose the problem. I paid $300 for the microwave - which is a fair expense. For it only to last 2 years is disappointing. I expected more being an LG loyal customer and user. Won’t be purchasing LG products again moving forward.