The R-890BKF Microwave Oven from Sharp Corp. - inverter power with flatbed convenience

Reviewed: ad hoc news Lifestyle & Consumer desk. Edited and checked on 2026-06-26, 14:50. Details in the imprint.

The R-890BKF Microwave Oven from Sharp Corp. sits quietly on the counter, its black glass door reflecting the evening light while a tray of lasagne heats up without a rotating plate clunking underneath. The flatbed cavity feels instantly more spacious than older turntable models. You notice the smooth hum of the inverter power rather than the harsh on-off buzz of simpler ovens.

What the R-890BKF offers

Sharp positions the R-890BKF as a 28-litre combination microwave with grill and convection functions aimed at everyday family cooking rather than showpiece gourmet work. According to Sharp’s UK product listing, it delivers 900 watts of microwave power and 2,500 watts of convection heat in a compact benchtop format. The official product page details these core specifications.

Instead of a glass turntable, the R-890BKF uses a flatbed design that allows you to slide a rectangular baking dish straight in without fighting the circular footprint. The absence of a rotating plate also means fewer rattles and clinks when cutlery or uneven bowls scrape over the surface during heating.

How inverter and flatbed change use

The inverter technology in the R-890BKF delivers continuous power at variable levels, which typically results in more even heating compared with traditional microwaves that cycle full power on and off. Sharp highlights that this can reduce overcooked edges and cold spots, particularly for defrosting meat or reheating layered dishes. Sharp’s technology overview explains how its inverter system modulates output.

In daily use, that shows up when you pull out a bowl of soup and find the centre hot without a boiling ring forming at the outside, or when a frozen chicken breast softens throughout rather than staying icy at the core. Users in UK retailer reviews often mention more consistent results on defrost programs compared with older Sharp turntable units. A Currys listing summarises typical customer ratings and usage patterns.

The controls and everyday feel

On the front panel, the R-890BKF uses a mix of touch buttons and a simple dial, framed by a blue LED display that remains readable even from the side of the kitchen. The control layout is tidy enough that after a day or two you remember where the grill-combi and convection keys sit without searching. The door opens with a conventional handle rather than a push-button, which many users find more robust over time.

Sharp’s European product manager, often cited as David Law in consumer marketing materials, keeps stressing that the flatbed floor simplifies cleaning because you can wipe spills in one motion. In practice, a damp cloth glides over the ceramic base, with no central spindle or wheels to lift out when sauce has boiled over.

Cooking programs and limitations

The R-890BKF offers auto menus for pizza, baked potatoes, cakes and meat, using weight or time presets that aim to shorten the learning curve for owners upgrading from simpler microwave-only boxes. For a Friday evening pizza, you can rely on the combined grill and convection setting to crisp the top while keeping the base reasonably soft, without juggling separate timers on an oven and grill.

Still, the 28-litre cavity and 900-watt microwave rating place this model firmly in the mid-range. Large families wanting to roast bigger joints or batch-bake bread may find the space tight and the single-level rack limiting compared with a full-size oven. The black finish also shows fingerprints quickly if you open the door with wet hands.

Where it is sold and at what price

In Europe, the R-890BKF is listed primarily through UK and Irish retail channels rather than through German distribution, with prices around 199 to 229 pounds depending on promotions. The official Sharp UK site treats it as part of the brand’s flatbed microwave series aimed at mainstream households rather than professional kitchens.

German consumers sometimes encounter similar Sharp flatbed models via online marketplaces, but the exact R-890BKF SKU remains most clearly documented in English-language materials. That makes the UK as well as other selected European markets the primary reference points for verified pricing and availability.

Company context and share reference

Sharp Corp. has been developing microwaves since the 1960s and still uses the category as a visible showcase for its home-appliance design around inverter electronics and cavity ergonomics. The R-890BKF continues this lineage as a mid-range combination model rather than a flagship, sitting below larger capacity units but above simple solo ovens.

Sharp Corp. shares (ISIN JP3359600008) trade on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, where investors watch the company’s broad mix of consumer appliances, display technology and electronic components rather than any single microwave model when assessing the Sharp Corp. share price.

This article was AI-assisted and editorially reviewed. Product information without guarantee; prices and availability may change at short notice. No investment advice, no buy or sell recommendation. Stock-market transactions involve risks up to total loss.