MAHWAH, NJ, April 11, 2008 -- Sharp expands its popular Microwave Drawer^® appliance line with the Insight Pro^® Cooktop+Microwave Drawer^® oven, a one-of-a-kind unit that combines the world’s first Microwave Drawer oven with a smooth glass ceramic cooktop for a stylish and convenient cooking solution. The Microwave Drawer oven is currently also available in Insight^® and Insight Pro Ranges and as 24- and 30-inch standalone units.

Whether designing a kitchen in a new home, remodeling a kitchen or replacing a microwave, this 30-inch-wide combination offers a variety of options to suit consumers’ design needs. The built-in ready Insight Pro Cooktop+Microwave Drawer oven, available in stainless steel (model KB-5121KS), black (model KB-5121KK) and white (model KB-5121KW) finishes, offers consumers an all-in-one complement to a wall oven.

“The Microwave Drawer oven is the latest in Sharp’s long history of cooking innovations, and when paired with a cooktop, provides tremendous functionality with a small footprint for the design-conscious consumer,” said Christine Lewis, associate vice president of marketing, appliances, Sharp Electronics Marketing Company of America. “The kitchen has become a hub for family activities and the Cooktop+Microwave Drawer solution offers consumers a practical and stylish design that maximizes usable counter space.”

Sharp’s 1000-watt Microwave Drawer oven elegantly addresses the question of microwave placement and is ideal for open-plan kitchens, islands and tight spaces. Located at a convenient height, the drawer brings ease to the cooking process, opening automatically with a touch of the control panel, and is large enough to hold a 9-inch by 13-inch oblong dish. Easy reach-in access eliminates the need to remove dishes from the microwave when stirring or checking food, and the large viewing window and integrated handle lend a state-of-the-art appearance. The Microwave Drawer oven incorporates Sharp’s sensor technology for superior microwave cooking and reheating results, and its smooth floor enables easy clean-up.

The Cooktop+Microwave Drawer design features front-mounted angled and lighted glass touch-screen controls that are readily accessible, easy to use and easy to clean. It uses Sharp’s LCD touch-screen technology, which simplifies the cooking process with step-by-step instructions and helpful tips. Automatic cooking options for 36 food categories and defrost and reheat options for six food categories eliminate guesswork, and a selection of 16 delicious recipes can be followed step-by-step on the unit’s touch screen. The Microwave Drawer oven has a “Keep Warm” function that holds foods for up to 30 minutes, creating a warming drawer inside the microwave.

The unit’s electric cooktop features infinite heat controlled by easy-to-use knobs and has one dual-use 6- or 9-inch ribbon heating element, one 8-inch and two 6-inch ribbon heating elements. A warming zone located in the rear of the cooktop enables easy meal coordination when preparing multiple dishes.

Pricing and availability:

• Model KB-5121KS is available now in stainless steel for a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $1,799.99.
• Model KB-5121KW is available now in white for an MSRP of $1,749.99.
• Model KB-5121KK is available now in black for an MSRP of $1,689.99.

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