Microwave oven is become an essential part in our kitchen. In Western countries, most of kitchen has a microwave oven. In India especially women are started preferring oven for their kitchen and microwave oven buying guide is become necessity. It is a very helpful appliance to support their daily cooking schedule. It is used to preheat, grill and bake food. Microwave oven are helpful in cooking wide range of food like popcorn , chicken grill , pizza, any type of curry, muffin, cake etc. Those who have no experience in cooking them also cook delicious food by help of preset menu. You can cook food without using gas and even you can with less oil. You will able to cook food in less time and kitchen would not get dirty, due to none using of gas stove.
So if want to cook in less time in small area and to protect kitchen to get dirty, then go for Microwave oven. Here, I am sharing some tips and guide on Microwave oven which will help you to buy Microwave oven. So be patient and keep reading this article till the end to get knowledge of microwave oven purchase guide.
Table of Contents
Microwave Oven technology
Microwaves are electromagnetic radiations. It is a combination of electrical and magnetic waves. Microwave wavelengths ranges from one millimeter to one meter. These waves are generated inside the oven by electron tube and that part is called Magnetron. That’s why Magnetron is core components of microwave oven. When you turn on the microwave this Magnetron releases microwaves inside the oven compartment. Microwaves have specific property due to which water molecules in the food vibrate and generate the heat. This is the microwave oven principle and the way food is cooked in microwave. That is why, it is difficult to cook completely dry items in the microwave oven. So this the important information on microwave oven buying guide.
Different Types of Microwave Oven
Before get in deep of microwave oven buying guide, in the type of microwave oven, straightly speaking there is two type of microwave oven in the market, one is conventional mode and another one is convection mode. Further conventional mode divided into two category- Solo oven and Grill oven.
The conventional microwave oven works on the principle of microwaves penetrating through plastic or glass containers to cook food. There are two types of conventional microwave ovens, the solo oven and the grille oven.
The solo microwave oven is useful for reheating food and cooking specific simple recipes. The grille microwave oven is an improvement on the solo oven by having some additional features.
The working process of convectional microwave oven on two technologies simultaneously. You will find an additional heating technology in these convection microwave ovens. This technology is a combination of microwaves and radiation from intense light from a quartz halogen bulb. This enables faster cooking and adds taste to your food as well.
The convection microwave ovens have a fan at the backside of the oven that helps in circulating the hot air. This speeds up the cooking and can help in making the food testier.This type of oven uses multiple technologies to heat food. Naturally, they are more expensive than the conventional microwave ovens.
The differences among Solo, Grill and Convection are—
Solo | Grill | Conv. | |
Food Prep time | More | Mod | Less |
Pre Heat Time | About 15min | About 15min | About 15min |
Power Cons mpt. | Low | Low | High |
Auto Cook | No | No | Yes |
Ease Of Use | Difficult Manual Control | Difficult Manual Control | Easy With LCD display |
Use | Reheat Cooking Simple recipes | Reheat Cooking Grilling | Reheat Cooking Grilling Baking |
See the difference by the point of view of food preparation—
| Food to cook | Solo | Grill | Convection |
| Re-heat food | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Milk, Tea, Coffee | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rice, Noodles, Pasta | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pop-Corn | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Grill Paneer | NA | Yes | Yes |
| Kebabs | NA | Yes | Yes |
| Grilled Items | NA | Yes | Yes |
| Tandoori Chicken | NA | Yes | Yes |
| Brownies | NA | NA | Yes |
| Cakes & Breads | NA | NA | Yes |
| Pizza | NA | NA | Yes |
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Size and Power of Microwave Oven
The capacity of Microwave oven depends on family size and usages. The capacity of Microwave oven is measured in liters.
See the chart of capacity of Microwave oven size guide accordingly family size—-
Family size | Solo Microwave Oven | Grill Microwave Oven or |
(2 to 4 members) | 15 to 20 Liters | 21 to 30 Liters |
(4 to 6 members) | 25 to 30 Liters | 32 Liters and above |
Microwave oven power depends on size or capacity of microwave oven. If the size of oven is more then you need to buy high power oven to cook the food quickly and evenly.
If you are using small or compact size (means oven can hold one dinner plate), then you need to have microwave oven which having power range from 500 watts to 800 watts. If you are using mid size oven then need to have microwave oven power ranges between 800 watts to 1000watts. If you are using full size oven then need to choose microwave oven power range between 1000 watts to 1600watts. One thing don’t forget that low power means more cooking time and high power means less cooking time.
Different Style of Microwave Oven
Depends on Microwave Oven placement, there are three types of Microwave Oven in the market. They are divided on behalf of their fitting (location) in kitchen. They are as follows–
As the name suggests, these countertop microwave ovens are portable and you can place them anywhere in kitchen and start cooking.
These ovens able to do many functions such as thawing of frozen food, reheating food, make popcorns, and similar cooking tasks. In Normal case, you will find these counter ovens in sizes of 18inches (width) X 14 inches (depth) X 12 inches (height).
There is a disadvantage that these ovens occupy lot of space in the kitchen. So if your kitchen platform is small, then you will feel uncomfortable to do your daily schedule in kitchen.
To give alternate solution of the demerit of countertop microwave oven, company has launch new technology. The “above-range microwave ovens” are the perfect options for this solution.
This is a comparatively new type of oven in India, but they have made their presence in other countries, like USA, UK in the world.
Do Situated above the cooking area or platform, these units have multispeed fans that recirculates air using charcoal filters. There is no need to provide external ventilation. In some of the latest models having automatic exhaust fans and that switch on when the microwave oven becomes hot.
These microwave ovens occupy space above your cooking area or platform. So, you might have to remove one or two cabinet to make space for these ovens. Don’t try to install yourself or any local technician, only these ovens need to be installed by professionals.
These microwave ovens start to capture market and formed a good presence in some of Indian modular kitchen as well because of their fitting look.
Drawer style microwave oven is a comparatively new idea or technology to the microwave oven market and started have presence in international market. We have seen this Microwave oven hardly in India. These microwave ovens are working in same technology similar to the other two ovens described above.
They have a specific advantage to the counter-top ovens because they do not occupy space on the counters. Even they are installed inside the drawer and below the counter top. So they have another advantage is easy to operate than “above range microwave oven”.
You need professional to install this oven inside drawer.
Microwave Oven features
The features in microwave oven buying guide you need to know before you buy any Microwave oven are mention below. Now a days you will get many modern features in Microwave oven. Which help us to operate the microwave oven easily.
This feature has some preset programs and by using you can prepare recipes instantly. All you have to do is to select the type of dish and the weight.The time required to cook dishes will automatically calculate and set the power accordingly.
If you have children at home, you will be very careful about you electric and other appliances. Because children by nature are inquisitive and they are very enthusiastic about new things. They just do what you prohibit them to do. Hence, microwave ovens come with a child lock facility to protect your children from unnecessary accidents.
People are who like to have non-vegetarian food would love this feature in their microwave ovens. The Rotisserie is use for barbecuing meat, poultry, paneer, and vegetables. It a special grilling accessory and it is having steel bar. It’s rotate on help of motor inside microwave oven and perfectly grilling the chicken, mutton, paneer etc. This technology comes with few microwave oven and the price of this microwave oven is high compare to other oven.
Microwave oven is having power button/knob to change the power setting in respectively cooking option. If you want to cook more food for more people then you have to select high power. If want to cook food for less people then you need to have less power.
This feature allows you to unfreeze the food without waiting for the frozen food to thaw. To use this feature just input the weight of the food and start the process. You can also set up the defrosting option manually depending on the weight of the food.
Some foods like cake and pastries take a lot of time to cook. This will lead the oven consume a lot of time and power. These types of foods require you to pre-heat the oven to a fixed temperature before you start baking them.
If you have busy schedule and you are working multiple task in same time, then you require this type feature to control all task perfectly. By selecting right weight of food to cook, you can set the timer. After that you can continue other work without any tension that that your food will cook over or less.
There are three types of control panels in microwave ovens in India. They are as follows—
- Mechanical- In this panel you will get manual knob to operate. It is durable and suitable for rough use. But it has fewer options/features.
- Tactile Buttons-This panel has little bit advance features compare to Mechanical panel. Instead of knob it has button to control both temperature and time. It also supports jog-wheel controls.
- Feather Touch-It is a touchscreen panel like mobile phone that has a stylish design. This panel can sensor your finger and this panel is easy to use and easy to clean. You can set accurate setting in this panel.
Microwave hazard and safety
- Don’t put metal or unsupported utensil inside the microwave oven.
- Use only microwave grade save plastic to cook.
- Make sure the glass utensils are microwave supported.
- Don’t put egg or any tight packet food or bottle inside microwave oven.
- Use microwave oven gloves while you are taking out cooked food from microwave oven.
- Inside microwave oven might be very hot.
Difference between a traditional oven and a microwave oven
For a long time human society have the habit of using traditional oven. The traditional ovens work on the principle of conduction of heat. Heat passes through the food and then cooked. The taste of food, cooked in traditional oven is better than microwave oven. Because it is using wood to warm oven. This oven is made by clay and stone. So it is completely natural.
Now a day we are using microwave oven instead of traditional oven. It’s very to see traditional oven in home, but in some bakery and restaurant using traditional oven still. The microwave oven works on the principal of the radio waves penetrate the food and excite the water and fat molecules evenly throughout the food.
The advantage of this oven is the size and compactness of the item. You can carry anywhere easily and cook any place, but it needs only electricity. It is easy to use, can keep hygiene, occupy less space and enhance the look of kitchen.
Conclude
As of now, you have got the complete idea on microwave oven by reading this microwave oven buying guide. You can go for other article on like “best conviction microwave oven in India”, best OTG oven in India”, “best solo microwave in India” etc.
Youtube Review of Microwave Oven Buying Guide
FAQs
No, you cannot use it as a tabletop model as built-In microwave should be built into a cabinet as the sides are exposed without any paneling. Therefore, the exposed sides of the microwave will be very hot when used. The same applies to tabletop model as it cannot be used as a built-In model.
No need to preheat the microwave if you are just using it for reheating purposes. You only need to preheat the microwave if you are doing convection cooking.
We have one model (EMS3087X) that comes with the convection function. When the appropriate temperature has been reached, the beep will sound twice and the temperature set will flash on the electronic LED screen to remind you to place the food into the microwave.
You don’t preheat a microwave. Microwave ovens cook by agitating water molecule in the food, essentially steaming it. Traditional ovens need to be preheated because they cook food by maintaining an internal temperature that surrounds the food with heat.
A microwave oven consists of:
- a high-voltage simple transformer or an electronic power converter, which passes energy to the magnetron
- a high-voltage capacitor which is connected to the magnetron, transformer and via a diode to the chassis
- a cavity magnetron and it converts high-voltage electric energy to microwave radiation
- a magnetron control circuit
- a short waveguide which is use to couple microwave power from the magnetron into the cooking chamber
- a metal cooking chamber
- a turntable and/or metal wave guide stirring fan.
- a control panel
Yes you can preheat.
Why Do We Need A Turntable In Microwaves? The turntable rotates the food to cook it uniformly, thereby reducing the effect of the hot and cold spots created by the interference of microwaves.
It’s not dangerous.
Yes, you can repair if the pre-cost is minimal.
To reset, just press the power button or remove the power plug from switch board. After that wait for a while and on it again.
If your microwave oven is not turning on and the display is blank, the problem may be the ceramic fuse. If the fuse failed for no apparent reason, check the major components such as the magnetron, high voltage diode, capacitor and transformer, and associated wire terminals, before changing the fuse.
Good, the higher the wattage, the faster the cooking time.
1,000 watt microwave will cook quickly and efficiently. Microwaves with 700 watts or less are slower and may not cook efficiently. Means, the higher the wattage, the faster the cooking time.
Yes, you can cook. If the both items contain the same food and they are of the same size, the food should be equally warm in them.
The micro-waves emitted from a micro wave heat the water molecules inside the food item you place inside. They use convective heat to cook foods evenly through regardless of shape.
It depends on uses and input voltage stability for long time.
Just keep your mobile inside the microwave oven, but before that switch off the power and close the microwave door. After that try to call that mobile number from another mobile outside of microwave oven. If it is not ringing or network signal bar is almost invisible, then you will become to know that microwave is not leaking.
Please go through the above topic.
It will not affect, if the microwave is not leaked.
Yes, you can stand, if the microwave is not leaked.
Yes, It is dangerous. The microwave radiation is bad for health.
Please go through the above topic.
Yes, you can use specific microwave oven which is designed for cabinet. But counter top microwave oven is not suitable for that.
Please go through the above topic.
Some sign of fatal in microwave is mention below–
- Smoke, sparks and burning smells.
- Food isn’t cooking properly.
- It makes horrible sounds as it cooks.
- The door doesn’t seal properly.
- The keypad doesn’t function.
- It’s over 10 years old.
The leaking of microwave will create high levels of heat . This is most dangerous to the eye (where it can lead to cataracts) and the testes (where it can cause temporary sterility). Even, extreme levels of microwave radiation can cause skin burns.
You shouldn’t use a rusted microwave. You would not eat food from a rusty will, because it is inherently dangerous. Rust on the surface of the microwave is not a difficulty, unless it fare its approach through to the inside cavity, that causes microwave arcing injury and permits radiation to flee the appliance.
Both microwave ovens and Wi-Fi operate on the same 2.4 GHz frequency. In theory, a properly shielded microwave shouldn’t leak any radiation, but the reality is that they leak quite a bit, which interference with WiFi.
Microwave ovens use the same 2.4 Ghz frequency as Wi-Fi routers and can disrupt or even shut down your internet connection.
It may cause effect to your body or may be cause of cancer, if it is leaked.
The taste and texture of the food becomes different.
Yes. It is safe.
Yes, it kills germs.
Yes, just two minutes of microwaving is sufficient for most sterilization. Researchers have found that kitchen sponges and plastic scrubbers known to be common carriers of the bacteria and viruses that cause food-borne illnesses –can sterilize them rapidly and effectively.
- Foil paper
- Metal utensil
- Whole egg
- Plastic
- Cloths and paper
- Sealed container or bottle
- Any utensil which is not marked as microwave cooked trademark.
Add one tablespoon of white vinegar in bowl of water. After that switch ON the microwave for five minutes. This process will steam up the walls of the microwave and loosen the dried-on junk. Then, carefully remove the glass container and wipe down the inside of the microwave with a clean rag or paper towel.
Add one tablespoon of white vinegar in bowl of water. After that switch ON the microwave for five minutes. This process will steam up the walls of the microwave and loosen the dried-on junk. Then, carefully remove the glass container and wipe down the inside of the microwave with a clean rag or paper towel.
On to the inside of the microwave, your food could make contact with the bad bugs, triggering a bout of food poisoning or the stomach flu.
You can use glass cleaner to clean the surface of the microwave oven, but never use chemical inside. The chemical residue will remain and you smell funky, whatever you make after that. For ease of maintenance tip, clean your microwave frequently.
It depends on uses. If you are using lot, then clean it twice in a week or else one in a month.
First mix 1 cup water and lemon or orange slices into a microwave-safe bowl. After that keep it inside the microwave and turn it on high power for approx 5 minutes until the mixture boils and the window steams up. Then wipe the interior with dry cloths.
Does a dirty oven affect temperature?
Lots of dirt and grease will lead to blockage of passes of microwave signal and effect the efficiency of microwave signal.