A microwave oven is one of the most crucial appliances in the kitchen today. From heating, grilling, baking, and poaching eggs, to toasting nuts; this multi-purpose utility appliance is perfect for cooking recipes and food items of your choice. Gone are the days when owning a microwave oven was considered a luxury, but now it has become more of a necessity. Around 70 per cent of households today have microwaves and work as a reliable option to make the cooking process much easier and richer!
This microwave oven buying guide will explain what you need to consider and keep in mind when selecting a microwave oven:
Types of the Microwave Oven
The type of microwave oven is majorly influenced by factors like the usage and kitchen design layout. You can select from the microwave model that can make an apt choice for your newly remodeled kitchen or the one that fits well in your existing kitchen space as per size and type!
Solo Microwave Oven
Solo microwave ovens are the basic or entry-level variants in oven selection categories. These are ideal for fulfilling basic tasks like reheating and defrosting food items and can not be used for grilling and baking purposes. Compared to grill or convection ovens, solo ovens are less expensive and can be selected from the price range of Rs.4000-9000.
Grill Microwave Oven
A grill microwave oven includes the same functions like the solo microwave ones. But, the only additional feature in the grill oven is that you can grill roast the veggies and meat. It is ideal for someone who wants a microwave for reheating and grilling the food and not for baking purposes.
Convection Microwave Oven
A convection microwave oven includes a heating element with heat waves and a fan that circulates hot air for cooking and baking food. Simply put, a convection microwave oven includes a fan that uniformly distributes heat waves and allows you to bake the food perfectly. It is an ideal oven choice for baking cakes, muffins, pizzas, and more. The handy feature of grilling and baking the food separately or simultaneously is what makes the convection oven the most versatile choice!
Ideal Capacity Of Microwave Oven
Once you have a fair idea about what type of oven you need, the next thing is to consider the ideal capacity of the oven suitable for your requirements. Majorly, the oven manufacturers feature the microwave oven’s volume in litres which includes the interior space of the oven cavity. The volume mentioned could be different as the sizable portion of the oven is not usable.
Ideally, the longest cylindrical vessel or object that can revolve inside the oven while the turntable is kept off is the maximum capacity the oven is capable of holding. The microwave capacity depends on the number of house occupants and how frequently you will use the oven.
|
Size of Family |
Microwave Type |
Ideal Capacity |
Price Range |
|
2-4 Members |
Solo Microwave Oven |
15-20 Ltr |
Rs 5,000- 7000 |
|
2-4 Members |
Grill or Convection Oven |
21 to 30 Ltr |
Rs 7,000 to 10,000 |
|
4-6 Members |
Solo Microwave Oven |
25 to 30 Ltr |
Rs 5,000 to 7,500 |
|
4-6 Members |
Grill or Convection Oven |
32 Ltr & Above |
Rs 12,000 to Rs 18,000 |
Prime Features of Microwave Oven
Microwave ovens are equipped with attractive and useful features that make the cooking experience truly enjoyable. Here are some of the popular features you should check for microwave ovens:
Auto Cook
The auto cook feature in the microwave allows you to cook the choice of your dish pretty easily. Simply select the meal you want to cook and the oven will automatically set the power wattage and cooking time based on the weight of the object and cooking mode chosen for the same. For example, to make popcorn, you need to select the popcorn button or for preparing muffins, you can select the baking mode!
Preheat
For baking recipes, the microwave oven must have a chosen temperature before you start cooking or baking the ingredients. For example, for baking a cake or pizza, you need to preheat the oven to a certain temperature to prepare the dish at the right heat. That’s why before making the selection, check the preheating time range for the microwave oven.
Defrost
This feature of the microwave oven allows you to warm the frozen food pretty quickly. You can defrost the vegetables, meats, and even leftover food without having to wait for the same to reach room temperature. The defrost option in the microwave is very handy for cooking frozen food too!
Interior Build Material
The spills and stains are a common occurrence when cooking, baking or heating the food in the microwave oven. That’s why it is important to clean the microwave from the inside after a few uses. It is best to opt for the microwave with a ceramic interior which makes it an easy-to-clean option and does not have scratches or discoloration issues too.
Child Lock
Microwave ovens with a child lock facility are useful for families with children at home. The feature allows you to lock the touchpad and disables the functionality of the oven whenever required. It is a useful feature to avoid mishaps like kids sticking their hands inside the hot microwave or playing around with the microwave settings.
Touch Panels
Depending on the price range, microwave oven models feature different types of control panels, mainly the mechanical, tact dial, and the feature touch ones. Mechanical and tact dial panels are mostly seen in cost-friendly oven models and are very easy to use. Whereas feather touch buttons feature a sleek design (similar to the touch-screen of smartphones) and are mostly added to the high-end microwave models.
Microwave Accessories
You can select from a variety of accessories like microwave-safe cutlery, bowls, cookware, containers, rotisserie bars, stands, gloves, etc. as per your needs and requirements. Invest in a cover to keep the microwave stain and dust-free.
Conclusion
Buying a microwave requires consideration and should match your needs, budget and specific preferences. Prioritize the specific features like oven capacity, automatic shut-off, child safety lock, etc. to make an informed decision. Ensure to compare the prices of different brands and models and read reviews before making the final purchase.
Frikly offers the finest range of microwave ovens from reputed brands like LG, Crompton, IFB, Whirlpool, Godrej, and more at unbelievable prices. Explore the microwave oven choices now and upgrade your cooking experience!
Also Read: Gas Stove Vs Built-In Hobs - Which One Is The Best?
