Microwave Oven Buying Guide

One of the first things you’ll need to decide is where you want to keep it. Many keep one on a work top in the kitchen. As an alternative they can be wall-mounted or kept on a shelf. A further option is to have your oven built in. Having a built in microwave will be more costly and require some wider considerations. On the plus side a built-in microwave can look very professional and complement other appliances. You also don’t lose worktop space.

The next consideration is the type of oven.
In total there are three types of oven.
Basic ovens. These are the most common. This category is will be very capable of performing straightforward cooking tasks including re-heating soups and meals, and cooking vegetables and TV meals. They are easily moved around as you wish and are particularly popular with smaller households – especially students single persons, young couples and the elderly. Often a turn-table is included. This can ensure that the food is cooked evenly and thoroughly.
Combination ovens – Combination microwaves are now more prevalent. They are able to use microwaves and ordinary heat convection at the same time, and in the same place. You would be able to determine whether you wanted to cook by either conventional heating or microwaving on its own – or indeed to use them together if you wished. Some models have extra features, such as fan assisted ovens, grills, or automatic controls to determine the sequence of microwave and conventional cooking.
Grill microwaves – These have a heating element that works alongside the normal microwave cooking, which browns food and gives it a more attractive texture and appearance. They have a rack to bring the food closer to the grilling element.
Sizes
Allow enough space around the microwave to get air to vents and open the door fully. Do think carefully about the maximum number of people it will need to cater for. Something often overlooked is to think about is the size of dishes that you want to use in it. Make sure that they will fit.
Power
The more powerful the oven is, the faster it will cook. You can determine the power by the wattage of the appliance. The watts for each oven type can vary from around 500 to over 1550. With a few quality microwaves you can adjust the powert to take account of the meal you’re cooking. In Europe, energy ratings are applied – ranging from E down to A. Most are rated E, roughly 741W to 800 W.
Design issues
There are a range of styles, so you should find something you like. White, silver and black are the colours that are most in demand. Most have doors that have push button opening. Others have a door with a handle. A small number have op-hinged doors – these are more compact.

Controls
The majority have digital displays, with a key pad. These allow you to press a button for common functions and also any automatic settings for cookings pizzas, jacket potatoes, etc.

Functions
A range of these may be included:
* Auto reheat -this allows the inputting of the type and weight of food. The microwave will then work out how long is required.
* Auto defrost – very similar, calculating how long is necessary automatically.
* A steamer. This is not that easy to use intially but, as it cooks vegetables quickly and healthily, is a great asset.
* Crisper – in addition to a grill microwave being ideal to brown the top of a pizza, some models have a crisper which enables you to crisp their bases. This can work well with bacon as well.