Introduction to Buying a Microwave Oven
This high speed cooking device has changed the way we cook food forever. It has spawned a whole new industry around ready meals and has left the ever time precious individual with many more hours for the week. The Microwave is effectively a way of cooking food at high speed by delivering microwaves. There are a few things to consider before buying a microwave and be wary not to simply buy a cheap microwave as it may not meet your requirements. You will need to understand how you will use the microwave and this will help you decide on the power output required and the size of the model. Finally thinking about where you put your microwave oven and the style that meets your personal requirements will be important as manufacturers produce a wide range of models to choose from.

Top

Microwave Size
The size of the microwave oven usually ranges from the smallest at around 0.5 cubic foot to the larger models at 2 cubic foot. Often you will see size also in litres; 1 cubic foot is equal to around 28.31 liter as a guide. If you are an individual that only wants to heat up ready meals then going for a smaller model will be cheaper but also use less space in your kitchen. However, if you have a large family and intend to cook a larger range of meals then look for something larger than 1.5 cubic foot.

Top

Microwave Power
The power of a microwave oven is measured in watts and usually ranges from around 400w to 1200w for the top end products. Basically the more power you have the quicker you can cook things but remember that this will also affect cost and in many cases you are talking about the difference of a few seconds in cooking time. However larger meals and high demands can make a more powerful oven a must have.

Top

Microwave Oven Type
It became apparent very quickly that one downside of using a microwave oven was that it didn�t brown food in the same way that a traditional oven does. A couple of modifications devised by manufacturers have helped solve this problem. Microwaves that have a convection function are able to circulate the air whilst cooking to create a browning effect on the food. Another popular device is a grill which provides the same effect as a conventional grill in browning food and providing a crispier finish. Combination microwave ovens have become increasingly popular as costs have gone down and consumers want the flexibility of all these methods when cooking.
The other key consideration here is whether to go for a stand alone microwave or work top microwave that is a freestanding version that can be placed anywhere or the fitted built-in microwave that is designed to match your fitted kitchen. Another term you may so is over the range microwave which is a reference to the models that are placed up above the main cookers.

Top

Microwave Style and Design
This is an area that hasn�t moved on too dramatically over the years. A Microwave is still essentially a basic box design. The main area of development here is with more sophisticated digitally enhanced displays and smarter finishes such as the metallic, silver or black microwave models that have become popular in the modern kitchen.

Top

Additional Features
Many features have become common on most microwaves such as defrosting capabilities for speeding up the defrosting of food. More advanced models now actually calculate how long you will need to cook food for. You can still choose between the two classic control types of dial and electronic although electronic has become far more popular. A useful feature that reflects how powerful these machines are is that you can find many models with a child lock function for additional safety.

Top

Microwave Accessories
These are somewhat limited to bowls, dishes and other useful food storage devices that are compatible with microwaves. You can't put metal into microwaves so need glass, plastic and china that is appropriate for use in a microwave.
Microwave Utensils, Microwave dishes, Microwave plates, Microwave locks, Microwave accessories

Top