Microwave Oven Buying Guide
Buying a microwave oven is an important step in completing the kitchen. The simple fact is that a modern kitchen cannot be without a microwave oven. You may not be a big fan of microwave cooking but still you cannot deny the fact that a microwave oven is a must have for quickly re-heating food in our busy daily life. Its importance is equivalent to a refrigerator that's essential to preserve the food when cooking 3 fresh meals a day is impossible. Therefore buying a microwave is not an option it's a necessity. But before you even think of buying a microwave oven, let’s help you understand the fundamentals of what microwave oven is and how it functions. Basics of a Microwave Oven A Microwave Oven is a kitchen appliance that cooks food by passing electromagnetic waves through it. These electromagnetic waves are called as microwaves and that’s where the apparatus derives its name from. When the non-ionizing microwave radiations pass through the food at a frequency of 2.45GHz, many molecules of food and water try to align themselves with the alternating electric field of the microwaves. This twisting and turning motion of molecules generates heat due to friction. And as molecules collide against each other they exchange heat leading to even heating of the food. That’s the mantra behind microwave cooking. This also explains why only food gets heated in a microwave and not the cookware. The microwaveable utensils don’t get heated by microwaves as they are designed to withstand the radiation. They act as though they were transparent to the microwaves. The only heat they draw is from the heated food inside them – there is no direct heating from microwaves. Components of a Microwave Oven The primary parts of a basic microwave oven include –
Types of Microwaves The popularity of microwaves as a convenient cooking appliance has brought in many technological choices from manufacturers.
And in each of the above choice, you can have various types of microwaves depending upon their size, capacity, and how they are installed. Portable Microwaves These microwaves are the smallest of the lot. As the name indicates, these microwaves can be easily ported from one place to another. Usually their size is around 11 x 15 x 10 inch. They are ideal for an office room, mini-bar, or for a camping trip. They are obviously not meant for cooking large meals. Their usage is limited to making tea, coffee, melting ice-cream, or re-heating food in a small cookware. They consume less power. Compact Microwaves These are the most commonly used microwaves. Their standard size is about 20 x 14 x 12 inch and capacity ranges up to 30 liters. These are small sized microwaves that are opted when you don’t plan to put them to heavy cooking usage. They are ideal for food re-heating and cooking light meals. Being compact they are usually placed on the counter. Medium Capacity Microwaves Offering about 45 liters capacity, these microwaves are perfect buy if you want to cook meals for a family of four of above. Many medium capacity microwaves also come with grills for broiling. They generally offer a few more cooking options/settings as compared to compact microwaves. Built-in Microwaves These are probably the most elegant choices but elegance comes with a cost. They are also more expensive than other microwave options. But since they are built into the cabinetry in the kitchen they look gorgeous. The dimensions and shape of such microwaves must fit in perfectly in cabinetry therefore make sure you have measured down to millimeter level. It’s best to have an expert help you get the desired dimensions and then go shopping for a microwave. Smart Microwaves The recent breed of microwaves has more smartness inside it. These microwaves can read recipes by scanning the bar code on the microwave food package. They can have pre-programmed recipes to help the chef in you experiment in the kitchen. It won’t be too long when these microwaves allow you to search recipes on the internet, and allow you to place shopping orders online. You can also category microwaves by the way their door opens – sideways, drop-down, or pull-up. How to Buy the Best Microwave When you set out to buy a new microwave you need to know your requirements in terms of capacity, size, and how you plan to install the microwave. The cooking options you are looking for, automated features that are important to you, energy efficiency considerations, and above all the price you are willing to pay. Key features to consider while buying a microwave include Auto Cooking, Child Safety, Cleaning Features, and Cooking Options. Microwaves make cooking quick and convenient. There was time when many thought the microwave cooking cannot be as tasty as stove cooking however times have changed. The high-end microwaves have erased all myths. Today microwaves are popular not only among singles, working women, and busy couples but they have made to the kitchens of professional chefs, corporate, and restaurants. The price of microwave in India ranges anywhere between Rs. 5000 to Rs. 50,000. There are plenty of models to choose from brands such as Samsung, Kenstar, Electrolux, Whirpool, LG, and Philips.
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 Convection Microwave Convection microwaves are the best way of cooking food without burning the food nutrients. By: steve500 days ago |
