A microwave oven is a staple of the modern kitchen. No home chef can possibly hope to cook at their best without a high-quality microwave oven at their disposal. However, with so many types, styles, and features available, it's often difficult for a prospective buyer to figure out exactly what type of oven best suits their needs. Fortunately, it isn't too difficult to find the perfect microwave oven for your kitchen. After you learn a few key points, the decision-making process will be a simple one.
Getting Started
Unlike a traditional oven that utilizes heat to directly warm food, a microwave oven uses microwave radiation. These microwaves actually causes the particles in food to rotate quickly, due to their polarized charge. Basically, the fast rotation of these particles creates thermal energy, creating a quick, even heating. While all microwaves operate in this basic fashion, their styles and features allow for different options. As a consumer, understanding these styles and options is critical to selecting the right product.
Types of Microwaves
Microwaves are often classified by where they are located in the kitchen. Their placement in the kitchen is determined by both their construction and their utility--and typically falls into one of four categories:
- Countertop. These microwave ovens are placed on the open counter space in a kitchen. These are perfect for cooks who have a large kitchen and who require the ventilation provided by a range hood. That said, in smaller kitchens or setups that don't enjoy a lot of counter space, placement can be difficult.
- Over-The-Range. A common configuration in most newly-constructed homes, over-the-range microwaves are built into the cabinetry above the kitchen stove. They solve the space problem that countertop models create, but don't allow for optimum ventilation. They can also pose an installation challenge, due to electrical demands.
- Built-In. A part of the existing cabinetry, built-in microwaves are located anywhere within the kitchen cabinets. As a result, they are commonly unfinished on the sides and feature a drop-down door which allows for the oven to be flush with the cabinets. These tend to be more expensive than other models. Installation can also be difficult.
- Drawer Models. As the name suggests, these microwaves are designed to be placed within a specialized drawer. This is useful for families that require appliances to be placed out of the reach of children. However, the drawer location restricts the availability of certain features.
Features
Depending on a microwave's intended use, certain features are more important than others. Also, extraneous features cause an increase in price without an actual return in terms of utility. It's important to shop wisely and to understand how certain features impact a microwave's function.
- Wattage. In simple terms, a microwave's wattage is the amount of cooking power it has. Typical entry-level microwaves are rated at 600 watts or higher--with high-end models reaching 1200 watts or more. In actual use, a higher wattage microwave will typically heat food faster and more evenly than lower wattage models.
- Turntable. To ensure even heating, most microwaves move the food using some automatic method. The most common method is a rotating turntable. However, some models use a sliding tray instead. The tray method is great for heating large dishes that might not rotate evenly without crashing into the sides of the oven.
- Convection Heating. Using the basic principles of a convection oven, this feature uses a fan to circulate hot air while cooking food. The result is a browned, crisp finish. This is perfect for people who cook certain foods, such as baked goods and meats. Some models can even serve a broiling function using this feature.
- Non-Stick Interior. No matter how diligent and careful a chef is, a mess is common when using a microwave. Frequent cooking requires frequent cleaning, and it can be difficult to thoroughly clean some models. Non-stick interiors are a nice feature for high-volume kitchens where cleaning is almost a daily event.
- Common Task Buttons. If certain foods are a routine meal, common task buttons can make preparation easy. These buttons automatically configure the microwave for cooking foods such as pizza and popcorn.
Brands
When shopping for a microwave, expect to find many of the same brand names found with other kitchen appliances. These brands include:
- Frigidaire
- GE
- Kenmore
- LG
- Panasonic
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