How to pick a microwave oven
A microwave oven is an electrical appliance created for cooking, heating and defrosting food. A microwave are available in almost every kitchen. Despite the simplicity of the device, the choice of such a technique should be treated responsibly, having previously studied the main parameters.
Installation type
Built-in microwave oven . Fits into a kitchen unit, maintaining the unity of the style of the room.
Freestanding. Can be positioned on brackets, table, shelf or in one of the drawers.
Internal level of the chamber
The chamber volume can be from 17 to 42 liters, depending on the model. Spacious microwave ovens are suitable for a large family. Compact microwave ovens can simply cope with heating food, making hot sandwiches or defrosting convenience foods.
microwave oven
Power
This parameter determines the speed of defrosting and cooking. Depending on the task, the microwave should just work at a certain power. To keep food warm, 100?150 W is sufficient, and 900 W for defrosting. To prepare a full meal, the energy must be around 1400 watts. Modern models have a wattage from 700 to 1000 watts.
When purchasing a microwave oven, it is necessary to take into account hawaii of the electrical wiring, since powerful models can create additional load on the network.
Internal coating
Most often, the inner surface of the microwave is covered with one of three types of material:
Enamel coating. These microwave ovens are reliable, durable, inexpensive, and an easy task to clean. However, along the way of work, cracks and chips may appear.
Stainless steel cover. It is characterized by resistance to high temperatures, good deal. The disadvantages include the difficulty in cleaning, since you can find traces of drops and fingers on the metal.
Bioceramic coating. Economical, durable material that is easy to clean and reduces energy costs. When working with such a microwave, you should be careful, as bioceramics are very fragile.
Control
There are two types of microwave control: mechanical and electronic.
Mechanical control is provided by rotary switches, most often used in inexpensive models. They are characterized by low cost, simple management, low possibility of damage.
Electronic control is of three types:
Keypad. Comes with an attractive design and the ability to change programs. Requires frequent cleaning, as dirt quickly accumulates round the buttons.
Touchpad. Easy to maintain and use, however, sensor elements are prone to breakage and are expensive.
Rotary pushbutton panel. The easiest & most proven option. The disadvantages are the inability to set the precise cooking time.
Grill function
For lovers of dishes with a "golden crust", microwave ovens with a grill are provided. They're of three types:
microwave oven
Heating element grill. https://kstech.com.ua/tovari-dlya-kyxni/ak-vybraty-mikrokhvylovu-pich-dlia-domu/ heating element (tubular electric heater) is the simplest, most inexpensive kind of grill, it is usually rotated, providing heating from the side and from the top. It retains heat for a long time, bakes food well. At the same time, it is difficult to completely clean and requires a lot of energy.
Quartz grill is really a tubular quartz electric heater located behind a metal grate in the upper the main stove. Economical, gets hotter and cooks quickly. Dishes cooked on such a grill taste good. A quartz lamp gets dirty quickly and is difficult to clean.
Infrared grill. Best for crispy dishes. Usually, there are many cooking modes where dishes are prepared quickly, easily, tasty. The infrared grill may be used separately from the oven.
Microwaves with convection .
In such microwave ovens, food is cooked no worse than in ovens. Food positioned on a spit or wire rack is treated with a blast of hot air. Convection is a useful feature for lovers of baked goods and baked meat.
Reheating and defrosting
These are the most used microwave functions used by consumers. In the microwave, you can defrost meat, fish, vegetables, berries, and in addition reheat a previously prepared dish.
Additional features
As well as the basic functions, there are a variety of additional ones:
a double boiler (for preparing diet meals);
auto-cooking (built-in modes);
automatic weighing;
the program "My recipes";
quick start (heating food at maximum power in a couple of minutes);
function of double radiation (for uniform heating of dishes);
odor elimination mode;
self-cleaning (steam cleaning mode);
child lock;
step-by-step cooking function.
Dishes
When choosing dishes for a microwave oven, you need to focus on its thermal stability and fire resistance. Porcelain, ceramic, thermoplastic and glassware are ideal for conventional ovens. For microwave ovens with grill and convection, fireproof materials are required.
In addition, cymbals ought to be free of any metal or gilding.
When shopping for a microwave oven, remember two rules:
It is forbidden to use metal, crystal, melamine dishes;
It is permitted to use products made of ceramics, porcelain, plastic, fabric, glass.
Benefits of microwaves
The microwave oven has long become a reliable assistant in the kitchen, cooking with it gets the following advantages:
Heating and defrosting functions;
The ability to cook a whole meal;
Lack of grease, odor, soot;
When cooking without oil, food does not burn;
Economical power consumption.
