The Microwave Oven that’s Right for You

You only have to take a look on the internet to realise that the choice of microwave ovens out there is immense. So how do you go about picking one which is going to be right for you? Well, I can’t tell you which is the one you should pick, but I can tell you that there are four key questions you need to ask yourself that will help you choose which microwave ovens you should consider more closely.

How Much Space?

If you’re designing or remodelling a  kitchen you’re in the envious position of having the further option of a built in microwave. This will take up no workspace and should complement the look of the rest of your kitchen. If not, then work out how much workspace you can afford to lose and make sure that there is a convenient power point.

What am I Going to Use my Microwave Oven for?

The next question is the most important for narrowing down whether you should consider standard microwave ovens or models with additional features. Most people only use their microwave to heat up food rather than actually cooking whole meals from scratch. For this, standard microwave ovens are definitely sufficient. If you were planning on using it for more diverse tasks you might want to look at combination microwave ovens which can also function like a normal convection oven.

This question will also help you to narrow down the microwave choice further by helping you think about the size of microwave you are going to need. If you live alone then a small microwave will probably be fine, but if you intend to cook for a whole family then you will probably want to look at bigger models.

What Type of Features Would I Find Useful?

Most models of microwave will come with a list of features, and for some the list can seem pretty immense. This doesn’t necessarily mean that those with more features will be better for you though. Extra features are only worth paying for if you think they will be useful to you. One of the first you should think about is the auto-program functions which are available. If you are quite lazy then it may be quite appealing to get one where you can just press one button to automatically set the time and the power level. As well as saving a few seconds, this feature is also really useful if you are a novice with the microwave and you aren’t really sure how long and at what power things should be cooked – it can save quite a lot of extra time that you would spend looking these things up.

An extra feature that many microwave ovens have is an auto-defrost feature. This lets you key in the weight and the microwave calculates the power and time needed for defrosting – again a handy time-saving device which saves you looking it up.

If you have a slightly higher budget you might want to consider a model which has sensors which will stop the microwave oven when they sense the food is cooked. Again, this is probably especially useful for all those novice microwave cooks out there.

Am I Getting the Best Value for Money?

Finally, there are just a couple of things which you should know to make sure that you get the best microwave in your price range. Most microwaves come with removable plates and turntables as standard, but this is definitely something that will make your life easier, so choose one with removable parts over one with a fixed turntable if possible.

The power of the microwave (e.g. 700W/800W/1000W and so on) is an indicator of how fast it cooks. Make sure that you pick the highest power microwave you can within your budget, as even 100W extra can make a big difference in cooking times.

And Then You Are Left With…

So if you follow all of these tips then you should be able to narrow down the list of microwaves which are right for you. The only thing left to do then is choose the one which you find most visually appealing and that will fit in your kitchen.

Buying a Built in Microwave Oven

The microwave oven is one of the most used appliances in most kitchens. They’re used for 1001 tasks, including heating up leftovers, cooking frozen dinners, and even making popcorn.

As much as we all use microwaves on an everyday basis, most of us only implement a small proportion of a microwave oven’s capabilities. Before you start out and buy your next microwave oven, it’s a smart idea to have a knowledge of everything a microwave can do for you as well as a understanding of the sorts of microwaves that are available.

Because microwave ovens cook food quicker than a standard oven or stove, more nutrients are permitted to remain in your food, making the microwave a healthy cooking option. Microwave ovens are also an economical choice as they save a large amount of cash in energy costs.

They also are an excellent alternative to cooking with your oven on a hot day.There’s nothing worse than warming the kitchen when it is sweltering outside. Try preparing your full meal using the microwave rather than the oven and not merely will your place stay at a much more cosy temperature, you may economize by not having to run a fan or the air conditioner to compensate for the heat the oven or stove caused.

There are a few things to think about when purchasing a microwave oven. Before you look at the alternatives, it’s best to ascertain what capacity and power you need. If you intend to use your microwave to prepare food for a large number of people you must purchase a microwave oven that’s a higher powered unit.

Look for a microwave with a wattage of at least one thousand watts. Compact microwave ovens run between 500-800 watts, midsize microwave ovens have a tendency to range between 800-1000 watts, and full-size microwaves are over one thousand watts.

You need to confirm that you get a microwave that is suitably big to fit your favourite cookware. And if you are planning to cook big stews in your microwave, you need to consider purchasing a full-size model.

Mid size microwave ovens have a capacity that is .8 to 1.2 cubic feet and full size microwaves are always bigger than 1.2 cubic feet.

The very last thing to think about when buying a microwave oven is storage. The dimensions of the microwave will limit where you can place it, so it has to be considered. If you have limited counter space, a full-size microwave might be out of the question. If you are set on getting a high wattage microwave with the capacity to prepare a roast, but your counter space is restricted, there are some alternatives. And this site has a great selection of built in microwave ovens. These will fit under workspaces or within cabinets.

If you are in the marketplace for a new microwave, carefully consider

1. how much capacity you want,
2. how high a wattage system you need, and
3. how much worktop space you can make available to your new microwave.

When you have worked out the 3 basics, you can simply cut down your selections primarily based on your list of desires. Buy the microwave that fits all three of your criteria.

Built in Microwave Buying Guide