Microwave Ovens
Microwave ovens 
are a common household appliance these days and we all feel the burden when ours breaks. If you don't have one or are looking for new one, here are a few tips. Just want to see what the top picks are, click here.
| Microwave Types |
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Microwave Hood Combinations - Saves counter space.
- Acts as a ventilator for your oven range.
- Vented hood installations are those which send the exhaust outside, while non-vented installations will recirculate the exhaust back into the kitchen.
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Countertop Microwaves - Usually made for countertop use, but they many can be installed into a wall, with professional guidance.
- Less expensive than microwave hood combos.
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What to Look For
- Size
- Determine the size you need based on your estimated use and the space available in your kitchen.
- If you're buying a microwave for a college dorm, a small model (as small at 0.4 cubic feet) is better and are often priced as little as $30.
- For a family, or if you tend to cook large dishes in the microwave, a large model (as big as 2 cubic feet) is probably better.
- Remember that even if a model says it has 2 cubic feet and the interior isn't a foot wide, it probably can't hold a casserole dish.
- Power
- Microwave ovens range in power from 600 watts (boils 8 ounces of water in 2 minutes) to more than 1200 Watts.
- Recipes usually require a power of at least 800 Watts.
- Many microwave ovens also have adjustable power settings, programmed settings, and defrost modes.
- Special Features
- Convection feature
- This allows you to do much more than just heat up food. It converts your microwave into a mini oven so that you can toast, roast, and bake without making food soggy. Perfect for cooking pizzas or other smaller items.
- It takes a lot less time to heat up a convection oven than a large oven.
- Extras
- Griddles, special pans, and grills may be included with some models to adapt your microwave to doing more than the ordinary.
- Turntable
- This will save you from having to rotate foods that are cooked for a long period of time.
- Helps food heat more evenly without having to turn the dish every minute.
- Timer
- Most microwave ovens today have digital timers.
- A few models have mechanical timers with a dial; these are hard to set for exact times and are not recommended.
- Special Programs and Settings
- Some high-end microwaves have cooking programs, such as "popcorn" and "auto-defrost." Look for well designed buttons for easy access to these pre-programmed functions, otherwise, chances are that you won't take advantage of them.
- Some models can also be used as a kitchen timer -- often quite helpful.
- Some have sensors that will automatically shut off once the food seems to be cooked.
- If you're buying a microwave-hood combination, test the lights to make sure they're bright enough and test the hood -- some hoods can be quite noisy!
- Other Things to Consider
- Noise level (some microwaves are quiet when they cook, others are loud).
- Child Safety Lock.
- How does the alarm sound?
Top Products
Most microwaves today heat food well. These recommendations from ConsumerSearch are based mostly on special features since almost all microwaves tested by various other publications did well at heating things.
Top Manufactureres
Related Guides
International Resources
For this resource in your home country, please see:
NL: <a href="http://www.shopwiki.nl/wiki/magnetrons">Magnetrons Shopgids</a><BR>
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