Microwave Oven Buying Guide 2024: Everything You Need To Know

Having a microwave in your kitchen may have saved you more hours of your life than you can count, even if it may not be the most significant technological advancement of our time. While deciding whether or not to buy a microwave is a simple decision, understanding the vast selection of microwave options is a completely different challenge. We’ve put up the following Microwave Oven Buying Guide that will help you find the finest microwave oven for your kitchen.

Microwaves may have first appeared to be a luxury when they were first created, but for the majority of us, they have long since become a necessity. In fact, 77 per cent of households today have one, and given that they typically last between 7 and 12 years, every homeowner will eventually need to invest in a new one. Let us dive into the guide explaining what you need to know and keep in mind before buying a microwave oven.

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Microwave Oven Buying Guide

Now the first step in the Microwave Oven Buying Guide is to select the type of microwave oven you want or need. Here’s a detailed understanding of what types of ovens are available in the market to help you understand your needs:

1. Select the Type of Microwave Oven

The type of microwave you purchase will rely on your use case and your kitchen’s design layout. There are a few microwave models that can mix in with your home if you’re building a house or entirely remodelling your kitchen. Otherwise, you should definitely choose a microwave that fits your existing area the best in terms of size and type.

Solo Microwave Oven

In the category of microwave ovens, solo microwave ovens are entry-level or basic variants. These are the most basic microwave oven and are good for tasks like reheating and defrosting. Compared to other microwave models like grills and convection, the solo model is less expensive. However, a solo microwave oven cannot be used for grilling or baking. The Solo Microwave oven prices range from Rs. 4,000 to 8,000.

Grill Microwave Oven

A Grill microwave oven features the same functionality as Solo Microwave with an addon Grill feature to grill roast meat and vegetables. A set of grilling coils aid in grilling, toasting, or roasting. A grill microwave is perfect for people who are looking for a microwave that can grill as well as reheat food but are not baking enthusiasts.

Convection Microwave Oven

A convection microwave oven comes with a heating element that produces heat waves and a fan that circulates hot air for baking and cooking food quickly. Technically speaking, the convection microwave oven has a fan that efficiently and uniformly distributes heat waves, enabling excellent food baking. For baking cakes, pizzas, and muffins, a convection oven is what you need. The ability to grill and bake separately or simultaneously makes convection microwave ovens the most versatile microwave ovens.

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2. What Ideal Capacity Of Microwave should you look for?

After you have an idea of what type of oven you require, you need to know the ideal capacity of microwave suited for you. Microwave Oven Buying Guide will help you understand your capacity needs here:

Manufacturers typically state the microwave’s volume (in litres), which includes the entire interior space of the cavity. However, this volume is different from what we measure because a sizable portion of it is not actually usable.

The longest cylindrical object that can revolve within the oven while the turntable is off is the maximum useful capacity for consumers. None of the brands we looked at discloses the sizes of their usable cavities. The full cavity volume, which is about 35 to 45 per cent less than the rated volume, does not match the so-called rated volume either. The volume in which the turntable revolves within the cavity is therefore the usable volume.

The microwave capacity that is ideal for you will depend on how many family members you have and how frequently you plan to use the microwave. The capacity of a microwave oven is calculated in litres. In India, people use microwave ovens more for warming meals than for cooking. On average, a household of two to three people only needs up to 20 litres; a medium-sized family needs between 21 and 30 litres, and a large family with a huge kitchen needs more than 30+ litres.

3. Popular Features You Should Lookout For

Let’s dive into the attractive part of buying a microwave oven- the features! Every product is marketed with its new attractive features. So, in this Microwave Oven Buying Guide, let’s dive into and understand what popular features you actually want in your microwave oven:

1. Auto Cook menu

The availability of the Auto Cook feature makes microwave cooking surprisingly easy. Cooking in a microwave requires a few settings, such as power wattage, cooking time and grill combo which might be challenging for novices.

However, with this auto-cook menu option, all you have to do is specify the sort of meal you want to cook, and the microwave will automatically change the power wattage and cooking time based on the weight of the item and the cooking mode selected.

For instance, all you have to do to create popcorn is push the popcorn button. Or for cooking rice, you can simply select the Rice cooking mode.

2. Defrost

It is a microwave operation that is specifically designed for warming frozen food. This is a must-have feature if you occasionally cook frozen food items such as meat and vegetables. And this even comes in handy to defrost leftover food.

3. Preheat

The oven must reach a specified temperature before you begin to cook and follow the recipes. This is required if you are trying to bake a cake or cook a pizza in your microwave. Therefore, you must switch on the microwave and wait until the desired temperature is attained or it is hot. Before making a purchase, check the specs for the microwave oven’s preheating time.

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4. Child lock

If you live with kids, they might unintentionally stick their hands in the microwave. Thus, a child lock facility is provided by these features. Typically, a code that functions as a password to unlock is used to facilitate this child lock.

When baking, the interior of a convection microwave oven becomes quite hot, hence a child lock is an absolute must. The child lock even locks the touchpad at the front and disables its functionality so that children cant mistakenly play around with the cooking settings.

5. Interior Build Material

Microwave ovens get dirty from the inside after a few months of use. And while you are heating your food, sometimes food with gravy might boil too much that it spills off making a mess inside the microwave. It is usually recommended to clean your microwave from the inside after a few weeks of use. It is recommended to opt for a microwave that has a ceramic interior, these microwaves are easy to clean and won’t scratch or discolour.

While ceramic interiors are not that common, Samsung is one such brand which has implemented this ceramic interior in all of its microwave lineups.

4. Touch Panel vs Hard Panel

Next in the Microwave Oven Buying Guide, you have to choose between a touch panel or a hard panel for the microwave oven:

Various microwave models come with different types of control panels depending on the price range they come in. These are typical of three types: mechanical, tact dial type, and feather touch. Mechanical and Tact Dial are typically seen in low-end models, as durable and easy to use.

Feather Touch panels enhance your microwave’s design. It has the same touch-screen phone-like ability to detect your fingers and is usually only found in high-end models.

While this should not be the deciding factor, generally the mechanical and tact dial-type control panel are much more durable. And these also provide tactical feedback while using it so these are usually preferred by most users.

5. What Microwave Accessories are important?

Next in Microwave Oven Buying Guide one has to choose which microwave accessories are important for them and which are not.

Online shopping websites are stocked with a variety of microwave accessories, such as microwave oven gloves, microwave-safe cookware, cutlery, bowls, and containers, as well as a microwave stand that can be mounted on the wall in the event that your kitchen counter is at capacity. If you only sometimes use your microwave, a cover is also a good idea.

Rotisserie

A unique grilling accessory is a rotisserie. To achieve proper grilling, a motorized steel foundation bar is used. A rotisserie bar makes it simple to grill chicken, mutton, and paneer. However, rotisserie grilling accessories cost an additional one to two thousand rupees. Moreover, they only come with a small number of microwave ovens. The two rotisserie variations are again the horizontal and vertical rotisserie bars. Heat distribution is best on rotisseries that are rather horizontal. The most widely used rotisserie convection microwave oven is the IFB 30BRC2.

6. Do you need Inverter Technology in Microwave?

Finally, in the Microwave Oven Buying Guide, the buyer has to find whether they need an inverter technology in the microwave oven they are choosing to buy.

Although inverter technology is still relatively uncommon in microwaves, there are various models available. With inverter technology, you can choose to cook your food more evenly at a constantly lower temperature. The varieties of food you can create with most microwaves are limited. As they don’t offer a lot of temperature settings (convection microwaves being a clear exception). Although they increase your possibilities, inverter microwaves are still not as adaptable as convection devices. If this is something you’re interested in, LG manufactures a very well-liked microwave that employs inverter technology and receives a tonne of positive customer feedback.

Microwave Oven Buying Guide: Conclusion

In conclusion, purchasing a microwave oven requires careful consideration of your needs, budget, and preferences. With the help of this Microwave Oven Buying Guide, you now have a better understanding of the different types of microwave ovens, their features, and how to choose the right one for your kitchen. Remember to prioritize safety features, such as child locks and automatic shut-off, and choose a microwave oven with a capacity that suits your family’s needs. By doing so, you can make an informed decision and enjoy the convenience and versatility that a microwave oven brings to your home.

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Additionally, it’s important to read reviews and compare prices before making your final purchase. Look for reputable brands and models that offer a good warranty and after-sales support. Don’t forget to also consider the design and style of the microwave oven, as it can add to the overall aesthetic of your kitchen. With the help of this Microwave Oven Buying Guide, you can confidently navigate the market and find a microwave oven that meets all of your requirements. Invest in a quality microwave oven and enjoy the many benefits it has to offer for years to come.

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