Choosing a microwave for the home: what to look for

Modern kitchen can no longer be imagined without a microwave, which is a reliable assistant to every housewife and often also called a microwave oven. Well, if you are just going to go to the store to purchase this useful device, and you are concerned about the question of how to choose the microwave oven that is most suitable for your living conditions, we recommend that you read the information in this article. Nowadays it is not so easy to choose a good microwave oven from a variety of options that differ in parameters and price.

Years earlier, microwaves were mainly used to heat food or defrost it. Now, most modern manufacturers of kitchen appliances offer microwave ovens, equipped with many additional functions, in addition to the two main ones mentioned above. In some cases, microwave ovens can even successfully replace ovens.

Operating principle

Microwaves by their operating principle differ significantly from electric stoves that are often found in kitchens and include such details:

• the chamber in which the products are placed;
• magnetron;
• stabilizer transformer;
• a waveguide supplying electromagnetic energy to the camera;
• fan, cooling magnetron;
• rotating (usually glass) pallet;
• Control block.

A magnetron is the main element of this electrical device, a generator of electromagnetic waves in the microwave range, which are a source of thermal energy. The magnetron is powered by a transformer, and its power is usually in the range of 700-1000 watts. During operation, it heats up very much, so fans are installed in microwave ovens that not only provide cooling of the magnetron, but also contribute to an even distribution of heat in the microwave chamber, mixing the air masses contained in it.

Microwaves use radio waves with a frequency of 2450 MHz. The dipole molecules under their influence begin to move at a very high speed. The heat released during this warms the food inside the microwave.

To understand the essence of the process, we need to recall something from physics:

• all products are made up of molecules;
• for heating any substance with microwave radiation, it is necessary to have dipole particles in them, that is, those that have two charges differing in sign at their opposite ends (one must be positive and the other negative).

Many of the molecules that make up the products belong to the dipole type, including H2O (water) molecules found in almost any food. In the absence of an external electric field, the motion of these extremely small particles is chaotic. When they come under the influence of electromagnetic radiation, then due to the presence of an electric component in it, they begin to orient themselves along the lines of force, turning at high speed simultaneously with a change in their direction. As a result, the products heat up much faster than when using other electrical appliances.

Microwave electromagnetic waves penetrate food placed in the chamber of the microwave oven to a depth of about three centimeters.Therefore, initially only the top layer of products is heated, and then, due to the presence of any substance with thermal conductivity, thermal energy is distributed deep into the food.

Thus, in order to ensure a more uniform heating of a large-volume product, it is necessary to increase the time of its irradiation with electromagnetic waves in order to allow thermal energy to spread as deep as possible inside the food. In this case, it is desirable to lower the power of the microwave in order to avoid burning of the upper layer of the product.

For example, if you need to heat sufficiently large pieces of meat, then it is advisable to switch the microwave oven to medium power mode and slightly increase the heat treatment time to allow food to warm up more evenly throughout its entire volume.

Installation options

Microwaves can be free-standing, sometimes called “solos”, and built-in. Moreover, the built-in microwave oven today has seen increased demand. This is due to the fact that the built-in microwave oven allows you to optimally use the kitchen space, giving more freedom to designers who are developing kitchen design options.

In addition to the two types of microwave ovens mentioned above, you can also find on sale a combined type of microwave ovens that can either be used as a “solo”, or, due to the presence of special brackets and additional accessories, to be built into niches.

Chamber volume

When determining the volume of a home microwave chamber, we recommend proceeding from the following considerations:

• for a family of three or less, as a rule, a camera for 17-20 liters is enough;
• if it is necessary to prepare food for four or more people, then the best choice would be a microwave oven with a camera for 23-30 liters;
• in cases where the active use of the grill is expected, it is reasonable to purchase a stove, for example, having a 27 l chamber;
• for large families or those who like to host large companies, a microwave with a camera, the volume of which exceeds 30 liters, is more suitable.

Microwave power

This is an important parameter, since the operation of the microwave oven in a higher power mode provides a higher cooking speed.

In many cases, it is optimal to purchase a microwave oven with an “output” power of 900-1000 watts, but if you need the “Grill” mode, then higher power is usually required, since the combined “Grill + Microwave” mode is often used, which speeds up cooking.

Pay attention to the value of power consumption. If it exceeds 3000-4000 watts, then you may need to take care of strengthening the wiring. Especially if you turn on not only a microwave oven, but also other powerful household appliances.

It is also worthwhile when buying a microwave to ask what it has the number of modes that differ in power level. Conveniently, if the power can be smoothly changed, although conceived, many use only one mode with maximum power, changing only the time of operation of the magnetron.

Type of management

Microwave ovens can have control:

• mechanical;
• push-button;
• sensory.

For mechanical control, two rotary switches are usually sufficient. Using one, the operating mode (power) is set, and using the other, the time for cooking the food is set. A simple, clear and convenient way to manage.

If you have a keypad for programming a microwave oven, you can more finely select the characteristics of its operation. To demonstrate the meaning of the selected settings, a special display is used in the form of one or more screens. The only negative is that cleaning the surface on which the buttons are located is not always easy.

Touch control is the most convenient and "advanced".In this case, the operating modes are selected and activated by touching the fingers, not with the real buttons, as in the previous version, but with the “virtual” buttons (drawn). The panel has a dialog box on which the selected items are displayed, as well as sometimes recommendations to users.

Grill

The grill can be of several types:

• tenovy;
• quartz;
• infrared.

In the first case, the heating heater is fixed in the chamber usually in its upper part, but there are options for furnaces with its lower location. In some microwave ovens, you can choose the position of the grill and even clean it. Furnaces using electric heaters cost less than those equipped with quartz or infrared grills.

A quartz grill is located at the top of the microwave oven chamber. It takes up little space, so the microwave ovens equipped with it contain more food than those in which the Tener grill. The position of the quartz grill in the chamber must not be changed. It quickly reaches full capacity. Caring for it is simple, but the furnaces in which it is installed are more expensive.

In an infrared grill, a halogen lamp is the source of thermal energy. As a rule, it is mounted in the bottom panel of the microwave oven, and is usually installed in combination with the quartz radiation source located at the top. Such a tandem is the best option for preparing any dishes, because, as you know, the less time it takes to cook a meal, the tastier and healthier it is.

Convection

In addition to the heating element, convection microwave ovens also have a fan, thanks to which the air in the working chamber is mixed, which contributes to the uniform distribution of thermal energy throughout its volume. Products are prepared in the same way as in the oven, but there is no additional heating of the air in the room created by the oven.

Additional features

• Improvement of microwave ovens led to the appearance of microwaves having not one but two emitters of an electromagnetic field, due to which a higher uniformity of heat distribution is ensured in these devices.
• The presence in the designs of some microwave ovens of an integrated steam generator allows them to be used as double boiler.
• Introduction to new models of microwave ovens with voice prompts, improves safety and comfort when using them.
• Using the “Autostart” button makes it possible, having previously prepared the ingredients and placing them in the chamber, to program when the oven should begin its work.
• Owners of microwave ovens equipped with an automatic selection function may not burden themselves with the need to set any parameters at all, since after placing the products in the oven, the electrical unit itself determines the desired mode and duration of its operation.

Inner coating

• Enamel. This is the most popular material for protecting the inner surface of the camera. The advantages of its use are low cost, ease of cleaning (you can just wipe it with a soapy sponge). However, the enamel has a lower strength and can crack under strong heating.
• Paint. Very cheap and most fragile coverage. It can be used only in microwave ovens of a low level of quality from "unknown" manufacturers.
• Stainless steel. Cameras made of stainless steel are not afraid of scratches and accidental impacts, but it may be difficult to clean them, since not all detergents can be used.
• Ceramics (bioceramics). When using it, the camera coating is durable, smooth and easy to clean. It has increased resistance to carbon deposits, weakly absorbs microwaves, but its cost is also quite high.
• Antibacterial coating. It has the most expensive models today. It significantly reduces the likelihood of multiplication of microbes and bacteria in the microwave chamber.

If you carefully studied all the information given in this article, then you probably already know how to choose a microwave for your home, but do not forget that your purchase should fit well into the overall interior of the kitchen. Currently, the color gamut of microwave ovens available on the market is not very rich. Mostly on sale there are models of three colors:

• white
• silver;
• metallic.

As experience has shown, it is these colors that are most often liked by most owners of microwave ovens.

And if you are interested in the question which company should be preferred when choosing a microwave oven, then, first of all, we advise you to pay attention to the products of such companies as:

• Sharp
• Whirlpool
• LG
• Samsung
• Electrolux;
• Daewoo;
• Panasonic