Before you start choosing a microwave oven, you should clearly define what functions it will have to perform in your kitchen. For cooking simple dishes, heating food and defrosting, it is quite possible to get by with the simplest models that have only a microwave mode. To cook chicken with a melting crispy crust or delicious toast, you should opt for models equipped with the additional grill function. Well, if this function is also supplemented by convection, then such a microwave oven can handle literally any culinary masterpieces - from baked goods to baked meat.
Volume matters
Most often, the smallest microwave ovens are those that have only one mode of operation, much less often there are small models equipped with a grill. But keep in mind that such miniature ovens may not be suitable for defrosting a whole chicken or heating a large plate of food.
The optimal volume of a microwave oven is 23 liters, for grilling it increases by 3-4 liters. The most popular are medium-sized ovens. Because they are optimal for combining all typical functions.
Oversized microwave ovens offer many possibilities for creating culinary masterpieces. They can easily accommodate an additional grill, which ensures the simultaneous preparation of several dishes.
Also, when buying a stove, you should pay attention to the diameter of the pallet, because the size of what can be cooked or heated depends on it. A pallet with a sufficiently large diameter will fit both a huge pizza and a turkey.
The latest developments of manufacturers of household appliances are models in which there is no pallet at all. It is successfully replaced by a microwave distributor mounted in the bottom of the device or additional antennas that guarantee a triple distribution of microwaves inside a working oven. These solutions extend the life of the device and make it easier to use.
Power is an important indicator
This indicator has three types:
Grill power;
Microwave power;
Power consumption.
The first two of them characterize the speed of heating and cooking, and the last one indicates how much energy the device will consume during the working cycle. Therefore, when choosing a stove, you should carefully consider the power consumption, correlating it with the wiring and the sockets installed in the house. It is also important that the oven has a minimum step when choosing the wave power, since this will allow you to very accurately select the cooking modes for certain dishes.
Furnace lining
Its quality largely determines not only the price of the product, but also its service life. So, the simplest and most short-lived options are painting under the enamel. Slightly better - durable enamel coating, which is equipped with most furnaces in the middle price segment. The stainless steel guarantees a durable finish, but it can be difficult to maintain. The most recent developments in this area are bioceramic coatings, as well as coatings with antibacterial spraying. Such ovens allow you to preserve the maximum amount of nutrients, but their cost is an order of magnitude higher than standard models.
Management and security
The choice of a control system depends solely on the taste of the owner of household appliances. The simplest, but at the same time quite durable control is electromechanical. But the touch or push button opens up more possibilities for programming the cooking stages. The most recent high-end models can be controlled by voice commands or a text display.
Protection against microwave radiation can be of two types: switching off the wave generator when the door is opened, or blocking the latter at the beginning of the operating cycle. Additionally, some models are equipped with a childproof lock, which allows them not to react to commands given after the door is locked.
Design
The modern lineup allows you to choose equipment for almost any interior. Silver, black and white body colors are considered standard, but you can find more interesting options. As for the method of opening the door (with or without a handle), everything here will depend on individual preferences.
Feature set
Their number directly affects the price of the device. Equipped with a large number of functions, the oven will help you remember your favorite recipes, eliminating the need to program them again. They are also able to calculate the time for defrosting or heating food by themselves - for this it is enough to enter the type and weight of the product. Some models can even weigh products on their own. All this greatly facilitates the operation of the oven.