Purchasing a Microwave
Some would argue that the microwave oven is one of the most influential inventions of the past 40 years. Many Americans would find it difficult to live without this cooking machine. Hectic lifestyles have made microwave ovens extremely useful for quick food preparation. Microwaves cook food fast, and they are ideal for reheating food quickly. Following is an explanation of microwave ovens to help you purchase the right microwave oven based on you and your family’s needs.
Varieties of Microwave Ovens
Microwave ovens are available in various sizes and types. Microwave ovens can be small, tabletop models, or models that are higher capacity models that are built into cabinetry. Some of the larger microwave ovens also are used as a convection oven, which “bakes” food similar to a regular oven.
There are three main sizes of microwave ovens. Compact microwaves are portable and primarily used to reheat food and cook popcorn. Medium-capacity microwave are a bit larger than compact models, but they can accommodate larger bowls, and thus will cook more food at once. They cook at a slightly faster rate than compact microwaves. Large-capacity microwaves have the potential to cook full meals. They can manage large casserole dishes, and can even cook large cuts of meat such as turkey breasts. They have more features including more precise temperature settings.
The compact and medium capacity microwaves are largely countertop models. The larger capacity microwaves are often built into the kitchen cabinetry.
Designs
Microwave ovens generally look the similar, except for size, color or interior materials. Some of the larger microwaves with a convection oven have stainless steel exteriors and / or interiors. Microwave ovens with more capacity will have more options on the touch pad control panel. The set-up of the control panels can vary also.
Price
Prices of microwave ovens can vary from about $60 to more than $700. The smaller countertop models will be the less expensive models, while the built-in, over-the-range models are the highest priced.
Ratings
There are several microwave models and a score of features in larger microwave oven models. www.wize.com/microwaveovens provides a score for each model, and you can read the reviews behind the scores to get the total picture of customer satisfaction.
Technical Specifications
The technical specifications of microwave ovens include levels of power, and touch pad features dependent on size and capacity. Compact microwave ovens operate from 500 to 1,000 watts of power, and have less than one cubic foot of capacity. Medium-size microwaves can run from 1,000 to 1,500 watts, with inner space between 1 and 1.5 cubic feet of capacity. Larger capacity microwave ovens usually operate over 2,000 watts and have over 2 cubic feet of capacity.
Where to shop
You can buy microwave ovens in all large appliance stores. While it is helpful to view microwave ovens and their specific features in person, it is very helpful to first investigate the models and features on the internet. This will give you a good idea of the type of microwave oven you are most interested in, and you may find the best prices online.
