While it may not be the greatest invention of the modern era, the microwave has surely saved us so many hours in the kitchen we’ve lost count. Not so long ago, it was considered a luxury, and these days more than 90% of households have one. There’s such a variety of microwaves out there since the industry is always trying to develop and perfect the technology further, so you may need a couple of pointers when choosing the perfect microwave for your own kitchen.
They make our lives easier, but getting a bit more information on these appliances can help you save even more time and get better-cooked food from them. So read up!
Types of Microwaves
Depending on the layout of your kitchen, you’ll have to find the type of microwave that will fit in perfectly.
Countertop microwaves
No installation is required when setting up this appliance, you just find the right place on the counter for it, and plug it in and you can start cooking. The advantages of this type are the ease of installation, the fact it is affordable, very lightweight, and easy to move around. The only problem with it is that it takes up counter space, and often lacks some features other types may have.
Over-the-top microwaves
If you’re looking for a stylish choice, over-the-top microwaves may spark your interest. These are installed directly above your stovetop or cooking range and blend wonderfully with the rest of the kitchen. Other than looking elegant and luxurious, there are extra benefits of setting up this type of microwave.
Firstly, you’ll save a lot of countertop space. Another plus is that it often has a light fixture that illuminates the surface below it, and also comes packed with a ventilation system that will help remove odors, excessive heat, etc. So, getting a microwave of this type may be the most practical choice, but keep in mind that it is more expensive than others, and will require installation.
Not all built-in microwaves are set up over the top, some of them are built into different parts of the kitchen and also appear elegant and have a lot of functions, but are more expensive than other types, too.
Convection microwaves
A convection microwave combines some of the features of a microwave and a convection oven. It uses convection technology, a completely different method of cooking food. They don’t use electromagnetic waves as the others, but rather use high temperatures and an internal fan to evenly circulate the air. Due to this, it can be used for different types of cooking other microwaves wouldn’t be able to accomplish, like baking cookies, baking, roasting. So, it’s more convenient and delivers many options for cooking, but on the other hand, it is more expensive than conventional microwaves.
Factors to Consider
There are some additional factors to consider when finally going out and choosing your microwave. You want it to fit perfectly into your kitchen, and either is made of the same material and is the same color as the other appliances there, or make it pop out by choosing a different color.
One of the important factors is size, you want to be sure that it actually fits into the space you set out for it when you finally bring it home. Also, if it’s too small, many of your plates will not be able to fit, and this will make heating up anything frustrating and time-consuming, as you will have to move food from one plate to another to be able to heat it up.
Microwaves with lower wattage will be more affordable, but also slower, so if you really want to save time, you should invest in a microwave with higher wattage. If you do decide on the first kind, look for a reputable brand.
Read reviews to see how reliable the specific microwave you’re choosing is, you want to be certain it lasts as long as possible. You don’t want it breaking after a year or two, and going through the annoyance of having to shop again.
One more thing to think about is the amount of noise it produces. You don’t want it to be distracting, so look for a nice and quiet one that is also efficient.
Microwaves are generally a minor investment, but you should of course research and review a few brands and types and the pricing for them. Don’t overspend, the most expensive is not necessarily the best one.
There may be a few more things you’ll be interested in checking when choosing the particular microwave for your kitchen, but hopefully, we’ve eased the process and helped you with these few explanations and tips.
