Points to be noted before purchasing Microwave Oven

Here i am going to provide basic information about microwave oven. Basic points to be noted before purchasing the microwave oven.

A microwave oven, often colloquially shortened to microwave, is a kitchen appliance that heats food by bombarding it with electromagnetic in the microwave spectrum causing polarized molecules in the food to rotate and build up thermal energy in a process known as dielectric heating. Microwave ovens heat foods quickly and efficiently because excitation is fairly uniform in the outer25–38 mm of a dense (high water content) food item; food is more evenly heated throughout (except in thick, dense objects) than generally occurs in other cooking techniques

A Microwave Oven is basically a steel box that has an opening in the front fitted with a door. The door has a side with hinges and the latch is on the other side. The latch assembly inside the unit has a microswitch that provides protection. If the door is unlatched with the unit on, it will shut off before the door can be opened. The microwave Oven cannot be turned on with the door open.

The inside where the food is placed to be heated is called the cavity and is made of steel as microwaves can't go through steel.

There is a control panel and a display section mostly located beside the door. Behind the control panel, is a circuit board which controls the operations and the functions of the Microwave Oven. 

The real heart of the Microwave Oven is the Magnetron which is the microwave generating device.

Inside the interior space is a fan. It pulls air through vents in the side and across the electronics board when the oven is on. The air is blown out of the fan and through the cooling fins of the magnetron. This is to cool the device during operations. 

A turn table which rotates automatically with the help of a motor turns clockwise and anti-clock wise when cooking food. This ensures that the food is cooked uniformly from all sides

In Grill and Convection Microwave Ovens, metal racks or trays are provided to place the food items closer to the grill placed at the top. This results in top and entire browning. 

Generally the microwave ovens are available in three categories. Solo, grill & convection. 

Solo Microwave Ovens- The solo models have only a magnetron inside to produce micro waves. It can do the heating and boiling, but it cannot perform the roasting and baking operations. The solo models are basic models in micro wave ovens. 

Grill Microwave Ovens - In the grill models, the micro wave ovens are provided with heating coils. When you use the grill function, generally the microwave function is in off function. In the grill function, the heated coils induce a grilling or roasting process. For example, toast making. The grilling process creates browning on the surface of the food article. It is possible to simultaneously provide the grilling as well as microwave function. For example you can use both these functions simultaneously while cooking chicken legs, fish or paneer dishes. 


Convection Microwave Ovens - In the case of convection models, the micro wave oven has the micro wave function, the coils for grilling and heaters with a blower to bake the food, these heaters are connected to a thermostat to control the cavity temperature, the range of the thermostat is 95° c to 230° c. this is a very versatile function, go ahead and make your cake, biscuits, naan-katai or even your tandoori dishes, you have the advantage of using all these functions independently or in combination to suit your cooking needs.

Before purchasing Microwave points to be checked

Ø  Pick the stainless steel cavity Microwave and not ceramic cavity microwaves.

Ø  Select the brand which have good servicing or repair facility like LG, Samsung etc.

Ø  Select the type of Microwave depending on the usage

Ø  Select the liter capacity depending on the family size. Nomally microwaves from 18 liters to 38 liters in india

Family Size	Usage	Recommended Capacity
2	All cooking	Small - 15 to 20 LTR
2	Defrosting and heating	Small - 15 to 20 LTR
4	All cooking	Medium - 21 to 30 LTR
4	Defrosting and heating	Medium - 21 to 30 LTR
6	All cooking	Large - 31 to 42 LTR
6	Defrosting and heating	Large - 31 to 42 LTR

Ø  Select the microwave depending on the budget

Type	Usage	Price Range (Rs)
Solo Microwave	Only simple cooking, heating, defrosting	4,295 to 7,790
Grill Microwave	Simple cooking, heating, defrosting and baking.	4,990 to 11,390
Convection Microwave	Simple cooking, heating, defrosting, baking and crisping.	7,990 to 29,690