Microwave has become a quintessential important part of Indian Kirchen. The main advantage of having this appliance in your kitchen is that it saves a lot of time and energy as well. You can cook anything in less time than conventional cooking methods while using only a nominal amount of energy.
Microwave ovens are considered one of the most valuable devices in our kitchens but we don’t know how to choose the best microwave oven. We end up buying underpowered, overpriced, low-quality ovens which fall apart after some time and end up being a nightmare for us.
It doesn’t matter whether you need to heat pizzas or cook fish filets, a microwave oven can do everything. If you are planning to buy a new microwave oven, this guide will help you make the right decision.
If you want to get recommendations on the Best Microwave ovens in India, you can refer to our article Best Microwave Ovens in India for the most useful product recommendations.
Important Features and Pointers to keep in mind before buying a Microwave Oven.
1. Think about the Type of Microwave Oven you want to Buy
Next thing you need to decide which type of microwave oven you are planning to buy. There are basically three types of microwave ovens available in the market i.e. solo, grill, and convection microwave ovens.
a) Solo Microwave Oven
A solo microwave is your basic model that has only one function i.e. reheating and defrosting foods and cooking simple dishes like popcorn, noodles, etc. It is the most affordable microwave oven out there. Solo microwaves do not include other features like grilling, roasting, and baking.
This is the current best Solo Microwave in India
1. Samsung 23 L Solo Microwave Oven (MS23J5133AG/TL)
Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
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Samsung 23 L Solo Microwave Oven (MS23J5133AG/TL, Steel Black) | View Latest Price on Amazon |
2. Panasonic 20 L Solo Microwave Oven (NN-SM25JBFDG)
Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
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Panasonic 20 L Solo Microwave Oven (NN-SM25JBFDG,Black) | View Latest Price on Amazon |
b) Grill Microwave Oven
Grill microwaves are the improved version of solo microwaves with additional features such as grilling, roasting, and browning foods besides normal re-heating and defrosting functions.
These models also come with special racks for grilling food items like paneer and vegetables.
c) Convection Type Microwave Oven
Convection microwaves are more advanced than both solo and grill microwaves as they have additional features such as baking and roasting along with normal functions like reheating, defrosting, grilling, and browning foods.
These are Top 3 Best Convection Microwave Oven in India
# | Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
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1 | Samsung 28 L, Convection Microwave Oven with Curd Making(MC28A5013AK/TL, Black, ceramic enamel... | ₹ 15,590 ₹ 11,690 | View Latest Price on Amazon | ||
2 | Samsung 21 L, Convection Microwave Oven (CE73JD-B1/XTL, Black, Various Cooking Modes, Pre heat,... | ₹ 12,990 ₹ 11,369 | View Latest Price on Amazon | ||
3 | AGARO Marvel 9L Oven Toaster Griller, Cake Baking, Grilling, Toasting, OTG, 800 Watts, (Black). | ₹ 2,799 ₹ 1,699 | View Latest Price on Amazon |
One of the main differentiating factors about Convection microwave ovens is that they use a fan that circulates and regulates air within Ovens chamber making sure that heat reaches every part of the food uniformly. This helps in faster cooking times and more even cooking results in comparison to normal microwaves which just heat up water molecules present in the food item to be cooked.
2. Capacity and Space Available
Before you start shopping, measure the space where you’ll be putting your microwave. Measure the height and depth of the countertop to make sure it will fit there. Measure the width of any available cabinet space to ensure that you can slide it under a cabinet if you need to.
For built-in microwaves, measure the wall space and cutout size from previous models in case you’re replacing an existing appliance. Pay special attention to cubic feet when choosing a microwave.
3. Finding Right Place in Your Kitchen
Before you buy, you’ll want to make sure your kitchen has enough space and the right features.
- First, ensure the microwave will be close to a power outlet (in my experience, most kitchens only have one or two outlets in each corner of the room). The cords of most microwaves are around six feet long, so if your kitchen doesn’t have any outlets near where you plan to put it, you’ll need an extension cord.
- Next, make sure there’s enough counter space where you want to put it. There should be at least a few inches on either side and above it for ventilation purposes—you don’t want your microwave overheating or burning out from lack of airflow.
- It goes without saying that your chosen spot needs to fit the microwave itself; otherwise, there’s not much point in buying one! Measure beforehand and make sure your measurements are accurate.
4. Think about features
Microwaves are known for their unique cooking abilities, but as with any appliance, there are additional features that can add to the convenience of your microwave. Do you need a child lock? Built-in sensor? A “cook by weight” feature? My advice is this: Think about what features you need and use most often in the kitchen and look for them in a microwave. If it’s important to you that your microwave has certain features, make sure it has those before making a purchase.
5. Decide on a wattage level
The power of a microwave is measured in watts, as are all electronic devices. The wattage denotes how much power the microwave can use and also indicates how quickly it can cook food. More expensive microwaves have a higher wattage and therefore cook faster. Microwaves are available in wattages ranging from 600 to 1,200 watts; most microwaves on the market today range from 700 to 1,000 watts. Higher wattage means your food will be cooked more quickly, which is useful for people who like to heat up large quantities of food at once or who often heat heavy foods such as frozen dinners or casseroles.
6. Fingerprint-resistant stainless steel is always a safe bet.
Fingerprint-resistant stainless steel is always a safe bet. It’s easy to clean, durable and classic, so it will outlive the microwave itself in your home and possibly even in your next house. It also gives off a high-end look that can match your other appliances.
Final Thought on Microwave Oven Buying Guide
A microwave oven is useful for so many things, and there are many options to choose from!
A microwave oven can be a very useful kitchen tool. The great thing about microwave ovens is that they are extremely functional, and there are so many options to choose from. We want to wrap up by leaving some important pointers as a summary so that you make a perfect buying decision.
Think about If you want to use it for primarily cooking, reheating leftovers, or defrosting meats and fish, a standard-sized microwave may be perfect for you. If you’re looking to cook small batches of meat or large batches of popcorn in your microwave oven, consider buying one with higher wattage.
Think about the feature aspect as Some microwaves have automatic settings and built-in sensors to sense how much time something needs in order to reach the appropriate temperature. Other models feature preset buttons so all you have to do is press one button—for example “popcorn” or “baked potato.”
Last update on 2024-10-30 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API