How to choose a microwave and not overpay

We can not imagine our life without a microwave. In the constant time-note mode, only she will help to quickly prepare breakfast for herself or dinner for the whole family, in a few minutes she will defrost meat and ready-to-cook foods. But in order for the microwave oven to really be a useful acquisition, and not just take up space on the table, you should first ask about what criteria you should pay attention to before buying.

The best manufacturers of microwave ovens - which company to choose

For a start, it is worthwhile to limit the range of searches by making a list of manufacturers of household appliances that you trust. If there is no personal preference, you can use our list of verified brands.

The best microwaves today produce:

1. Panasonic;

2. BBK;

3. Bosch;

4. Samsung;

5. Maunfeld.

Their microwaves are distinguished by rich functionality, quality and reliability - such models are presented in our ranking of the best microwave.

Those who are looking for a gift to someone of their friends, can safely take any stove that has fallen into the TOP "Vyrovedova." But if you take the purchase of household appliances seriously and want it to meet all your requirements, you will have to delve into the nuances and listen to the advice of experts. This will help determine the choice and find your perfect stove.

The principle of operation and the device microwave

The microwave oven is a kind of mini-cupboard with a spacious chamber behind the door and a control panel placed on the facade. Inside there is a pan (usually rotating around its axis), on which it is necessary to install dishes with products for heat treatment. But the most important thing in the microwave technology is hidden from view.

This is a magnetron - an electric generator of waves that accelerate the movement of particles. His work is configured in such a way that the greatest impact of the generated radiation is experienced by water molecules enclosed in products. It turns out that vegetables, meat and puddings are cooked from the inside - which is why the cooking process in the microwave takes less time.

The radiation is fed into the chamber through a waveguide hidden behind the wall and is reflected from the internal surfaces, allowing the dish to warm up more evenly. To enhance this effect, some models are equipped with additional waveguides.

Another important element of the microwave - the fan. The cooler removes the excess heat that the magnetron emits, otherwise it will simply fail. Heated air is directed to the chamber through special openings and also participates in cooking. He also displaces water vapor that accumulates inside the furnace.

Do not forget the manufacturers and the protection of humans from harmful microwave radiation. To this end, the microwave is equipped with a shielding cover, and behind the glass of its door there is a fine-meshed metal mesh that delays electromagnetic waves and reflects them back into the chamber.

Types of microwave ovens

Conventional microwaves

We have just examined in detail the standard microwave device, but did not affect the operating mode of the magnetron. Until recently, it was the same for all models - the generator was periodically turned on and off for a few seconds.

Depending on the duration of these gaps, it was possible to obtain a certain heating power with a constant performance of the magnetron itself, always giving a maximum.

Pros:

• Large selection of "classic" models in stores;
• Affordable cost;
• Fewer components - lower risk of failure of the furnace itself.

Minuses:

• Due to the permanent effects of microwave radiation, the products are boiled soft, lose their shape and most of the vitamins.

Inverter microwave ovens

The new power change technology used in these models allows us not to turn off the magnetron, but to regulate the intensity of the radiation itself. Simply put, the microwave waves here affect the products constantly - throughout the cooking time.

Thanks to the inverter converter, it was possible to eliminate the bulky transformer from the circuit, so that modern furnaces lost a little in weight, and at the same time acquired other positive qualities.

Pros:

• Better preserve the structure of products and the amount of nutrients;
• The absence of a transformer made it possible to increase the volume of the chamber without changing the dimensions of the case;
• Reduced overall power consumption.

Minuses:

• Lower operating life of main components and expensive repairs;
• The cost of inverters is higher than classic microwaves.

Microwave selection options

Built-in or freestanding oven?

In principle, it is a question of organizing space and your financial capabilities. Neither in terms of volume nor functionality, recessed microwaves are no different from freestanding ones.

If there is not enough space in the kitchen, it is better to build a microwave oven into one of the cabinets or a pencil case, placing it at chest level. Such equipment is more expensive, but it fits perfectly into the furniture wall and does not occupy useful space.

In all other cases, it is better to buy a suitable size for a separate model. Moreover, it can be installed on brackets or transferred to a wide window sill, where it will not interfere.

Chamber volume

The more eaters you have and larger portions, the more spacious the microwave should be. Also, the volume of the chamber must be correlated with the purposes for which the microwave oven is purchased:

1. For simple warming up of dishes, as well as cooking for 1-2 people, compact models with a volume of 13 to 20 liters will suffice.

2. If you are cooking every day for 3-4 people, take the stove more comfortably - up to 32 liters inclusive.

3. It is more convenient to bake carcasses of large birds and cook full-fledged meals for a large family in a microwave oven of at least 40 l.

Main functions

The most simple solo microwaves are suitable only for defrosting, heating and cooking products. If you are going to use a microwave as a full-fledged oven, it should have additional functions:

1. Grill;

2. Convection;

3. Steam module.

Each of them complicates the design of the microwave, increases its cost and power consumption, but at the same time, seriously expands the scope of application of this technique.

Grill

A microwave oven with a grill will make it possible to almost completely abandon the oven, bake meat and fish in a microwave oven, as well as cook cakes and muffins with a ruddy crust. But when buying, be sure to pay attention to the type of heater.

Today, manufacturers offer a choice of two main types of grills:

1. Heating element

A metal tube with a core heated to +650 ° C is considered to be the most reliable and durable, and it is also relatively inexpensive. In some models, the ten grill is moving or folding, which is very convenient. However, he has one serious drawback - it takes too long to warm up.

2. Quartz Grill

It has a heating element in the form of a nichrome spiral, only it is enclosed in a glass tube and reaches its maximum power in seconds, yielding +800 ° C. Because of the fragility of the shell such a grill is often hidden behind a metal grill - this prolongs its service life, but complicates the care of the stove.

There are microwave ovens on sale that use both types of heaters. This design allows you to significantly expand the list of dishes prepared in a microwave, and actually turns it into an oven.

Convection

As in electric ovens, the convection mode here is provided by a fan installed inside the chamber. He rides the hot air, preheated by the grill, allowing the dishes to be baked evenly and faster.

The presence of such a function is justified only if you do not have a full oven, and you really want to cook goodies and pastries.

Double boiler

To embed a steam generator in a microwave, developers often have to sacrifice a grill - with all the ensuing consequences. If, on the other hand, the equipment with a heater and a steam module installed at the same time gets into the market, it turns out to be prohibitively expensive and not too spacious.

In general, the function of a double boiler in a microwave oven can hardly be called mandatory, so you should not spend money on it. Especially if you are looking for an inverter model that does not overdry food. Well, and supporters of healthy food can always buy a special container with a grid-double boiler, and prepare healthy meals in it - using a standard microwave mode.

Control type

Traditionally, the management of small appliances is implemented with the help of mechanics or electronics. However, in the case of a microwave, attention should be paid to the convenience of the controls themselves:

1. Rotary knobs

An excellent choice for microwave ovens, not overloaded with unnecessary functions. Such management is simple and clear, especially people in old age love it. The most pleasant thing is that with the help of knobs you can change the operation mode of the microwave while cooking.

2. Mechanical buttons

They are installed on microwaves, where the number of programs does not exceed 10-12. It's great when each button is assigned its own mode, so that you can select the desired recipe with one click. That's just to clean this panel is not very convenient, and the mechanisms here are unreliable.

3. Touch buttons

A modern version that allows you to manage numerous cooking programs. It is very easy to care for a flat waterproof panel, but its usability will depend on the sensitivity of the sensors.

Inner chamber cover

Do not discount this moment, since the coverage depends on the simplicity of the microwave maintenance and its service life.

There are enough options here, but not all materials can be called a good choice:

1. Ceramic spraying is very smooth, eco-friendly and always has an aesthetic appearance. If you choose a more expensive microwave with a bioceramics surface, you will also receive an antibacterial coating that preserves more vitamins in the products.

2. Stainless steel is a durable and durable material, although there are still scratches on the shiny surface. Microwave ovens with such interior finish are more expensive, but dishes are cooked in them faster.

3. Enamel is a cheap type of finish, which is used in budget models. It is not difficult to wash it off fat, but it is impossible to use abrasives, since the fragile layer can become covered with scratches.

4. Acrylic is another low-cost option, although not widely used. The reason is that acrylic coatings are not suitable for appliances with high power - they can be used only in non-grill solo ovens designed to heat and thaw products.

Additional functions

Optional microwave options can also be convenient if you intend to use the microwave for daily cooking of various dishes.

In this case, we advise you to pay attention to the following functions:

1. Automatic programs

Thanks to them, you will not have to experiment with the power and operation time of the microwave. Smart technology will select the optimal mode for specific products. Only here you need to remember that auto programs are set separately for defrosting, heating and cooking. When buying, be sure to specify in which particular modes they are supported, and in which - not.

2. Steam sensor

This option is even better, because the microwave is not only guided by a given program, but also simultaneously evaluates the state of the dish by the amount of steam emitted. If necessary, the microwave oven can change the heating power on its own or turn off before the timer beeps if the food is ready.

3. Phased cooking

Convenient solution for lovers of frozen convenience foods. Here you can set several commands at once, according to which the stove will first defrost, then prepare the product, and at the end grill it to brown. And all this without the participation of the owners.

4. Maintaining the temperature of ready meals

In this mode, the microwave can work up to one and a half hours. However, the maximum possible temperature in the chamber at this time will not exceed +25 ° C, that is, there will still be no hot food.

Which microwave is best to choose

1. In the office or in the bachelor apartment, where a minimum of functions are required from the microwave (warm up lunch, boil water, defrost semi-finished products), you can buy the simplest and most low-power solo model of a small volume - up to 20 liters. Such a stove is also suitable as a gift for elderly relatives, especially if you choose a device with simple rotary controls.

2. If the family loves variety in the menu, and you don’t have time to stand at the stove on weekdays, take an inverter microwave with a quartz grill. Preference is better to give the model an average volume of 25-30 liters. Convection mode is not necessary, but with good posting in the house and the availability of money for an expensive purchase, you can afford this option. Management is desirable to choose touch, the display is welcome.

3. There is no way to install a full oven or you have a large family? Look for the most capacious microwave inverter 40-45 liters. Ideally, it will have two grills (top and bottom), convection, as well as the maximum number of modes and automatic cooking programs. Control is only sensory.

How much does a microwave oven cost

1. The simplest microwave solo can be purchased at prices ranging from 2,400 rubles to 13,000. True, there are still super-brand models worth up to 30-40 thousand rubles.

2. Models with a grill are sold at prices ranging from 3 to 22 thousand rubles.

3. If you want to add convection to the main modes, get ready to part with a sum of from 5 to 40 thousand.

4. Inverter microwaves are not cheap - in the stores they are asked for from 7 to 40 thousand rubles.

5. The most expensive are embedded models. Prices for such equipment vary widely from 9 to 160 thousand.