Buying Guide

Location

Firstly you’ll need to think about where you’ll want to keep your oven. Very often a microwave is just kept on a kitchen work surface. As an alternative they can be wall-mounted or kept on a shelf. A further option is to have your oven built in. This is more expensive to install and involves a rethink of your overall kitchen. On the plus side a built-in microwave can look very professional and complement other appliances. In addition the work surface area freed up will always come in handy.

Secondly, what oven type?

Microwaves can be classed in one of three categories.

Basic ovens.

These are the most common. This category is will be very capable of performing straightforward cooking tasks including re-heating soups and meals, and cooking vegetables and TV meals. Basic microwaves are easily moved around and are especially liked by smaller households including the elderly and newly married couples. Often a turn-table is included. This can ensure that the food is cooked evenly and thoroughly.

Combination microwave ovens

This type is recently much more common. This type can have the advantage of being able to use conventional cooking methods as well as microwaving - in the same oven at the same time. There is no problem in choosing to cook by the usual or microwave means on their own - or to decide to apply both methods if you wished. Quite a few types of combination ovens are able to cook by various extra methods - such as by a grill, having an oven that has a fan to ensure an even temperature, or by controls that automatically determine how much conventional and microwave power to use.

Grill ovens

These combine the advantages of a grill to brown the food being cooked - to ensure a more attractive look - with the speed and other advantages of microwave cooking. This category will have a rack to place the food on to keep it near to the grill when being browned.

Dimensions

Allow enough space around the microwave to get air to vents and open the door fully. Think about the number of people that the microwave will need to be used for. Do think about the size of dishes you might want to use and make sure that the microwave you’re buying will accommodate them.

Power

Your food will get cooked faster with an oven with higher power consumption (wattage). Microwave ovens have wattages that can vary from 500W to over 1600W. Top of the range microwaves will permit you to vary this , depending on the power you need for any task. Microwaves in the UK have energy ratings from A to E. You’ll find that E is common - ranging from 741 to 800 watts.

Design issues

There are so many styles. You are unlikely not to find one you like. White, silver and black are the colours that are most in demand. Often doors are push opening. Another option is one with an ordinary handle. A few have drop down doors - taking up slightly less space.

Control-styles

Most have a digital display, with keypad controls. This type allows for different cooking options to be picked very speedily. Often their are setting to cook things like jacket potatoes or a particular weight of meat that can be chosen with the push of a button.

Functions

A variety of functions may be available:
* Auto reheat - allowing you to enter the weight of the food - the oven will then calculate how long it needs to operate for.
* Automatic defrost - the same idea, working out how long the microwave needs to be used for a given weight and type of food.
* Steamer - for steaming vegetables. This may be tricky to use initially, but,is worth persevering with as it is a healthy way to cook.
* Crisper - this device will crisp the underneath of food - ideal for pizzas Bacon is great cooked on a crisper