Without a microwave, it is quite difficult to imagine your everyday life. It's an indispensable helper in the kitchen. How do you choose a microwave that lasts long and fulfills your desires and expectations? The task is definitely not made of light ...

How the Microwave Works

The microwave oven was created in 1947 in the United States after a relatively random discovery of microwaves and their effects on food. Unfortunately, over 70 years the essential mechanism has not changed. A microwave consists of 3 essential elements: the magnetron creates waves that move oxygen molecules and heat the material from within; the wave deflection grid distributes the waves in a particular direction; the special capacitance ensures that the waves do not travel far outside the apparatus. Spinning plate, dial, wheel control - additional inventions that do not change the essence of the microwave. Some manufacturers are releasing a series of retro home appliances that look similar to the 60s home appliances, though they are made of modern materials and feature modern features. Retro-style microwaves have nice wheels, but not all have spinning plates, as in the 60s they just didn't exist.

As we mentioned, a microwave oven allows waves of a certain length, which force molecules to move rapidly and thus cause their temperature to rise. The food warms up, but it only happens in the presence of water. Without it, the object does not warm up. This explains why certain dishes stay cool when the products in them are already hot (when heated longer, the dishes heat up from food but from electromagnetic waves).

Three types of microwaves

There are three main types of microwave oven:

1. Simple microwave oven. Its mechanism is only for heating food.
2. Barbecue microwave. It is a simple microwave oven with a special heating element on the top so that not only the food can be warmed but also roasted. It is far more powerful than simple.
3. Combination microwave. It is a microwave that has both a simple preheat function and a grill and can have convection cooking with an additional fan for airflow next to the heating element.

Which of these types is right for you should be determined by your cooking habits. If you are not cooking in the microwave, you are unlikely to need the grill and convection function. And because each feature costs money, combined microwaves are much more expensive than simple.

What Size Is A Microwave Required?

Microwaves come in different sizes. The internal capacity is measured in liters. What Size Microwave Do You Need?

First of all, you should decide whether it will be a simple microwave or a combination. If simple, a microwave for 15-20 liters is enough for a family of 2-4 people. If the same family decides to buy a multi-function oven, it is recommended to choose a larger one - 21-30 liters. A family of 4-6 people should choose at least a 25-30 liter simple microwave oven or a combined microwave with a minimum capacity of 32 liters. This way, you will be sure that cooking will not require a second microwave.

It should also be remembered that combined microwave ovens with convection are larger not only internally but also externally - there are simply more mechanisms. In addition, the location of such an oven should be well planned. There should be at least 15-20 centimeters of clearance above it to allow everything to vent properly.

Built-in and stand up microwaves

Microwaves are usually placed simply on a shelf. This is convenient with a large kitchen. A fridge that does not always work properly is also ideal for this.

The microwave oven should be installed so that its door opens easily and is convenient to insert and remove food (the right side, where there is usually full control and door opening, should not be pressed against the wall).
If you are ordering kitchen furniture from a furniture specialist, consider purchasing a built-in microwave oven. This will require furniture manufacturers to tell the exact model or dimensions of the part to be installed so that they do not make the microwave shelves too small.

Microwave Functions and Controls

The functions of the microwave oven are quite simple. The most necessary are basically only two - heating and cooling. Warming up can be done in different modes. Some even write how much to cook, such as pizza, soup or coffee. These are the functions that set the heating output and time. Basically, all of this can be done manually, just knowing how much these dishes need to be prepared. The more powerful the microwave oven, the faster certain dishes are prepared.

Microwave control is twofold. Touch-sensitive buttons are now popular. Simpler microwave models still have mechanical wheels that turn and wait for their switch to return to its original position and turn off.

The LED display shows how long it is heating up. Plus, it's a great clock in the kitchen. 

Microwave oven safety

Modern microwaves are safe enough, but you really need to know this and that.

First of all, do not put pets there. Man cannot close his own hand. If the door is not closed and locked, the microwave simply will not work.

Do not heat food in foil and metal bowls. They get very hot and can sometimes explode. Do not heat food in closed containers - the container may explode and spill food or damage the microwave oven. Do not heat children in milk bottles with soothers. It is a closed container and the silicone soother can deform.

Only use dishes that are suitable for use in microwaves. Clean the inside of the microwave regularly. No, no one is going to burn there, just for basic hygiene. Bacteria are not breeding there, but the walls covered with food scraps and the dirty rotating vessel do not look very aesthetically pleasing.
Microwaves are always plugged into a single-phase power outlet, so all you need is a simple outlet. If it is not close to the microwave, an extension cord will have to be provided.

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