Which microwave is right for me?
Thought microwaves were only for defrosting and heating? You thought wrong! Today, these multi-talented appliances have a number of additional functions that support you when cooking, allow you to prepare even the most complex dishes and cook delicious meals in a matter of minutes. The very first microwave was built in 1946 and weighed 340 kg at a height of 1.80 m. Today, microwaves are much more compact and real all-rounders that have become an integral part of German households.
That’s why a microwave is worthwhile:
- Time saving: no heat-up times, short heating times
- Scalability: Dishes can be heated, reheated or cooked in portions. The power and duration can be individually adjusted for the food to be cooked.
- Space saving and connection: Microwaves are compact and can also be used in smaller kitchens. They can also be operated without a power connection and can be plugged directly into a standard household socket.
- Energy efficiency: Appliances with a grill or hot air function can be an energy and space-saving alternative to ovens, especially for smaller quantities of food. Due to their short heating times, microwave ovens are considered to be particularly energy-efficient and a useful energy-saving alternative to ovens, especially for smaller quantities of food.
Which type of microwave is right for me?
Anyone buying a (new) microwave is faced with a variety of options and a selection of additional functions that offer you different advantages.[BT1] To make the right choice, first be clear about what you want to use your microwave for. If you only use it for defrosting and reheating, a simple microwave without additional functions is sufficient. As the number of functions increases, so does the variety of cooking options – but also the complexity of operation and, of course, the price. We will explain the options available to you here shortly:
Solo microwave
With a standard microwave, you can not only heat, cook and defrost food, but also save energy. These appliances have no grill, hot air or baking functions and are therefore very easy to use.
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2-in-1 microwave with grill function
An integrated grill function takes the microwave to the next level. These models are suitable for baking tarte flambée, bread rolls and baguettes, for example. The single grill emits its heat from the ceiling of the cooking space and browns the food lightly from above. This also produces delicious roasted aromas and crispy crusts.
3-in-1 microwave with grill and convection/hot air function
Do you only know the term “convection” from the oven? Many microwaves now have these oven functions integrated. The temperature can be infinitely adjusted from 50 to 250 degrees. Theoretically, you can cook anything you would normally cook in the oven. Large-capacity microwaves can even be used to bake succulent cakes. The grill function can be switched on in many models, ensuring a delicious crust or even browning. The advantage over the oven: heating is faster and a lot of energy is saved.
Inverter microwave: protects food and saves energy
However, you can achieve even better results with a microwave with inverter technology.
Inverter technology? What is that supposed to be?
In order to understand the advantages of an inverter microwave, we should first take a closer look at how a microwave works. In microwaves without inverter technology, the power is switched on and off again at intervals to achieve the desired power level. They therefore only know the operating modes “Full power/heat” and “Off”. This operating mode is not particularly environmentally friendly and generates higher energy consumption. In addition, uneven heating can be seen, particularly when cooking or defrosting slowly: Some of the food is already cooked on the outside while it is still raw or frozen on the inside.
Microwaves with inverter technology, on the other hand, maintain the desired power level through constant and precise temperature control. This ensures even results when cooking and heating. This is gentle on food and also saves time and energy.
What are the advantages of an inverter microwave?
With a microwave with inverter technology, you can prepare your food evenly and gently. Whether for meat, fish, vegetables, cakes or baby food – the inverter technology enables the optimum setting for preparing food. The precise power control preserves the nutrients and natural flavors.
Have you ever had butter explode in the microwave?
This is history with inverter technology, because even delicate foods such as fish, butter or chocolate are heated, defrosted or prepared evenly. The models are also much more efficient in terms of energy consumption, as the energy is constantly dosed thanks to the inverter technology. Some microwaves with inverter technology are also equipped with a hot air function. This means they can replace the conventional oven and even bake pizza or cakes.
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What should I look out for when buying a microwave?
We now know that there are many different types of microwave, but which one is right for me? We have summarized the selection criteria for your purchase decision:
Cooking cabinet: Size & convenience are important
Volume plays a decisive role in choosing the right microwave. There are different sizes depending on the size of the household and the dishes to be prepared.
Microwave with glass base: More space, faster cleaning
Microwaves with a glass base are the next development for particularly easy handling. They do away with the turntable inside. The base of the appliance is designed in such a way that it reflects the microwaves perfectly, making it unnecessary to turn the food. The food is nevertheless heated evenly. This offers you decisive advantages:
- Larger cooking space/interior space with the same external dimensions
- Easy cleaning of the smooth base surface, no more spilled food residue in the mechanism
- Easy handling without moving and slipping turntable
In order for a microwave with a larger cooking chamber to achieve perfect results, the larger the appliance, the higher the wattage required. Therefore, make sure that the wattage and the size of the microwave match. For small appliances with a volume of up to 25 liters, 900 watts is sufficient. Appliances with grill functions require around 1,100 watts and appliances with a hot air function should have at least 2,500 watts.
Automatic programs: Push & Go
Microwaves with automatic programs decide for themselves how long it takes for a dish or food to be hot or cooked. All you have to do is select the right category and weight beforehand and press the start button. The microwave does the rest and your desired dish is ready in no time at all.
Extras & operation: according to your taste
Most standard microwaves are equipped with two control dials. These are used to set the power and duration. Appliances with a grill and/or hot air function often have various additional buttons that can be used to select certain automatic programs, for example. There are also appliances that have a digital display. This shows the time, a timer and cooking time settings to the second. Additional functions such as a child safety lock can be interesting in a family household, while extra pizza plates or similar can optimize the results for special dishes. There are no limits to your preferences here.
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