The Microwave Buying Guide
Buying new appliances requires a little bit of research; don’t just buy the first one that you see in your search results. If you do a little bit of research, you can get an oven that fits your needs, fits your budget and provides you with quality food every time you open the door. It might seem like they’re all the same, but in reality, there are a significant number of differences. Some are great for people on a tight budget; some are great for big families that really put them through their paces. Here are a few handy tips to help you figure out what’s what.
Cooking Presets
Cooking pre-sets are typically popular foods. Pre-sets are handy because you can just punch in the food and the weight of the food and the oven will take care of the rest. Many of them have instant cooking settings for reheating coffee or hot chocolate, cooking potatoes, popping popcorn and defrosting. This takes the guesswork out of cooking your food.
Sensors
Some of the newer devices have features that measure humidity inside the device and automatically adjust the cooking times. Measuring humidity helps determine how long the food needs to be cooked to avoid overcooking. When combined with the cooking presets, you have hands-free cooking.
Even Heat
Many different kinds of food instruct you to stir your food; that’s a vestige of the past. In the past, you would need to stir food because the devices did not heat evenly. These days, most of them are pretty good at heating food evenly. You should be able to set a time and forget about it. However, you need to make sure you’re buying one that promises to heat evenly.
Adjustable Turntable
The very best kind of microwave is the one that adjusts to fit many different foods and needs. An adjustable turntable can be turned on or off; this is perfect for foods that might be slightly too large for your oven. You can turn off the turntable so that it doesn’t get caught up on the sides as it spins.
Crisper
A crisper is a type of pan that features a construction to help prevent food from getting soggy. Many people buy a separate crisper pan to go in the oven, but many new ones come with an integrated crisper. They are designed for items like bread, pizza, quiche, and other items that typically become soggy or chewy when you nuke them.
Good Reviews
So, this isn’t really a feature. However, it’s probably the most important thing you’re looking for. You want to look for a company and a device that have received a lot of positive reviews. You’ll want to make sure you’re getting what you paid for.
There are many different choices for the ovens. You can get a small one, a big one, a stainless steel one, or a plastic one. The list goes on. You might not need a crisper pan, or an adjustable turntable might not be in the budget. It’s just important that you know that these features are out there.