Kitchen Appliances / Microwave Ovens

Known in Welsh slang by the appealing name of a “popty ping,” the microwave is a fairly standard device in most kitchens, providing a fast cooking option for those in a hurry. Microwaving can also be a healthy way to cook, particularly when it comes to vegetables – with more vitamin C retained than with other forms of cooking. And for those who find it tricky to think ahead and take food out of the freezer in good time, a microwave is endlessly useful as a quick way to defrost your dinner before you cook it. All our Choice Buys will perform heating and thawing tasks extremely well – but some are combination microwaves that go beyond these standard functions and offer grilling and convection oven features as well. Although in most circumstances they do not obviate the need for a full-sized oven in a kitchen, these combination machines can be effective and fast and could certainly be a great option for caravans or holiday homes where space is at a premium and cooking requirements are more limited. Combination machines have all the features of a microwave oven plus a top and bottom element so you can grill, roast, or bake food as well as microwaving it – or use a mixture of cooking methods. Combination microwaves can be used to roast chickens, bake scones and even cook pizza – though they rarely perform these tasks quite as well as an ordinary oven. A grill microwave does not offer convection oven functions but has a top element to brown food, something a solo microwave won’t be able to do and which provides a more appealing appearance to some dishes. However, if you only use your microwave for heating and defrosting, a solo microwave will probably suit your needs better and is a cheaper option.

What to look for

Once you have decided whether you are looking for a solo microwave or a combination machine, there are a number of other considerations you might like to take into account when shopping for a new device:

Usable space – a slim-line or more compact microwave might save on countertop space but you need to make sure the interior will not be too small. Consider if the microwave oven you are planning to buy will be big enough to accommodate your cookware and large plates – and if these will have sufficient room to rotate on the turntable.

Ease of use – make sure that the door opens easily and that the controls are user-friendly and intuitive or have good instructions on the display – so you won’t have to be constantly referring to the instruction manual.

Visibility– if you like to check on your food as it is cooking, look for a model with a bright interior light and large transparent viewing window so you can see what is happening inside your microwave.

Often, microwaves offer additional features and programmes designed to make life easier and add versatility – here are some you might find handy:

Automatic settings – these let you enter the weight and type of food and will automatically calculate the time required for heating or defrosting purposes.

Multi-stage cooking– microwaves with this feature can be set to carry out a sequence of functions, first defrosting a dish and then cooking it, without the need to reset the controls between stages.

Delayed start – this feature lets you programme the microwave to start cooking at a preset time – though for reasons of food safety it is important not to leave food in the oven too long before cooking.

Sensor programmes – these settings take automatic functions one step further by detecting the steam emitted by food as it heats and adjusting the cooking time accordingly, with the theory being that this eliminates overcooking.

Catalytic linings – microwaves with catalytic surfaces in their interior that break down food waste are easier to clean.

Superheating

When using a microwave consumers should always remember to be aware of the danger of what’s known as ‘superheating’. Superheating can occur if you heat an undisturbed cup of water in a microwave oven. When the container is removed, the water still appears to be below the boiling point. However, once the water is disturbed, it is possible that it may spray out boiling water. This can be triggered by jostling or stirring the cup or by adding a substance like instant coffee or sugar.

The chances of superheating increase with smooth containers because scratches or chips can house small pockets of air, which reduces the risk. Superheating is also more likely with repeated heating and cooling cycles of an undisturbed container, like when a cup of coffee is reheated without being removed from the microwave.

Ways in which consumers can minimise the risk of superheating include inserting a non-metal object with a surface that is not smooth (e.g. a wooden stirrer) into the container before putting the water into the microwave. Using a container that is a little scratched can also help. And of course, do not heat for longer than the recommended time for the quantity of water used.

Cleaning

A microwave oven is an appliance that can get overlooked on the weekly cleaning rota. Because the door of a microwave oven is almost always closed, the nastiness within can go unnoticed for quite some time. Best practice is to regularly wipe the inside and the outside of the microwave to get rid of food splatters that can bake on and salty spills that can erode the interior. And even if you have let that tomato-based pasta sauce explode and forgotten about it for a week, a microwave can be freed of dried on, encrusted spills in a matter of minutes using eco-friendly, inexpensive and readily available household items. Essentially, you pop a bowl of water in your microwave and set it to heat up for around five minutes. The steam released from the heated water loosens the hard crud on the inside of the microwave and enables it to be wiped off easily afterwards. It is a good idea to add either vinegar, a couple of teaspoons of baking soda, or slices of lemon to the water before heating, as these ingredients all act as a deodoriser to eliminate smells. It is important to be careful when removing the bowl of heated water from the microwave as this will be very hot and might be subject to superheating, where it erupts when disturbed. As noted above, placing a non-metal object, such as a wooden stirrer or cocktail stick, in the bowl before turning on the microwave will reduce the risk of superheating.