What To Consider When Buying Microwave Ovens

Microwaves save our lives when we need to hurry up for work, when you and your spouse need to leave your children because you would be out on a dinner date, or you simply have no time to do those lengthy preparations needed for a meal. This kitchen device would not let you down because it will cook food, defrost refrigerated foods, melt frozen foods, or reheat leftover foods whether you have more or little time.

Each household in the United States probably has microwave in their kitchen. Aside from the fact that it operates easily it is also safe to use that even your children can handle it so long as proper instruction is followed. When looking for a replacement microwave, there are certain factors which are to be considered. First is how often it is going to be used.

How Often Do You Use It

Some households use microwave regularly in a daily basis while others seldom use it but still needs it. If you need it for preparing the entire meals, a microwave with lots of features and functions such as with one-touch cooking and pre-programmed menus options, is necessary. On the other hand, if it will be used only for reheating, defrosting, or melting foods, a basic microwave will suffice.

600 or 1200 Wattage Options?

You might also be concerned about the wattage of the microwave. Different options are available with 600 to 1200 wattage options. The power levels are important aspect to be considered especially if you are conscious about the time preparing the meal. A microwave with 800 or higher watts is an ideal choice if you want to cook, heat or prepare foods faster.

Space Saver, No Installation, Or More Advanced Types?

Another factor to be considered is where you want the microwave to be placed. Over the range and counter top microwave ovens are available. The most used in households is the counter top microwave oven due to its convenience to use. It requires no installation and is a no problem to operate. All you need to do is plug it in and then you can start cooking your microwave recipe.

On the other hand, if you need one that is more powerful and has more features, over the range microwaves are more your type. Aside from the advanced features, they are built in with fan and save counter space. Some new generation microwave ovens are even more advanced that you can cook foods like popcorn, frozen entrees and even pizza. You can also find one that has pre-programmed menu recipes of up to a hundred.

It may seem easy when buying a kitchen appliance or electrical device but there are factors to be considered before merely picking one from the store. That is the reason why before shopping you know what you need and what will be most practical for your household. Remembering the above factors will help you in making wise decisions in so far as shopping kitchen appliances, specifically microwave ovens, is concerned.

Microwave Oven Maintenance

Modern housewives know for certain that the microwave oven is one of the things that they need to employ in their kitchens. This modern age is equivalent to a fast world and so things should be done in such a fast pace. Nevertheless, it is quite hard to find a household nowadays that doesn't have this kitchen appliance. After all, it helps a lot in cooking the food for the family.

Apart from being convenient, it takes effort to imagine life without the microwave. How about if you are usually rushing in the morning or when you normally get home late at night? Of course you need something that is too convenient to use. And so having been regarded as a trusted cooking device, you should likewise know how it is to maintain its good condition. You don't just use it. You also have to ensure that it gets maintained the proper way.

The issues regarding the safety precautions on its use are technically aired by those people who are involved in the oven manufacturing business. They are basically concerned with the circumstances that may cause accidents or rather the possibilities that you may get ill should you get overexposed to microwaves. Therefore, awareness is a very important factor.

The damages heaped on the oven can be due to a lot of reasons. The significant voltage increase during the design process can actually bring forth damage to the metallic elements. Leakage can be caused by some failures in the door locking mechanism. When dropped down, there can be a lot of harms to be brought about. The power supply or switches can also lead to damages. Breakages, dents, scratches, and the likes are also among the deleterious effects that the device can suffer from.

Come to think of it, the microwave oven has already become an integral part of your entire family and hence needs to be cared for. Cleanliness is also a vital thing to consider. Don't use paper coverings or wax paper in the wrong spots. Spills should be wiped off and the interior can be washed using soap. After that, wipe it clean and dry with the use of a soft cotton cloth.

Check the door edges to ensure that it is shut tightly. You cook different kinds of food and to avoid the unpleasant odor, you need to use baking soda or the lime extract when cleaning it.

Be sure to use only the microwave safe utensils. Never use plastics and be careful with the use of the glass material. Always monitor the device when cooking to avoid the breakout of fire.

Use other sources for deep frying or canning. Microwaves don't serve such purposes.

Overall, cooking through the use of a microwave is obviously effective and safe. When properly used, it will never lead to any hazardous situations. Better buy the trusted brands and models too. And don't forget to check out the user's manual prior to its operation since it includes all of the necessary maintenance tips.

Convection Microwave Ovens: Its Features And Advantages

Convection microwave ovens are a good replacement appliance if you are tired of using your old microwave oven because of the incapacities it sometimes cause when you are toasting or cooling and defrosting. Convection type microwave ovens are now preferred by many because of the many benefits they provide. The mechanisms are much advantageous particularly the features in which this type of microwave oven is integrated with.

One of the features of this microwave oven is its ability to cook multiple delicacies. Roasting chicken, browning sandwiches, baking rolls and pastries, cooking pasta and pizzas, steaming fish, this microwave is very functional. You will never need another appliance when as far as cooking or preparing foods is concerned. It is also very user friendly, albeit you need to handle it with care, as what you would with other kitchen appliances.

Another good feature is its uniformity in its temperature. This is a very usable and beneficial feature particularly because it does not allow the food to be cooked unevenly. Using the internal fans, this makes the broiling function of the appliance to work properly and accurately. This microwave is also optimized with safe application particularly in terms of risk of fire because of consistent heat flow.

The appliance is also not easy to break down, especially when used appropriately like not using aluminum foils to wrap the food, not using bowls to contain it and not using metal utensils in it when cooking. It also consumes minimized amount of power as compared to other ovens so you don't suffer with high electricity bills. In addition, the convection microwave ovens are typically eco-friendly, particularly those that are certified, which does not cause too much danger to the environment.

Convection microwave ovens come into two types, the built-in and the compact microwaves. Depending on your need and desire, or on the amount of space you have in your kitchen, they are available in different volumes, small, medium and large. When using it, you don't need to time when cooking as it comes with timer which switches on and off automatically so you never have to be worry whether the food is under or over cooked.

And finally, you are given an option to add multiple accessories according to your needs of more applications as these are also available. In this way, you get more features to your microwave oven for more functionalities and uses. Some people may consider this kind of microwave as rather costly to buy. However, with the kinds of features integrated such as the ones mentioned above, you can say it is not costly at all, given the convenience and high-end functionalities you will get from using it.

Microwaves are such a staple in the kitchens of every household, but if one wants to get more out of this appliance, it is a matter of choice from the types available in the market. There are other types of microwaves but the convection microwave ovens are ideal choice to people who want it with more benefits and at the same time the convenience when time is of the essence.

Cleaning Microwaves: A Step-by-Step Guide

Cleaning microwaves is not a difficult task if one knows the basic rules of doing it. In this article we're going to discuss the step-by-step procedures on the proper way to clean microwave ovens. The steps are so easy that you would even wonder why you thought the endeavor a heavy chore. You might even find it particularly enjoyable.

1. The very first step is to create a good cleaning environment inside the microwave oven. To do this, pour in a bowl 4 cups of water and two tablespoons of vinegar. Now open the lid of the oven and place the bowl on the turntable. Close the lid and microwave the bowl on high for 20 minutes.

This heating will produce steam that should disinfect the inside of the oven. Once the time's up, wait for several minutes before you pull the lid back and remove the bowl.

2. Unplug the power cord. After doing so, make sure to check the cord for any signs of damage and dirt. This is important since a damaged cord can be dangerous. Once you're sure that the cord is in good condition, wipe it down with a cloth to remove dust and grime that may be attached to it.

3. Open the lid and check the interior of the oven. Check the nooks and crannies, the top and bottom, and both sides of the interior. This will tell you how much work needs to be done to clean the interior completely.

4. The microwave turntable is where a lot of food stuff can accumulate. Remove this component (carefully, mind you) from the interior and wash it down in the sink. It is recommended that you use lukewarm water and a light detergent to remove the dirt. Take care not to drop the glass pieces.

5. Most microwaves have a removable and rotating component where the turntable turns. Remove this so you can remove the dirt or any cloying particles beneath this component. If you are unsure whether there's a removable component, you can refer to the user manual.

6. Now let's proceed with the scrubbing of the interior. You only need three things: a mild dishwashing soap, a non-abrasive sponge and water. Apply water and soap on the sponge and let the solution seep inside. Also keep it mind to rinse the sponge in steady intervals to wash away the dirt that would proliferate on the material.

7. Start scrubbing with the top portion of the interior so that you won't have to redo the bottom part due to fallen particles. Then proceed with the sides and drag the dirt from the corners towards the opening of the microwave. The last part is at the bottom where you scrape out the collected dirt including the ones that fell from the top and the sides.

8. Lastly, wipe down the exterior of the microwave, starting from the top, the back, sides and lastly, the front. Replace the turning component followed by the turntable.

9. Plug the cable back in the socket and you're ready to start cooking again!

So there you have it! Remember that cleaning microwaves should be done on a regular basis for safety reasons. The procedures mentioned here will make the act of cleaning much more efficient and less stressful.

Why Choose a Built-in Microwave Oven?

If your kitchen countertop has a limited space, the best choice you can get is a built-in or an over-the-range microwave oven. It doesn’t just free up counter space, it also comes in different trims and designs so you can always find one that will fit with your kitchen decors and interiors. While this microwave doesn’t come cheap, it typically has more advanced features. However, this type of microwave needs to be installed properly by a professional.

Here are some of the reasons why a built-in microwave oven is a good buy:

• Space

No doubt, a built-in microwave is the best way to enjoy the functions of a microwave without compromising your kitchen countertop’s space. In many American kitchens, one of the largest appliances that occupy the kitchen worktop is the microwave oven. Although this is not an issue in houses with large kitchen, it does matter in small city apartments or pads. By getting a built-in microwave, you no longer need to look for a space where you can put your model.

• Quality

Though this kind of microwave comes more expensive, its quality is usually better than stand-alone units that you can get for a much lower price. So before deciding to purchase such microwave, weigh up first your needs and the benefits you’ll get from such type of oven. By so doing, you can find out if this is really worth the investment.

• Safety

The best thing about choosing a built-in microwave oven is it makes it possible for you to position the appliance at a height that’s very much comfortable for your stature. By so doing, you no longer need to stoop over like what you do when taking out hot food from the oven. This makes it much easier and safer for you to handle hot food and other items from the microwave.

If you don’t have a built-in microwave, you can counter this problem by mounting your stand-alone model on brackets found on the wall. Mounting either a built-in or a conventional oven on the wall must be done by a professional. Since microwaves are usually heavy, they should have strong support.

Replacing a Built-in Microwave Oven

If you’re planning to replace your old built-in microwave but your budget isn’t enough to pay for the services of the pro, you can do the installation by yourself. You just need to have someone that will lend you a helping hand and will support the weight of the microwave during installation.

Here are some installation guides to help you up:

1. Unscrew the bolts of your old unit while someone is holding it.

2. Unplug its electrical cord.

3. Roll the microwave oven to the right or left to free it from its mounting bracket in the back. Unlock the unit from its place so it can be totally detached from its place.

4. Install the brackets that’s included in your new pack of microwave.

5. Snake the wire of your new microwave in the hole above the cabinet.

6. Plug the microwave’s electrical cord.

7. Lock the new microwave in its place.

8. Using an electric drill or a screwdriver, screw in bolts into the microwave mounting bracket to securely keep the unit in place.

By following these steps, you can now make your new microwave ready for use.