Microwave ovens— The what, how and why

What are Microwaves and microwave ovens?

Microwaves are a type of Electromagnetic radiation (from the family of UV rays, Radio waves, X-rays etc.) with wavelengths ranging from 1mm to 1m and frequency between 300MHz and 300GHz.

Mobile phones, Wi-Fi, GPS, are some of the more popular applications of microwaves including microwave ovens. Unlike telecommunication networks that allow free movement of microwaves (i.e. from one cell phone to another) microwave ovens use a metallic box to contain these, in order to cook food.

And where does the metallic box get microwaves from?

The source is called the Magnetron, a crucial component of every microwave oven. It produces microwaves that are directed through a wave guide (tube) into the oven cavity. The oven cavity is made of metal or ceramic and has dual purpose— to prevent microwaves from escaping and to reflect them so they keep hitting the food placed in the chamber.

You may also have noticed the wired mesh inside a microwave door. The mesh too stops the radiation from going out, but allows light to pass so you can see the food inside.

How do microwave ovens cook food?

Microwaves hitting the food, react with the polar molecules in it (i.e. fats, sugars and water) and cause them to generate heat through a process called dielectric heating. Just the way your hands feel hot after vigorously rubbing them together, this heat is produced from within the food itself without the need for an external heat source.

This is why microwaves go easy on electricity bills as they consume less energy compared to traditional gas stoves. They are also faster in cooking than traditional gas stoves as loss of energy is minimized (thanks to the cavity).

Check out this article to know more about microwave ovens.

Why you should buy a microwave oven?

There are other not-very-noticeable benefits of microwaves. Cooking in microwave ovens doesn’t just save you time, fuel and electricity costs but also facilitates oil free cooking and no-supervision required option (adding more to your time bank).

You can thus get started on the healthy lifestyle you’ve been considering for long with a few quick healthy recipes for microwaves.

Having a microwave at home is also beneficial if you’re living alone or if you aren’t a fan of cooking. Leftovers can be reheated; frozen food can be quickly thawed and milk & coffee can be heated up in seconds!

And while this happens, you don’t even have to stand to keep watch!

Microwave ovens and their Styles

Above-range

Usually seen in western homes, above range microwaves are built into modular kitchen cabinets above the cooking counter. These are however, not suitable for Indian homes. Indian kitchens rarely have above-range cabinets and if they do, there is not enough space to fit a microwave and its vent.

Built-in

These microwaves are huge compared to other two categories and fit into modular kitchens like a drawer (a big drawer that is!). Such microwaves are ideal for baking but take up a lot of space and are just not worth the heavy price tag. Its no wonder there are hardly any built-in microwaves in the market. Their numbers say it all……

Counter-top

Counter-top microwaves are the ones we know simply as ‘microwave ovens.’ These ovens just need a power source and you can start using them. Counter-top microwaves fit on kitchen counters or sit on top of kitchen platforms made for that very purpose. They don’t require any vents and come in pocket-friendly prices.

Also, as these are the microwaves of choice in India, you will get a wide variety to choose from unlike the other categories above.

Things to consider before buying a microwave oven

1. Type

Solo Microwave Oven

These are the most basic microwave ovens that use microwaves to cook, reheat and defrost food.  In these, you can choose the power level and set the time.

For a rookie, understanding which power level to use and for how long, can take some trial and error, as this differs from oven to oven. However, after the initial phase of getting to know your oven, you can enjoy a handy assistant that becomes an essential part of your day.

Grill Microwave Oven

If paneer kebabs and chicken tandoori is frequently on your menu, then you will need something more in your solo microwave. Food items that require grilling basically need a lot of heat, not microwaves-generated but externally provided heat.

Grill ovens provide an additional ‘grill’ function, letting you enjoy a wider range of dishes. This grill function works by switching off the microwaves and producing heat the traditional way, by heating up the microwave cavity. Grill microwaves also come with limited auto-cook menus you can try to make your favourite foods.

Some grill microwave ovens provide a starter kit like turntable, rotisserie, grill racks etc. which you can use to grill and cook. However, there aren’t many grill microwave ovens in the market as this function is already available in the more popular microwaves— convection microwave.

Convection Microwave Oven

Latest and trending in the microwave category, Convection microwaves offer all functions of solo and grill microwaves along with an additional convection feature.

The process of baking needs heat from different directions (especially from below), hence demanding a more complex network of heat supply. Convection function provides heating and comes with a fan (for cooling down) that lets you bake yummy cakes and cookies.

You also get a wide array of auto cook menus among other features that make convection microwaves the most preferred type of microwave ovens. If some recipes need both microwave cooking and grilling or microwaves and convection, you can use the combination modes.

You might not need all the functions right now, but its better to future-proof your microwave in case you or a family member discovers a MasterChef inside!

2. Size/ Capacity

Capacity of microwaves ranges from 17 L to 42 L, offering something for everyone. Family size and space both affect the capacity decision.

If you’re looking for a compact microwave due to space constraint, then opt for a smaller size.

How small?

That depends on your family size. Microwaves ranging between 17 L to 23 L are sufficient for bachelors or nuclear families of 3 or 4 members. For families of 5-7 a range of 23 L to 28 L is ideal. For bigger families, go for the higher end of the size spectrum.

3. Wattage/Power

A microwave can give you wide variety of cooking options only if it first gets sufficient electrical power. Commercial microwaves offer wattage from 600 Watts to about 2500 Watts. Typically, higher the wattage, the more power levels a microwave can offer, leading to more auto-cook menus and efficient cooking.

Even if you’re buying a smaller sized microwave go for one that has a wattage of 1000 or more.

4. User Interface

A good microwave is complete only with a user-friendly interface. After all, it’s the part you will be interacting with the most. Microwaves offer different user interfaces like, mechanical knobs, jog dials, tactical buttons and touch-panel.

Choice of interface may differ from person-to-person but one precaution remains the same for all— harsh usage of any type will quickly degrade the interface (especially for frequently used ‘start’ button and ‘time’ options).

5. Extra features

These are like add-ons, not necessary, but convenient to have. Extra features include the following:

• Starter kit: Some microwave sellers include a starter kit. The contents may vary from microwave-safe containers (like papad stand, bowls, spoons etc.) to grill racks and rotisserie— skewer for tandoori and veg barbeque. You may also get a recipe book which features the microwave use for easier and faster cooking.
• Child-lock: All microwaves are designed to shut off if the door is opened suddenly while cooking is on. However, your curious little engineer may have a habit of trying out all the microwave buttons, all at one go. For this, the child-lock feature is very helpful. The feature is either available as a separate option or is clubbed with ‘stop’ or ‘clear’ function. Usually it works like this— press and hold the designated child-lock button for 3 seconds and an ‘L’ appears on the LED screen. This indicates that the lock is on and no other functions will work till you unlock it. To unlock, press and hold the same button till you hear a beep or the LED screen shows ‘0’.
• Pre-heat: Most cake and cookie recipes require the baking to start at certain temperatures. If you directly insert your pre-mixed batter the oven temperature will gradually rise from room temperature to target temperature and may ruin your recipe. And that’s why Preheating is important. This function lets you get the oven all heated-up at the desired temperature before baking or grilling.
• Clean/Steam: This feature is useful for cleaning your microwave. It steams the internal surface, loosening up any tough grease or oil stains which you can wipe off after the steaming’s done.
• Auto-cook menu: Some auto-cook menus may be extensively used like popcorn, steam, tea/coffee etc. However, many often go unused and that is why I consider it an add-on feature. Many convection microwaves offer almost 150 to 200 auto-cook menus, but you may end up using only a few.

6. Price

Solo microwave ovens come with the lowest price tag while convection ones vary between 10000 Rs to 30000 Rs. This wide variation is mainly because of the microwave’s capacity (the larger the size the heavier is the price). Other reasons for the price hike include a starter kit provided by the manufacturer, and exclusive features like child-lock, auto-cook options and so on.

Warranty

Microwave warranties usually cover the product for a period of one year and the magnetron for 2-3 years. Ideally, a magnetron can last for a decade and hence as long as you’re buying from a reliable brand, the 2- or 3-years warranty is all the same.

Cleaning/Maintenance

Microwaves don’t need much maintenance if you use them judiciously. Not banging the microwave door and not pressing the buttons & touch-keys too hard, is all that a microwave demands in way of maintenance.

However, if its oil stains or food odour you want to get rid of, then there’s a simple way to do so. Once a week or on as needed basis, steam/heat a bowl of lemon-water for about 10 minutes. The odour will be replaced by a citrusy fragrance and you can wipe off any greasy stains with a wet cloth.

Discounts and Offers

Liked a microwave but its out of your price range?

Don’t worry. You can opt for EMI or no-cost EMI options and buy the oven of your choice right now! You can pay the cost in instalments by selecting a return period you’re comfortable with (for e.g. 3 months, 6 months etc.)

Some banks offer percentage discounts on the price if you’re willing to pay online via debit or credit card. So, if your bank offers a 5% discount you will either get the discount on the final checkout price or in the form of cashback once you’re done paying.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Do microwave ovens cause cancer?

Microwave ovens are designed to prevent the microwaves from escaping the metal cavity. And even if some do leak out, you will not feel any effects.

Microwaves, in general, are non-ionizing radiations, that is they do not cause cellular mutations thus bringing us to the answer— microwaves ovens do not cause cancer.

2. Do microwaves destroy nutrients in food, making it harmful?

The simple act of washing vegetables and other food items can lead to nutrient loss; cooking food on stoves or in microwaves is no different. Although microwaves only interact with polar molecules like water, sugars and fats in food; they may cause structural changes in the other components. But then, this is a risk in any kind of cooking method— boiling, frying, washing or heating.

Microwave Accessories you may need (especially if it’s your first)

1. Microwave cookware:

There are three types of cookware you can use in microwaves— hard plastic, glassware, and metal, but with *conditions applied.

Hard plastic cookware is good for reheating and cooking food items for a few minutes. However, there are just too many ifs and buts about which plastic containers to use in a microwave, so its better to just skip them altogether.

Also, if your cooking time is going to exceed 10 minutes, opting for borosilicate glassware is a better option, as it can withstand high temperature for a longer time.

Metallic utensils like grill mats and skewers are made from stainless steel, while most of the bakeware used is of aluminium. So, if your microwave recipe involves grilling or baking, go for a stainless steel grillware or aluminium based bakeware. Even plastic lined stainless-steel vessels are good for microwave use.

However, finding good quality microwave cookware is still a hassle. It’s better to do your research first, or you could skip the research and check out my recommended microwave cookware below.