How to select and buy a new microwave oven
Article written by:Mehru Roshan , an Indian Mum in Sydney.
Microwave Oven comes as a boon to those who really run out of time everyday .Although it hasn't been an integral part of our Indian kitchen so far, I am sure it is going to grow popular as every day passes. Specially due to the fact that it is very time efficient and less hassle to handle.
With so many brands in the market one is obviously left which one to buy.
Microwave Oven runs on electromagnetic waves that is primarily used to cook but, since most of our cooking happens on a proper gas stove. It can not be a replacement of our conventional kitchen but, simply an add-on that is supposed to help us reduce our time in the kitchen. I mean, you can not use this instead of gas/electric stove specially when it comes to Indian food.
Mainly, Microwave ovens heat food without getting hot themselves and defrost the frozen food/meat etc from the refrigerator. They are used for cooking too, which in itself is another topic to discuss. For now, I will leave it aside, as I have to tell you how to choose a microwave first.
To me, brand doesn't really matter. I will be more interested in features such as automatic defrost, preprogrammed settings that warm up snacks, sensors that calculate cooking time based on the weight and type of ingredient, clear large buttons and icons and easy door mechanism.
Steps
My advice would be to
- consider the right size of the microwave. A bigger oven will cook more food at once, of course, but it will also require more wall space or more counter space.
- get a higher watt, A 1,000-watt microwave will cook quickly and efficiently. Microwaves with 700 watts or less are slower and may not cook evenly. In general, the higher the wattage, the faster the cooking time.But a 600-800 watts microwave is sufficient if you are a small family.
- be sure the oven has a child lockout feature. It's easy to use: Adults have to press a sequence of buttons (1234, for example) before being able to operate the appliance everytime.
- lastly, make sure there is a popcorn feature :) that allows you to cook popcorn with the push of a single button.
If you have answered the above questions, you will know by now what you are after. So, the next big step is to look for any brand that suits your needs in the market and buy it.
Ofcourse, once you have bought your new appliance, the next big thing is maintenence.
- I would say it is very simple. Spray an all-purpose cleaner onto a cloth and wipe the inner walls of the Microwave oven. Never spray it directly into the oven. If cleaner gets sprayed into the vent holes in the oven, it can damage the internal parts.
- Be sure to clean the interior ceiling inside the microwave — it catches a lot of splattered food and liquid. Clean the turntable by hand washing or by placing it in the dishwasher.
Tips
Choose a very basic model to start with. You are not going to start making cakes / barbecueing anytime soon. I have a small compact LG 800 watts model at home that fits right into the available place in the shelf and serves most of my purposes.
So, my advise to you is, don't simply complicate your life with something that comes with a 80 page manual on 'How to operate ?' . Whatever you choose, should give you a three step solution
- Place the food
- Set timer
- Hit Start
Caution
There are a few adverse effects of using a Microwave Oven , which are quite considerable.
Many reliable sources believe , people are ignorantly sacrificing their health in exchange for the convenience of microwave ovens
Microwave runs on Electro Magnetic Waves , so there is a "non-thermal" interaction that happens between us and the equipment. Headaches, eyestrain, over-all fatigue and disturbance of sleep have been associated with the interaction of the microwave fields with out central nervous system.
Some safety tips for your mind to ponder:
- Do not operate oven when empty / when the door is open.
- Check regularly to see that door seal and inside surfaces of door and oven cavity are clean after each use.
- Keep out of the reach of children. Do not permit young children to operate the oven.
- Do not put face close to door window when oven is operating, as small amounts of radiation leak through the door at all times
- Ensure that the microwave is unplugged or disconnected from electrical power before reaching into any accessible openings or attempting any repairs.
- Make sure a qualified repairman conduct any repairs and malfunction when detected.
- Use an appropriate load connected to its output.
Due to the constant radiation emitted, it is advisable to maintain distance from it while operating. Don't heat Baby's milk , specially if it is a formula. Make sure there is sufficient ventilation, next to or above the Microwave.
I hope this insight is sufficient to introduce you to the electrical world of Microwave Ovens. I will in my next article introduce a few quick tips on "How to use Microwave oven for day to day use?"
don't forget to Ask Me, if you need any further information or have any suggestions in improving this article.
Links
Related How To Articles
Comments
SORRY I Won't be using this account
Hi Readers,
I have realised this account is redundant as I am not too keen in writing articles other than those related to health.
http://jaanlo.com/users/naturopath
will be my active account , unless you want some news from Sydney.
thanks
Mehru
Hi
Thanks for the details.
what size can i buy for a family of 6 people?
depends on what you want to do with it?
All I can say is there is no rush to buy a perfect brand imagining it to be a one time investment . No matter what brand they are , they all bear the same durability as they all work on the same technology
buy a small one to start with and play around.
thank you for your comment
Post new comment