Advantages of using a microwave oven: Benefits and features explained

When shopping for appliances for your kitchen, there are a few that you tend to immediately add to the list because of their importance in the food storage and preparation processes. A refrigerator and stove are often the first appliances you’ll think of, followed by others such as a water purifier and smaller devices such as mixers, grinders, and electric kettles. However, one appliance that many may not truly consider despite its usefulness and ability to enhance the food preparation experience is the microwave oven.

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Microwave ovens are available in various sizes, designs and can even include different capabilities in addition to food reheating, such as convection cooking and air frying. Having a microwave oven in your kitchen can be advantageous in many ways; read on to find out how this versatile kitchen appliance can help you.

Benefits of microwave oven

Quick and easy reheating: The primary purpose of a microwave oven is to reheat food. For leftovers and even food that has been sitting outside for some time, a microwave oven can provide a quick and efficient solution to reheat cooked food, including vegetable-based preparations, gravies, snacks, and meat-based foods.

A microwave oven is capable of heating most food items in about one or two minutes, thus making the process much easier and quicker on the whole. This can save considerable time and effort in home and commercial food preparation and serving, and is frequently used at cafes and bakeries for quick service. Furthermore, the controls are straightforward and easy for everyone of all ages to use.

Efficient and cost-effective: The process of reheating prepared food on a stove is time and resource-consuming. The food must be transferred to a specific stove-safe utensil, and then it can take as long as 10-15 minutes to heat. This process also uses cooking gas on conventional gas stoves. In comparison, a microwave oven utilises a relatively small amount of electricity to run for a much shorter time, and the food can often be heated in the serving dish or plate itself, thus saving time and effort.

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Safe operation and low maintenance requirements: There is a much lower risk of injury, such as burns, when using a microwave oven, since the process of microwave heating only affects the food itself. Serving dishes and plates are usually unaffected by the heating process, and it’s possible to handle these safely after the food has been heated.

A microwave oven is very easy to use, and even easier to clean. Only occasional cleaning is needed, as the operation itself does not involve any spillage, as may be the case with stoves.

Versatility: Apart from the basic purpose of reheating food, microwave ovens often come with different features and functions. Many options can also come with convection heating to enable functions such as baking, grilling, and quick cooking or preparation of certain foods. Other functions include defrosting of frozen foods, slight melting of food such as butter or chocolate to aid other processes, and steaming.