6 tips to keep in mind when buying a microwave oven

A few crucial checklist items to look out for

6 tips to keep in mind when buying a microwave oven

Microwave ovens have evolved from a mere novelty to a useful and must-have cooking appliance. Their use go beyond just reheating cold food and now, it is the preferred device for baking and cooking as well. The right microwave oven can be a big help and make your cooking more convenient. There are a few basic, yet crucial things, one should keep in mind when buying a new microwave oven. Read on to find them out.

6 tips to keep in mind when buying a new microwave oven

1. Type

To the surprise of many, there are a few different types of microwave ovens available today, and each have a different purpose and function. The three most popular types are solo, grill, and convection.

If you just want an appliance for quickly reheating food, cooking ready meals, and defrosting frozen food then the solo microwave is the most suitable option for you. But if you are looking for something robust that can handle a fair bit of cooking, then a convection oven is the one you should go for.

2. Size

A microwave doesn’t come in just one size, and you can find ones ranging from 0.5 cubic feet to 1.5 cubic feet in size. The rule of thumb to pick the perfect size is to consider the space available in your kitchen. Don’t forget to make sure that the available space in your kitchen can fit the oven securely that you are planning to buy.

3. Cooking capacity

Another parameter to check is a microwave’s capacity, which is in liters. It dictates how much food can be cooked in one go. The perfect size for you depends on how many members are there in your family.

A large family will naturally require a bigger microwave oven to cater to their needs. If you have four or fewer members then 15-20 litres will be ideal. Families with more than four members generally go for ovens with more than 25 litres of capacity.

4. Power capacity

The power of a microwave oven is measured in wattage, and larger the number the more your microwave will function. The power capacity should depend solely on what you intend on doing. If your needs go beyond basic reheating and into the territory of cooking meals then you will require a mid or full-size microwave with 800-1600 watts of power.

5. Feature set

Once the primary functions are sorted, the feature list offered by a microwave oven is like a cherry on the cake. Features like automatic defrost, preheat, or specialised pre-programmed settings are rapidly becoming a new normal and must-have features. One feature which certainly makes cooking convenient is ‘Auto Cook’.

6. Budget

Lastly, don’t forget to keep your budget in the back of your mind while selecting a product. The most suitable and best microwave oven for you would be the one that fits your budget and ticks all the boxes of your requirements. Make a list of must-have functions/features and accordingly select the best that fits your budget.

Besides the above though, its also important to remember that microwaves have fairly complex workings. It is therefore a good idea to invest in an Annual Maintenance Contract for your microwave, which can help ensure it stays in tip top condition throughout its lifecycle, for a relatively nominal amount. Here’s a little pro tip. Consider investing in Croma’s ZipCare Maintain 1 Year AMC Plan for Microwave, which covers a basic function check, cleaning of any deposits on the outer body and panels, a deep cleaning of the inner surface, including removal of food deposits and grease. The plan also covers a check on the functioning of components such as the magnetron, the tray motor, and so on. If that wasn’t enough, it also covers a cleaning of the immediate premises around the microwave.

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