About Microwave Ovens

Convenience is one of the reasons for the popularity of microwave ovens among modern home makers. For many of them it is an unavoidable device in the kitchen like gas stove or refrigerator. Some of the culinary experts and dieticians are not in favour of using this device for daily cooking purposes as there are chances of food loosing its nutritious value. They warn against regular or habitual use of the oven. If it is for reheating or defrosting regular use may not be harmful. A remarkable characteristic is that the food stuff in the pan gets heated first during the process of heating unlike in the conventional cooking. The container will warm up slowly through the heated food subsequently.

A compact and portable model is ideal for domestic use as it can be accommodated on the kitchen worktop. Smaller versions are sufficient for defrosting or reheating food. Users prefer microwave ovens for reheating as it is a faster process than the conventional methods. But larger models can accommodate casseroles or medium sized pans for cooking purposes. Commercial types of ovens are larger sizes which are widely used by eateries, canteens etc. There are three types of microwave ovens that are in use now. They are Basic, Grill and Convection types. Basic models are most popular which are used for reheating, defrosting etc. The Grill model can be used for browning or baking apart from the above uses. The convection model is having more utility value than the other two models. With heating elements and a fan, convection ovens can expedite the process of cooking by evenly distributing the heat within the oven. Probably convection ovens can be defined as the perfect one with multifarious utilities. It can execute a perfect job whether it is cooking, baking, browning, grilling or broiling.

Sizes of microwave ovens vary as mentioned earlier. Power consumption also varies according to the size and type of use. Modern microwave ovens are incorporated with innovative features like touchpad controls and recipe memory feature. Users can store different food recipes in the memory and activate pre-set menus. Multi grill with laminated elements provided on all sides make the cooking process fast and efficient. The home makers can plan the menus in advance and programme them accordingly. Leading brands like Whirlpool, Kenstar, LG, AEG, Beko, Bosch and Siemens are among large number of most modern ovens available in the UK markets. Microwave ovens work both on electricity and gas, but the former one is more popular. Built-in ovens are more stylish but they are expensive than others.

Users should take care to choose the cookwares that are to be used in microwave ovens. There are special pans and casseroles which are certified as ‘microwave safe' as some of the conventional cookwares may not be able to withstand microwave heat. Round or oval shaped containers without sharp curves are more suitable for microwave use. Food items in the cookware should be covered by plastic sheet. Aluminium foils should not be used for the purpose.

Microwave ovens are expensive than other types of stoves. Proper cleaning and regular maintenance are very important. Users of branded products will be provided with instructions about the regular cleaning and maintenance of the device. Thorough cleaning immediately after each use will help to maintain the device and to extend the longevity of the product. Turn table and filters are detachable. They can be cleaned perfectly if taken out after use. Regular and intensive use of microwave ovens should be avoided in the best interests of health and nutrition.