microwave: 7 tips to keep in mind while buying a microwave oven – Times of India

Microwave ovens are gradually becoming a necessity in every Indian household. A good oven that has all features and can last long enough will cost you above Rs 12,000. So, when you buy one of these, there are certain factors that you should keep in mind. Here, we will discuss some important points that you must remember before buying a microwave oven.
Weigh your needs
This is the most important aspect of all other points. To select the perfect appliance for your family, you must understand what you need and how big your appliance should be to cater all. This also includes another significant factor, where you will place your oven. As microwave ovens come in multiple sizes. First measure the size of your kitchen or the place you want to keep it. You must also have an idea on how much food you plan to cook in the microwave oven.
Determine the internal capacity you need
Microwave ovens generally come with an internal capacity from less than 1 cubic foot to over 2 cubic feet. The size of a microwave oven is generally listed on the box so that individuals know about the size before buying the appliance. It is important to check the internal capacity to understand whether or not they can bake or make the favourite dish s/he wants.
Review your options and select the type of microwave oven you want
Every individual has his or her own preference and it gets even more important when it comes to an appliance that is generally bought for cooking purposes. There are three types of microwave ovens — countertop, over-the-range and built-in microwave ovens. Countertop microwave ovens are the ones that take up counter space (basically those that can be plugged and used.) Over-the-range are those, which are placed above the stove (range). This category of ovens have a fan that helps from steam, smoke and odours and are generally vented to the outside. And finally, the built-in microwaves. They are the expensive ones, which are mostly custom built to fit your needs. They don’t take up counter space and are installed as a microwave drawer. Some countertop microwaves, however, come with built-in options.
Look for deals, both online and offline
If buying the appliance is not urgent, you can very well wait for the products to be on sale via both online and offline channels. In India, sales happen quite a few times throughout the year. The idea is to keep an eye out and look for the best. You can look for special credit or debit card deals that can offer cashbacks. Most importantly, if you select a product, read its reviews. If you find too many negative reviews, try to avoid the product.
Look for must-have features
When you are spending on a device that will last you at least for a few years, make sure you go for features that you need not just right now but also the ones that you may in the coming times. Some of the top features that you should look in a microwave oven are:
Auto-cook menu: Select the type of dish and automatically set the cooking time.
Child lock menu: Ensure safety of children at home. Buy a microwave that gives you the option of putting up a lock code.
Timer: Make sure the microwave has a timer option that would automatically end a heating or cooking programme.
Defrost: This option in a microwave oven gives the option to unfreeze the food easily using defrost function.
Pre-heat: The microwave oven should have the option to set temperature before cooking, it helps in making some specific recipes. This comes in handy in cases of baking cakes or cookies.
About the different types of microwave ovens
Microwave ovens generally come in three major options — Solo, Grill and Convection. A Solo microwave oven is the simplest among these and can only be used if a user wants to use it for functions like defrosting, reheating and heating. The Grill microwave oven is basically an update on the solo microwave oven. The additional benefit of this variant is, it can also Grill food items. For Grill operations, this microwave oven comes with trays, which are provided by the manufacturers. The convection ovens are the most prominent and come with the features of the other two as well as more. These ovens use hot air and microwaves for cooking.