What do you use your microwave for? In actuality, even though there is a microwave oven in almost every home, we only use them to reheat leftovers and to defrost meats. Some people may use them for popcorn or a hot dog on occasion. Other than that they seem to just sit on the counter and take up space.
Many of the early models of microwave ovens were not suitable to do much cooking. They were great at defrosting mats or reheating meals. You could even get away with cooking a hot dog in one. However, try to cook a chicken breast in one and you came up with a misshapen white hockey puck. It was rubbery, tough and tasteless.
Microwaves of today are totally different. Now they can cook an entire dinner. You can have meats that have actually been browned on the outside and are crispy. On the inside they are still tender and flakey. Vegetables are moist and tasty. In fact the meal is just as good as if you had cooked it in or on your range.
To get all these features, you may have to pay about one hundred dollars more that for the simple reheating or defrosting model, but in the long run, you will save money. This is because a microwave uses less power than a standard oven and cooks in less time. If you get a microwave that is full function and avoid use of the range oven, the savings on your utility bill can pay back the initial cost in only a few months.
You must decide if you want a microwave that is mounted over your kitchen range or one that sits on the counter. The countertop models are less expensive and have the largest selection of options if you have enough room.
If your kitchen is small, then opt for the over the stove model. They may require professional installation and are somewhat more expensive initially, they do free up counter space. Additionally, many models also offer a vent hood over the range to keep the kitchen free of cooking odors and smoke.
Some microwaves offer a convection oven combination feature that comes in handy when cooking a full meal. Hot air is circulated around food in order to speed up the cooking and give the food a crispy crust. Convection cooking is perfect for baked goods as well as roasting meats. Other models use a quartz or halogen heating light in the microwave that browns food when needed.
Sensor cooking is becoming popular in some microwaves. The feature shuts off the microwave when food is done. It works by sensing the infrared heat given off by food or by the amount of steam being given off.
If you think that microwaves are only for defrosting or reheating, you should take the time to walk down the microwave aisle. Look to see what is being offered in the newest of microwave ovens.
Many of the early models of microwave ovens were not suitable to do much cooking. They were great at defrosting mats or reheating meals. You could even get away with cooking a hot dog in one. However, try to cook a chicken breast in one and you came up with a misshapen white hockey puck. It was rubbery, tough and tasteless.
Microwaves of today are totally different. Now they can cook an entire dinner. You can have meats that have actually been browned on the outside and are crispy. On the inside they are still tender and flakey. Vegetables are moist and tasty. In fact the meal is just as good as if you had cooked it in or on your range.
To get all these features, you may have to pay about one hundred dollars more that for the simple reheating or defrosting model, but in the long run, you will save money. This is because a microwave uses less power than a standard oven and cooks in less time. If you get a microwave that is full function and avoid use of the range oven, the savings on your utility bill can pay back the initial cost in only a few months.
You must decide if you want a microwave that is mounted over your kitchen range or one that sits on the counter. The countertop models are less expensive and have the largest selection of options if you have enough room.
If your kitchen is small, then opt for the over the stove model. They may require professional installation and are somewhat more expensive initially, they do free up counter space. Additionally, many models also offer a vent hood over the range to keep the kitchen free of cooking odors and smoke.
Some microwaves offer a convection oven combination feature that comes in handy when cooking a full meal. Hot air is circulated around food in order to speed up the cooking and give the food a crispy crust. Convection cooking is perfect for baked goods as well as roasting meats. Other models use a quartz or halogen heating light in the microwave that browns food when needed.
Sensor cooking is becoming popular in some microwaves. The feature shuts off the microwave when food is done. It works by sensing the infrared heat given off by food or by the amount of steam being given off.
If you think that microwaves are only for defrosting or reheating, you should take the time to walk down the microwave aisle. Look to see what is being offered in the newest of microwave ovens.
About the Author:
Reese Cook likes to write microwave oven review and articles about how to choose the best microwave oven. Her microwave website is very helpful.
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