A microwave is a staple in many kitchens, but many homeowners have fully embraced the technology and the benefits offered with a convection microwave oven. Convection technology has evolved a great deal in recent years, making convection microwave ovens an innovative and useful appliance for a busy family home. Since this technology may be new to many homeowners, here we’ll explore some of the things to look for when shopping for a new model.
The Convection Microwave Oven Basics
Most of us are familiar with microwave technology; it allows us to reheat leftovers, defrost frozen items, and even make popcorn quickly and easily. These benefits are offered with a convection microwave oven, but the convection technology also allows you to crisp and brown food as you would in a conventional oven.
Rather than heating the inside of the food, as a regular microwave does, convection microwave ovens also cook and brown the outside of the food, providing the full “cook through” that you would get with a traditional oven. Convection ovens use a fan to force the air movement, heating up the interior of the microwave to cook the food. This allows you to roast and bake things that may be cooked too quickly or not thoroughly enough with a regular microwave.
Decent Power Output
While convection ovens are known for their ability to crisp and brown foods, you’re still likely to want to choose a unit that can still cook food as quick as a regular microwave. If your current microwave is a high power unit, you may find yourself feeling frustrated if your new convection microwave has a fraction of the power output. So, don’t just look at the convection technology, consider the power output and what this translates into when cooking your favorite foods.
Visibility
Just like with a regular oven, it can be very frustrating if you need to keep opening the door to check on the progress of your dish. So, it is important to choose a microwave that offers high visibility. Ideally, your new convection microwave should have a sizeable window and a bright light, so you can regularly check on your food as it is cooking.
Large Capacity
The interior of your new microwave should be large enough to accommodate your dishes. If you like to reheat your favorite casserole, it will be very frustrating if your usual casserole dish is too large to fit inside the microwave. Think about the cookware that you frequently use and consider what capacity you will need to accommodate them. Remember that you also need to consider the clearance needed around the dish for adequate ventilation. Generally, you need to have at least 2 inches on the sides, 4 inches at the rear and a minimum of 6 inches above larger dishes for proper airflow and even cooking.
Unit Size
Of course, while capacity is important for accommodating your favorite dishes, you also need to think about the overall unit size. Whether your microwave sits on the countertop or is installed in an alcove, you should measure what space you have to work with. Look at the size of your current microwave and determine if you can go much bigger or smaller without compromising your kitchen aesthetics.
Additional Features
Finally, you should consider what additional features are available. Automatic settings can prompt you with the weight and type of food to help you calculate the cooking time, while multi stage cooking allows you to program different functions in sequence for the best results.
If you’re considering a new microwave, you can explore your options with this online collection of convection microwave ovens or speak to a home appliance professional for specialist advice and guidance.
