Built-in microwave ovens

Kinds

Depending on the functionality and available modes, there are several types of built-in microwaves:

1. Solo. They perform only basic functions - heating and defrosting food, preparing simple dishes.
2. Ovens with grill. The grill can be top or bottom. In some models, the shadow moves by 45 degrees if necessary.
3. Devices with grill and convection. In addition to the heating element, there is a fan that evenly distributes warm air.
4. Multifunctional ovens, in addition to the main modes, allow you to steam food

Types of small and narrow microwave ovens

What types of compact miniature ovens are there? To get an answer to this question, you need to familiarize yourself with the types of such devices. They are divided by the number of functions and type of installation.

Types of miniature microwave ovens by number of functions:

1. Solo microwaves heat food using microwaves. Such devices will do an excellent job of heating and defrosting food. If you are not going to cook full meals in the microwave, then it is better to opt for this option.
2. Multifunctional microwave ovens with grill have many functions. You can cook delicious dishes with a golden brown crust in them. They can be quartz or thermoelectric. The former consume less energy and heat food faster, but have a higher cost. Thermoelectric microwaves are cheaper, but they also have a lower heating speed.

A portable microwave will open up a lot of possibilities for you; it can be used in any room

When deciding which of these options is best for you, think about why you need a microwave. If you only plan to heat up lunches for your family and make hot sandwiches for breakfast, then you can safely purchase a solo oven; it costs less than the multifunctional option and is shorter in length. Microwaves with grill are larger. They are suitable for lovers of crispy crust. However, keep in mind that the minimum dimensions of such microwaves will not allow you to cook a large amount of food; the maximum that can fit there is a small chicken.

How small microwaves are divided according to connection method:

1. A portable microwave is an excellent option for travel lovers. Such devices have a socket for connecting via a USB cable or even the ability to be powered by batteries.
2. Stationary microwaves usually weigh quite a lot and can only operate from a wall outlet.

Stationary microwave ovens are more popular than portable ones because they are more reliable and cheaper.

Methods of heating food

Stay up to date! Food can be heated in a microwave oven in several ways:

• microwaves - do not create a crispy crust, but are suitable for heating or defrosting food;
• grill - a heating element, the heat from which gradually spreads throughout the entire working chamber;
• convection - replaces the oven.

When you turn on the combination mode, convection and microwaves are activated simultaneously.
This allows you to get a tender product with a crispy crust and at the same time reduce its cooking time.

Types of Microwave Ovens

All devices operating on microwaves are divided into 2 categories based on the type of housing - free-standing, built-in. In each category, depending on the set of functions, technologies used, and sizes, there are several types:

1. Portable. The main differences from others are their miniature size and low power. Often equipped with handles, they are powered by batteries or other devices using a USB cable. Designed for hiking, use in the country, while traveling, in the car.
2. Solo. Miniature, with a minimum set of capabilities - heating and defrosting. It is best to buy such models for offices, rented apartments, and small kitchens.
3. Standard. The functions are most often the same as those of a solo, the difference is in power and internal volume, respectively, the dimensions are larger.
4. Convection. Here the ability to cook poultry, meat or vegetables on the grill is already added. In addition to standard heating, you can prepare full meals with a crispy crust.
5. Inverter. There is no transformer inside these devices, but there is a mechanism that regulates power. Due to the design features, the sizes do not differ much from the standard ones, but you can save time by improving the quality of the prepared food.
6. Multifunctional. Most often they are large in size, high in cost, and have almost unlimited capabilities. They combine microwave, grill, convection, steamer, and toaster technologies.

On a note!

Microwave ovens are also produced with different designs and control options. Small models are equipped with carrying handles. The simpler the control panel, the fewer parts there are and the lower the price.

Parameters that you should pay attention to when choosing

To use the device truly comfortably, you need to study the principle of its installation and operation, and check whether all the necessary components are included.

Control system

The oven may use rotary mechanical, rotary tact, push-button or touch switches .
Mechanical control is considered the most reliable and insensitive to power outages.

Experts do not recommend purchasing models with touch buttons if you plan to use the oven exclusively for heating food.

Embedding rules

Keep in mind! It must be taken into account that there should be 2-3 cm of free space in the niche on the side, top and back of the device.

The grill and convection oven may become hot, so keep the appliance away from surfaces that could be affected by heat and hot steam.

Equipment

comes complete with a glass dish, a coupling that rotates it, instructions, a warranty card and a cable for connecting the device to the network.

Grill and convection appliances usually come with two grates on stands: high and low.

If the oven supports the steaming function, a special container should be included with it.

Some manufacturers include plastic containers for storing and heating food.

They can also provide a special dish for creating a crispy crust, a lid to prevent fat from splashing, etc.

Culinary functionality

Microwave ovens have different feature sets, so before purchasing, it is important to check whether the appliance's features meet your expectations.

Door

You should know! The door can be hinged with side hinges or hinged with hinges at the bottom.

Depending on the model, it opens with a handle or by pressing a button.

Power and energy efficiency

Power affects the speed of cooking. For different models it can vary from 600 to 1200 W.

This setting can be adjusted depending on the type of product.

When purchasing a microwave oven, you need to balance its energy efficiency with the capabilities of your wiring .

The simplest microwave consumes from 0.5 to 1.5 kW, with a grill - from 1.5 to 2.8 kW, with grill and convection - from 2 to 3 kW.

The characteristics of the device must indicate the energy efficiency class. The most economical: A, A+, A++, B and C.

Note! Household appliances waste electricity not only during operation, but also during standby mode.

To reduce costs, you need to turn off the device from the network.

Security questions

Your microwave oven may have a safety device built into it to prevent children from accidentally turning it on .

When this function is activated, the device cannot be used until the lock is removed.

Design

The microwave oven should fit harmoniously into the interior of the kitchen.
When choosing a built-in model, it is worth considering that only the front side of the device will be visible.

Inner coating

The walls of the working chamber of a microwave oven can be covered with ceramics, enamel, stainless steel or bioceramic enamel.

The most commonly used coating is enamel . It is wear-resistant and easy to clean.

But enamel cannot be exposed to high temperatures, so this material is not suitable for models with oven functions.

The ceramic and bioceramic coating

For your information! There is practically no accumulation of soot on it and no scratches appear, and food particles and splashes of grease are easily washed off.

Stainless steel looks aesthetically pleasing and can withstand any temperature , but this material is more difficult to maintain.

Burnt fat is difficult to remove, and if you use abrasives, scratches will remain.

To simplify the process of caring for stainless steel, it is recommended to cover the plates with special lids.

Criterias of choice

When choosing, you need to consider:

1. Camera displacement. The larger the family, the larger the capacity of the microwave should be.
2. Number of options. Microwaves with wide functionality are more expensive, but with their help you can prepare many dishes. The main thing is to learn how to use the grill, convection and other modes. It is worth studying the instructions so as not to break the device through negligence.
3. Power. The higher this parameter, the faster the food heats up. The minimum is 450 W, and the maximum is 1700 W. Models with a power of over 1500 W quickly heat up food and also prepare dishes.
4. Coating. Enamel, bioceramics, and stainless steel are used for stoves. There is equipment made from several materials. This type of coating is called combined. Ceramic devices are considered the most reliable.

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Additional functionality worth paying attention to

When choosing a device, you should pay attention to whether it supports the following functions:

1. Defrosting – mode for thawing food.
2. Automatic defrosting is a mode in which you need to select the product category and its weight, but there is no need to select time and power.
3. Delay start – programming the time for turning on the gadget. This feature is useful for busy people. You can put the dish in the oven in advance and it will heat or prepare it for you when you arrive.
4. Automatic cooking - classic recipes stored in the device's memory. It is enough to prepare the products in accordance with the instructions, place them in the working chamber and press the appropriate button. The oven itself will select the optimal temperature, power and time.
5. Convection. Necessary if you plan to cook baked goods.
6. Grill. Allows you to cook foods with a crispy crust. The grill can be presented in the form of a closed quartz element or ten. The first option makes cleaning the cooking chamber easier because food particles do not fall on it. But ten copes with its functions better.
7. Automatic heating – one or several modes of heating a dish with a preset power and time.
8. Turning off the sound signal – silent operation mode. Important for those who do not want to disturb family members with the loud sounds that the stove makes after finishing work.

Why is the size of the profit center important?

The main criteria that people pay attention to when purchasing a profit center are:

• Dimensions. What matters is that when the kitchen is ready, the appliances need to be squeezed into the pre-prepared space. This question also arises sharply for owners of small living space.
• Functionality. For what purpose do you buy a microwave - to warm up sandwiches in the morning, to defrost steak? Then you will be satisfied with a miniature stove. Do you like to cook, bake, experiment? You will need an oven with many additional functions (eg grill, convention). The more functions a microwave performs, the more “filling” it contains, various additional elements. The versatility of a device often determines how much it weighs and how much space it takes up.
• Number of people in the family. The amount of food that needs to be heated or cooked depends on the composition of the family. If you need to heat a lot of food at one time - for example, you often have lunch, dinner with the whole family, or often invite guests - you will need a spacious option. And the capacity of the microwave directly depends on parameters such as width, length and depth.

According to parameters, profit centers are divided into:

• Compact - sizes vary between 30 cm and 40 cm, volume - from 8.5 to 15 liters, maximum diameter of the rotating tray is 26 cm. This little thing is enough to warm up a bachelor's breakfast or lunch for a family of two.
• Standard - from 15 to 30 liters internal volume, designed for a family of 3-5 people. Medium microwave ovens exceed the maximum dimensions of miniature ovens by 10 cm.
• Large ones - from 30 to 42 liters, you can feed up to 7 people at a time. The maximum dimensions of large stoves are: height - 50 cm, depth and length - 60 cm each.

To make it easier for you to make your choice, we have prepared a short overview of popular models for each category.

Top companies of built-in microwave ovens:

Samsung

• Samsung FW77SUW;
• Samsung FW87SUT;
• Samsung MG22M8054AK;
• Samsung FW77SUB;
• Samsung FG77SUT.

Hansa

• Hansa AMG20BFH;
• Hansa AMM20BMXH;
• Hansa AMM20BEXH;
• Hansa AMM20BESH;
• Hansa AMM20BEIH.

Siemens

• Siemens BF525LMS0;
• Siemens BF525LMW0;
• Siemens BF634LGS1;
• Siemens BF525LMW0;
• Siemens BF634LGS1.

Kuppersberg

• Kuppersberg HMW 655 X;
• Kuppersberg HMW 650 W;
• Kuppersberg HMW 650 BX;
• Kuppersberg HMW 655 W;
• Kuppersberg HMW 393 W.

Bosch

• Bosch BFL524MS0;
• Bosch BFL520MS0;
• Bosch BFL524MW0;
• Bosch BFL554MW0;
• Bosch BFL554MS0.

Ariston

• Hotpoint-Ariston MWA 121.1 X;
• Hotpoint-Ariston MWHA 222.1 X;
• Hotpoint-Ariston MWHA 122.1 IX;
• Hotpoint-Ariston MN 513 IX;
• Hotpoint-Ariston MD 764 IX HA.

Conclusions:

1. A built-in microwave oven does not clutter up the kitchen , while multifunctional models can replace an oven.
2. It must be taken into account that the niche should be slightly larger than the microwave.
3. When choosing a device, it is important to study its technical characteristics and functionality . For example, families with children may benefit from locking and silent mode.
4. Energy efficiency is an important parameter that many people do not pay attention to. Powerful appliances must be used in homes with reliable wiring.