If you’re all about making popcorn, or you like to heat leftovers for dinner or lunch, then the best microwave is indispensable for you. Over time microwaves have become essential kitchen appliances in people’s homes. They can heat, cook and in some cases even grate and brown different kinds of food. It makes our everyday lives more practical, fast, and perfect for making people’s routines easier. Most times, you just need to press a button and wait a few minutes to have a full meal at the right temperature.
More elaborate and modern models allow you to prepare dishes without making any masks and without difficulty. Still, when we see so many options available, choosing only one microwave to take home with you can be hard. That’s why you need to be sure of all the specifics of the product when looking for one, and that way, you can get the best microwave for you.
You have to be sure because today, we see many microwaves with different buttons and programmed settings that sometimes we may not use. If you’re looking for a specific kitchen appliance with different settings, pay attention because we will show you all the different parts of microwaves and everything you need to know before buying one.
History of microwaves
Microwaves were invented in 1947, and the first product with microwave technology was the Radarrange, and it was gigantic if you’re going to compare it to the microwaves we have today. History says it was the size of refrigerators we have today. The microwave heated up frequently, so it was connected to a water line to be water-cooled.
After that, other companies started to adapt it and eventually make smaller microwaves, and that started in 1967.
Parts of a microwave
When buying one, it’s important to know each part of it. If you need to replace a defective part, you can identify it easier and get to know your microwave a little bit better and how they work.
Cooking cavity
When we first see a microwave, we open its door, and we see a cavity. This cavity is where you place your food to be heated, cooked, or defrosted. It’s called a cooking cavity, and it’s usually quite small if you compare it to the size of the microwave. Since it produces microwaves that are harmful to humans, they need to be contained inside this cavity, and the microwave door helps with that too.
Case
The case is just the outer part of the microwave. It is usually metallic, and it’s there to protect the internal parts of a microwave. The color can vary between silver, black, white, cream, and many others. You can use any paint if you want to customize and paint your case but pay attention. You need to check that the paint you’ve chosen is for that specific metallic material of the microwave.
Magnetron
Inside our homes, we have a voltage working, but a microwave requires a higher voltage and this specific part called magnetron converts the energy to heat food, creating microwaves. Back in the day, magnetrons were huge, which is why microwaves in the 1900s were much bigger than the ones we have today. They have been adapted, and nowadays, we can see microwaves smaller and more practical.
Waveguide
You probably know that microwaves send tiny little waves to heat your food, just like its name, but those waves need to be guided. That is why the waveguide exists. It’s shaped like a metal tube, and it directs the microwaves that the magnetron produces directly to the food inside the cooking cavity.
Cooling Fan
Just like refrigerators and other home appliances that require heat, microwaves can overheat, which is why we see cooling fans inside them. The cooling fans dissipate the heat and keep it at a safe level. It’s usually at the top of the microwave inside the cooking cavity.
How to choose a microwave
As we’ve told you, there are many things to consider when buying a microwave. Among all the functionalities and information we see, we might get a little frustrated because of all the options available in the market. Sometimes we don’t know how to choose among all of them. Don’t worry. We have made a list of the things you need to worry about when buying a microwave. Pay attention and keep on reading.
Capacity
It’s important to think about the size of the meals you’re going to heat up before buying a microwave. Are you heating up dishes only for yourself or for the whole family at once? Check the specifics of the model first to know the measurements of the inside of the microwave.
Potency
If you want something faster and more efficient, think about the potency. The higher the potency of the microwave, it’ll take less time to unfreeze and cook food.
Functionalities
Each microwave is different. Some have extra functionalities that impress and make your life easier. You must consider the resources that every microwave brings, like pre-programmed recipes, the ability to record recipes, and security locks that are helpful if you have kids at home or just think about safety in your kitchen.
Grill
This is also an extra functionality, but the grill allows us to brown, grate food, and even combine the usual microwave functionalities such as cooking. With both functionalities working together, the cooking time is shorter, making our lives easier and more practical.
After all this information, it’s time to choose your microwave. Keep in mind everything we’ve told you and consider all the items when choosing the best microwave for you. We have selected microwaves that can help with your choice and make your life easier daily. whether you’re only planning on making popcorn or heating up your leftovers, each microwave has functionalities that are different amongst them, so pay attention.
This Toshiba microwave is number one on our list and is also Amazon’s choice for countertop microwaves. You can choose between a black microwave and also stainless steel, which are both very good-looking. It has extra functionalities with a pre-programmed menu for pizza, vegetables, potatoes, rice, and many other options.
It comes with a big display that is very easy to read and has many options to choose from. You can place your microwave in power-saving mode, turn its sound off or on whenever you want, and program a few settings.
We can assure you that this microwave looks amazing on any countertop.
Another very important thing when choosing your microwave is if it’s easy to clean, and this Toshiba microwave oven has a very easy-to-clean cavity. You can take a cloth or a piece of fabric, get a little water and remove the dirt from the inside of the cavity. It’s also scratch and stain-resistant.
2. Black+Decker Digital Microwave Oven
Black & Decker digital microwave is number two on our list, and it’s also very well rated on Amazon. It’s made of stainless steel and has many functionalities, just like the last one.
You can press pre-programmed buttons for popcorn, frozen vegetables, pizza, dinner plates, and beverages. It comes with a clock, a timer, and a large digital display. Big displays are amazing if you have trouble reading every single functionality. This might be the best microwave for you if you have small children at home because it comes with a child safety lock which makes our lives much easier.
It’s also very easy to clean because the glass turntable inside the cooking cavity is removable, which makes cleaning the cavity easier. If you need to open the microwave, just press the button on the bottom right, and the door will open.
3. Nostalgia RMO4AQ Retro Countertop Microwave
If you’re into good-looking items and vintage looks, you’re going to fall in love with Nostalgia, and it’ll probably be the best microwave for you. It comes with 12 settings, a digital clock, express cooking, and a retro look that make this microwave stand out.
This nostalgia microwave has a turn-and-push dial, and with it, you can control many things such as cooking time, choosing a program setting, or setting the food weight. We can find popular food choices among the programmed settings like popcorn, beverages, vegetables, frozen dishes, pizza, bread, chicken, fish, beef, potatoes, rice, and dinner plates. There’s one setting for every taste.
Just like the last two microwaves, the Nostalgia comes with a child lock providing extra safety.
The cooking cavity is also very spacious and easily fits dinner plates inside, so you don’t need to worry about its capacity.
Besides its good looks, you can even choose between 6 different colors, one prettier than the other.
This Panasonic microwave oven comes in three colors which are silver, black, and white. It comes with 1200W of power and has a good capacity.
Panasonic invented the inverter technology with turbo defrost, which generates a consistent power to cook and defreeze your food evenly. It also speeds up the defrosting time.
This can be the best microwave for you because it comes with an automatic sensor that adjusts itself according to the food you’re heating or cooking. The menu also contains 14 programmed settings that’ll make your life a bit easier. With it, you don’t even need to use your regular stove or oven.
With Panasonic’s patented technology, if you just heated your dish, but you’re still not ready to serve it, you don’t need to worry because it keeps your food nice and warm until it’s ready to serve.
Another good thing about this microwave is that Panasonic enhanced its cooking cavity, making it bigger. That way, the case on the outside is smaller.
5. COMFEE Countertop Microwave Oven
Comfee is a brand that is gaining a bit of popularity with its good and well-rated home appliances. This countertop microwave is considered the best microwave if we’re talking about compact ones. If you’re looking for a small and efficient microwave, this should be your pick.
This Comfee microwave comes with many functionalities, and if you’re a fan of silent ones, it is perfect for your home. You can mute it whenever you want, and also check the clock, set the timer, see easy automatic functions for cooking and adjust the child lock, making this a safer home appliance for you and your children with the child lock technology.
The panel is very easy to control, and it comes with an interior light, so you can see your food while it’s cooking and check if it’s ready.
The coolest thing about this countertop microwave is that it comes with an ECO mode. If your Comfee is on standby and you turn on the ECO mode, it will reduce its power by 50%.
You can choose the white or black standard versions or the green one, which is more of a retro model.
6. Galanz GLCMKA07BER-07 Retro Microwave Oven
The number 6 on our list is another great option if you like retro items and retro microwaves. Instead of a push-button to open the microwave door, the Galanz has a shiny pull handle.
Honestly, this microwave almost looks like a retro TV, which is one reason we like it so much. It’s just gorgeous.
It comes with adjustable power levels, defrost program, and also weight adjustment, making it very practical and versatile.
If you’re looking for a microwave that can also work as a decoration item, Galanz is perfect! It’s a fun and stylish item, and you can choose according to your existing decoration, whether you prefer a black, red, blue, or green microwave to stand out.
Galanz is the best microwave for you if you’re looking for one that makes a good and loud beeping sound when your food is ready.
The glass turntable allows your food to cook evenly and also defrost with more efficiency. It also makes it easier to clean, being a removable turntable. You can remove it for a moment and clean the entire cooking cavity.
