Capacity
The higher the capacity, the more food can be cooked at once. A microwave oven with a volume of up to 20 litres is suitable for heating one plate. In a model with a volume of more than 28 litres, you can already put a whole pan.
Power
The higher the power of the microwave, the faster the food is heated. The vast majority of models provide the ability to adjust it. It is believed that for comfortable cooking you need to purchase a model with a power of at least 900 watts. If you plan to use the microwave oven exclusively for heating food, you can get by with less powerful models.
Turntable diameter
The larger the diameter of the table, the larger dishes can be used in the oven. This spec directly depends on the volume of the microwave oven.
Power levels
It is the number of fixed power levels provided in the design of the microwave. The more such levels, the wider the capabilities of the device because different tasks require different heating intensities.
Door opens with
- Handle. The door of the built-in microwave oven opens and closes with a handle while fixing in the closed position is provided by a spring latch. To open such a door, you need to pull it by the handle, overcoming the resistance of the spring latch. The handle on the door is common in capacious microwaves, as well as models with a downward opening door.
- Button. The door opening mechanism automatically ejects the door at the push of a button. To close the door back, the user needs to press the edge of the door against the lock. As a rule, the open button is used in built-in microwaves with a capacity not higher than average. The push-button opening mechanism is relevant only for models with a sideward door opening. The button allows you to get rid of the handle, which in some cases can spoil the overall interior of the kitchen, but the weak point of such a mechanism is the lock device itself, which is subject to mechanical wear.
Inner coating
— Enamel. The most inexpensive and common type of internal coating. The strength and reliability of enamel are generally sufficient for most cases. This material does not tolerate high temperatures, is relatively easily damaged and is prone to sticking small pieces of food and splashes, which makes cleaning difficult. As a result, the enamel is used mainly in inexpensive microwave ovens.
— Acrylic. Another fairly inexpensive material. It is not as widespread as enamel, but mainly because it appeared relatively recently. The main and only advantage of such a coating is its low cost. At the same time, it is not durable and does not tolerate strong heat, which is why it is used mainly in low-power models with a basic set of features.
- Stainless steel. In addition to its solid appearance, the steel coating has good strength and the ability to withstand high temperatures, and it is easy to clean. It is one of the best options if you plan to use the built-in grill extensively. In general, models with such a coating are noticeably more expensive than enamel ones, but this is due not so much to the coating as to more advanced features.
— Ceramics. Due to their hardness, ceramics resist scratches very well, and food particles practically do not stick to them. It makes these coatings very easy to clean. Their main disadvantage is fragility.
- Non-stick. This term may refer to various types of special coatings that prevent food from stick...ing. The best-known option is Teflon. This material has excellent non-stick properties. It is easy to clean but requires careful handling because it scratches easily. At the same time, it is believed that scratches lead to the release of harmful substances. Although, there is no unambiguous evidence for this. But with high heating, Teflon breaks down with the formation of harmful substances. However, in a microwave oven, such heating of the coating is almost impossible to achieve; and where there is such a possibility (for example, in models with a powerful grill), other heat-resistant non-stick materials are usually used.
Steam cleaning
The inside of the microwave oven is cleaned with hot steam. A container with water is placed inside, and a steam programme is turned on. The resulting steam softens even old dirt, and after processing, it is removed with a regular rag or sponge easily.
Display
The presence of the display makes it easier to handle the microwave oven, allowing you to show information about the time, mode, etc. It is present mainly in electronically controlled models. However, mechanical ones can also have a display. And advanced models can be equipped not with a classic LED display but with a TFT display that can display not only letters and numbers but also images.
Country of origin
The country in which, according to the manufacturer, the model is manufactured. Even though most of the capacities are located in China, European factories for the production of household appliances have not disappeared. And some models can be produced on them. In general, such a division into a Chinese or European factory should not particularly affect the quality of products but the stereotype of a reliable European assembly is present. However, it is possible that the model may have a country of manufacture, for example, Poland, and in the store, under the same article, you will meet China.
