The microwave is one of the most versatile kitchen appliances around. It can do more than merely heat or reheat food and cook popcorn. When you choose the right one, you should be able to cook meals, prepare ingredients, effectively thaw frozen food, and much more. Hence, it is important to do your homework and determine your needs before you purchase a microwave. That way, you can be sure that you are investing in a high-quality appliance that can save you a lot of time, energy, and money in the long run.
Here are three things to consider before you purchase any microwave:
- The store that sells it – Verify the reputation and background of the seller, and make sure that it is accredited by the Better Business Bureau. Look up reviews about the store to verify the quality and authenticity of its products, especially if it sells high-end microwave ovens from many different brands.
- The people who will use it – There are microwave ovens that are designed specifically for families and non-tech savvy users. Those are products with pre-programmed settings, which should be easy to identify from the control panel. This feature makes it easier to prepare snacks, heat food, or cook food. Be sure look for features like automatic defrost and sensors that can calculate the cooking time according to the amount of steam that is coming from the food. A small microwave should be enough for a small family or for one or two users, and a larger microwave may be more efficient for a big family.
- Wattage – The wattage will affect the efficiency of the microwave and how fast or well it can cook or heat your food. A 1,000-watt unit should be able to cook efficiently and quickly as opposed to a 700-watt or less, which may be slower and may cook the food unevenly. Basically, the higher the wattage, the faster, and more efficient the microwave can cook.