After several hours of searching among a variety of different brands, I found the best microwave oven of the moment for its excellent quality/price ratio: the Whirlpool MWP 303 SB. And if you’re interested in buying a new microwave, look at our shopping guide at the end of the article!
Top 7 Over The Range Microwave Ovens
- Convenience Cooking Controls operating made Quick And easy
- Auto and Time Defrost defrosting times And power Levels Are Programmed Automatically Or...
- Over-the-Range
- 1.7 Cu. Ft. Capacity
- 1000 watts of cooking power and 10 power levels allow you to adjust the power from 10% to...
- 1 through 6-minute Express Cooking quick start controls and Add 30-Seconds control
- 1.6 cu. ft. capacity1000 Watts (IEC-705 test procedure). Cavity (W x H x D)-18-13/16 x...
- Auto and time defrostDefrosting times and power levels are programmed automatically or...
- Convenience cooking controls operating made quick and easy
- Electronic controls with graphic display make this microwave easy to use
- 1.6 cu. ft. Capacity Over the Range Microwave with Convertible Venting
- This is easy to use
- This is highly durable
Tips to choose the best microwave oven according to your needs
We have to look very carefully at the external dimensions of the microwave oven to ensure that it fits perfectly with the space we have planned for installation in the kitchen. To do this, all these models perfectly expose in their product profile the 3 parameters to be taken into account:
- Width
- High
- Depth
The microwave ovens of our selection have between 17 and 32 liters capacity. This is one of the most important factors to take into account when choosing a model or another as we will have to opt for one or the other depending on the meals we plan to heat.
It is not the same to consider the purchase of a microwave oven to defrost a couple of fillets from time to time than to use it to make more complex recipes of roasts or pastries. The models with greater capacity, obviously, occupy more space.
In this case, we will have to look at 3 parameters:
- Maximum microwave power: Varies between 600 watts and 1200 watts of power depending on the model. The higher the power of the microwave, the shorter it will take to heat the food. Remember that the power of the microwave will always be lower when we use the defrost function.
- Maximum power of the oven: oscillates between 1500 and 2500 watts of power. The more power the oven has, the greater versatility when considering different recipes.
- Maximum power of the grill: It usually varies between 1000 and 1200 watts of power.
In response to our needs, we must decide on the model that offers us all the features that we will really need or use continuously:
- Heating food
- Defrosting
- Gratin
- Roasts
- Fried
- Fermentations (doughs, yogurts
Are microwave ovens safe?
The world health organization is blunt in this regard. All microwaves approved in the European economic area are completely safe for use thanks to their design and the materials used. The microwaves responsible for heating the food inside are only produced when the oven is in operation and with the door closed. The few waves that can escape through the door are well below international maximum standards.
How to choose your microwave oven?
Whether it’s cooking, preparing a quick meal or reheating your coffee or frozen pizza, the microwave oven is one of the most practical appliances in your kitchen. These appliances are perfect for reheating or thawing food, but other models can do much more, including pastries, yogurt or popcorn!
In addition to these possibilities and the time saved by the microwave, they also consume less energy than other kitchen appliances. It frees you from wasted electricity to preheat a conventional oven or the water from a teapot when you want to drink a cup of hot coffee or tea.
The different types of microwave ovens
The conventional and convection microwave oven
A standard microwave oven emits microwaves that pass through plastic or glass containers to heat a dish. A microwave convection oven, on the other hand, combines traditional microwave technology with that of a conventional oven for roasting, roasting or grilling.
Microwaves with oven function have integrated resistance and ventilation systems to produce and distribute heat within the appliance. The result is homogenous cooking and the possibility that this type of appliance does more than defrost and heat a dish!
The microwave oven alone, with a grill or combined
The microwave oven is the most familiar type of appliance that exists and serves the basic tasks of defrosting and heating food. The microwave oven with grill offers the option of grill next to the basic function of the device. It has the functions of a conventional microwave, but can also cook on the grill.
Finally, the combined microwave oven is, as the name suggests, a device that combines two or three functions at the same time. That is, it is a microwave, a grill and an oven in the same appliance, therefore, it can be used to cook more food more quickly!
The main features and technologies available
What distinguishes microwave ovens from older models today are their advanced functions. The latest devices include settings that automate the cooking of all types of food and dishes.
The most expensive microwave ovens on the market include up to 100 pre-recorded programs that allow you to cook your dishes, without having to set a timer or choose a power level. Others offer quick defrosting features or delay the start of cooking to allow your dishes to stay hot longer.
The turntable
In order to uniformly heat your dishes, most models have a turntable. Some models have replaced this dish with a rectangular tray that slides sideways into the microwave.
The power variation
It does not always cook using the same power. The power variations are used to change this calibration on the fly. This feature allows you to simmer your dishes with 50% of the expected power and defrost them with only 30% of the base power set.
The keys and buttons of settings
The hotkeys extend the specified cooking time by 30 seconds or 1 minute, keeping the selected power level of the base. They also allow you to quickly adjust your cooking parameters. As for the buttons, they avoid having to guess the cooking time and the level of power needed to cook / heat / defrost classic dishes (popcorn, frozen vegetables, pizza …).
An easy to clean interior
Last but not least, cleaning the inside of the microwave should be easy. To do this, some appliances are upholstered with a layer of non-porous material such as enameled porcelain or stainless steel.
The advantage of these materials is that they facilitate the cleaning of spilled, dry or scattered food inside the appliance. The most modern models even have an interior covered in material with antibacterial properties!