A microwave oven is a useful and functional appliance for home and office. In it you can warm up lunch, boil water, defrost food and much more.

Choosing a microwave is not an easy task. To choose a microwave for heating, you need to dig deeper into the possible functions and parameters, to understand which of them are really important and which should not be overpayed.

What are small microwaves

First of all, small-volume microwave ovens differ in the number of functions:

  • solo. These are ovens with one function, they are used only for heating food. Since the number of functions is minimal, the size of the microwave itself is also small - from 8.5 to 20 liters;
  • devices with many features. A small microwave oven can be used not only for heating. Even with a wide selection of functions, the device remains as small as about 20 liters.

In terms of size, on average, a mini-microwave is used to heat up about 30 cm in height, 45 cm in width and up to 35 in depth. The most popular volume among consumers is 15 liters. The diameter of the pallet is standard - approximately 24-26 cm.

Microwave ovens are quite economical - the energy consumption of models without a grill is 700-800 W, and with a grill - up to 1000. So, unlike electric ovens, they do not overload the network.

Small microwave ovens can heat a serving of food or boil water in a cup of tea. But to cook a full dinner for several people does not work due to the small volume of the device. So the purchase of such a device with a large number of functions for many people, most likely, will not be rational. Such a multifunctional baby is more suitable for single people or couples without children.

Microwave control can be mechanical or touch. As you know, the former serve for decades, while the latter are more convenient and modern.

Kids with a large range of functions will cost around 5,000-10,000 rubles, and solo models 3,000-6,000 rubles.

Mini Microwave Selection Criteria

Choosing an assistant, you need to decide what exactly you want to get. You need to pay attention to the following points:

  • power;
  • dimensions;
  • volume;
  • camera cover;
  • functional;
  • price.

Let us dwell on each item a little more.

Power

Power microwave ovens can be from 500 to 1500 watts. The higher the power, the faster the dish will be warmed up or cooked. There are also furnaces with power control - it’s quite convenient, you can quickly warm it up and carefully defrost it.

Dimensions

The size range of microwave ovens is wide: the smallest - 18.8 x 15.7 x 15 cm. Typically, a standard is chosen based on the size of the work surface or the shelf where it will be installed.

Volume

The volume of the microwave oven can be divided into three types:

  • small ones. The volume of such furnaces is usually from 8.5 to 20 liters. They can make sandwiches, heat water for tea or coffee, and more. This is a solo device;
  • medium. It includes furnaces with a volume of 21 to 27 liters. Here, the manufacturer already adds some functions, sometimes grilling and convection. Such a device will be quite enough for a family of 2 or 3 people;
  • big ones. This is almost an oven. The displacement of such an oven can reach 42 liters. It already definitely provides additional functions.

Camera coating

A very important factor. The lifetime and ease of cleaning the inside of the microwave depend on it. Types of coverage can be divided into three categories:

  1. Enamel. The most familiar and common material. Due to its low cost, all inexpensive devices are covered by it. Of the advantages, low cost and ease of care can be distinguished. But there are significant drawbacks - the coating is fragile, over time, cracks from temperature extremes form.
  2. Stainless steel. More expensive and durable material, usually used in middle-class models. He reacts calmer to temperatures, but in care he is more demanding. Here you have to buy special cleaning products.
  3. Ceramics and bioceramics. Perhaps the best camera coating material at the moment. Easy to clean, resistant to temperature changes, durable and durable. There is only one minus - the cost of such a device is two times higher than the others.

compact microwave

Functional

In addition to the main purpose - heating food, microwave ovens are used for cooking, defrosting food and other things thanks to additional functions. Among them are:

  • automatic defrosting / warming up dishes. In this case, the oven itself chooses for how long to turn on, depending on the product and its quantity;
  • quick defrost or heating;
  • function to maintain heat in the chamber. With it you can cook various dairy products;
  • smart microwave. She remembers how to prepare the dish and subsequently just select this new mode;
  • delayed start. With him it is easy, for example, when leaving for business, to set the time and put food in the cell. Upon arrival home, a warm lunch / dinner will be waiting for you.

This, of course, is only a small part of the existing modes, the most useful of them.

Price

You can buy a microwave oven by spending from 3.5 to 140 thousand rubles. It all depends on the above factors and the brand of the manufacturer.

If you are interested in a camping or office microwave oven, a small microwave will be enough to warm up. The volume of such an assistant is 8.5 liters. The cheapest small microwave - Beanzawave will cost the buyer about 2,000 rubles.

The dimensions of the assistant are 18.8x15.7x15 cm. It works on batteries, USB or a network adapter.

Conclusion

So what kind of microwave to buy to heat food? If you are not going to cook it, you should take the simplest solo model (for example, Daewoo Electronics KOR-5A17G). It is perfect for an office or small kitchen in the house, does not take up much space and provides low energy consumption.

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Hot coffee and warm dinners!