subject: What Microwave Options Are Available Today? [print this page] 1967 saw the birth of the very first microwave, and no doubt people were initially hesitant about it, not surprising when you consider the fact that no one had ever seen anything cook food in this way. None the less, the microwave quickly found its way into kitchens all around the world, and with a society that seemed to be in an increasing hurry it has become a useful addition to the kitchen workforce. Nowadays there are three types of microwaves available, standard microwaves, microwaves with a grill, and combination microwaves. The prices of each can vary quite considerably, but generally the standard microwaves are the cheapest and the combination microwaves are the most expensive.
Not surprisingly the standard microwave is the one that is most commonly used and can be picked up for as little as 30. As far as simple tasks are concerned, such as re-heating, warming, and defrosting, these microwaves are perfect. So, if you only ever use your microwave for defrosting bread, heating soup, or re-heating leftovers, then you need look no further than the standard microwave. However, remember that cooked items will not have the same browned and crispy look and feel that a grill can achieve.
If this is something that you want your microwave to be able to do then you might be best off looking at a microwave with a grill feature, this will allow you to achieve what a grill can, only in your microwave instead. Combination microwaves take this a step further and allow the microwave to be used as an oven, but obviously on a smaller scale. If your kitchen lacks the necessary space then this can be a great solution for saving space, if you did want to replace your regular oven with a microwave one.
The different features that are available on these types of microwaves are quite extensive, and as expected the price tends to follow accordingly. Many microwaves that have pre-programmed settings will also allow the user to store their own settings in the memory bank, this function is useful for convenience and will save some time. Some models even determine what settings to use them by detecting the weight of your food. Delayed start functions are also commonly found on microwaves.
As mentioned previously, if you are pushed for space in your kitchen then the size of your microwave will be an important factor. Combination microwaves are generally a lot bigger, although some designs have dual shelves or turntables to make the most of the space.
