Microwaves

We’ve been known to break out microwave rants in the past. You can’t blame us, there’s nothing more exhilarating to write about than microwaves after all. Sense some sarcasm there? Not a drop, because take a moment to ponder something for a second – heating your kid’s milk in the morning, quickly defrosting that slab of pork for lunch for seven, or simply blasting a quesadilla to get that cheese dripping like everyone expects out of a proper quesadilla.

Yes, you could provide an alternative to all the above. The stovetop or oven to be exact. But not as efficient, not nearly as quick, and both a bit of a chore to use compared to the microwave for these little, but necessary daily activities. If you’re considering a microwave for the first time (welcome back to society after your 40-year trip to Siberia) or need an upgrade, there are three main microwave types to consider. The built-in and over-the-range models are a bit more involved, requiring a professional installer and some extra bells and whistles. Most folks opt for the countertop as they are standalone and require little extra installation.

Over-the-range models not only serve as a microwave but also suck in smoke from the cooktop and filter it so your room doesn’t end up smelling like burnt salmon. Built-in models also bring with them an external benefit in that they’re built-in to the kitchen furniture which results in increased counterspace. This sounds minor but walk into your kitchen, take a glance around, and let us know if you couldn’t do with a microwave’s size of additional counterspace. Speaking of counterspace, microwaves also come in all shapes and sizes. On the countertop end, a 0.5 cubic feet microwave is common, big enough to accommodate a 10-inch dinner plate, but that’s about it. The most common size is 1 to 2 cubic feet, but we’ve also seen some break that 2 cubic feet plane. At this size you’re frankly cooking things.

The next thing to consider is wattage. A standard, 1,000-watt microwave will cook quickly, and this is a good baseline to go off. You will of course find microwaves with 700 watts or less, but they are naturally slower and tend to cook unevenly. Bottom line – the higher the wattage the faster the cook. On the specs and features end, many microwaves in 2019 feature pre-programmed settings and automatic defrost to again make our lives easier. If you have a family be sure to look for microwaves that have a child lockout feature. This is quite handy because you’ve simply installed a code on the machine, where as an adult you press a sequence of buttons before being able to operate the machine.

Lastly, how long will you have said machine? Great question, good microwaves will last roughly 10 years. Not a bad lifespan considering you can get your hands on a great microwave nowadays for less than $400. But in all honesty, this machine is a daily companion, so don’t skimp, you’ll be doing everyone in your family a massive favor.