Buyer's guide - Microwaves and mini ovens

Overview…...

By Alexandra Aussenac A guide to microwaves and mini-ovens

Microwaves and mini-ovens: whip up a feast in no time!
Quick and tasty cuisine
Easy to use, easy to clean!
Focus on … electronic programming
Choosing the right microwave or mini-oven
Conclusion

Microwaves and mini-ovens: whip up a feast in no time!

Whether you like fine or express dining, a microwave or mini oven is an essential part of any modern kitchen. Microwaves are everything from compact to spacious and are no longer synonymous with soggy pizza and cold vegetables.
Defrost, bake and broil in a convection mini oven just like you would in a traditional sized oven. Small sizes are just as stylish too!
Let PIXmania help you choose the one that best suits your cooking needs.

Speedy and tasty meals

(Back to top)

Small in size, easy to use and incredibly versatile, microwaves and mini-ovens are the perfect fit for almost any kitchen, provided you choose the right one!

Multifunction microwaves

Defrost, cook or reheat any type of food quickly and easily in a microwave oven. Microwaves range from about 13 to 35 litres in size, which means there’s one suited to every kitchen. Bachelors and couples who don’t reheat large quantities of food don’t need a huge microwave – one with a capacity of 18 to 24 litres will suffice.
However, the bigger your family, the larger your microwave should be. If there are more than four people in your household, a 25- to 35-litre microwave oven that’s spacious enough for large baking dishes is more convenient. You’ll want a turntable (the revolving plate usually made of glass) that can be blocked so even square dishes will fit inside the microwave.
A standard microwave doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of a multifunction microwave but is just as powerful. Standard microwaves usually have around 800 to 1,000 Watts of power, which is more than enough for occasional use. Remember, the smaller the cavity, the less power the microwave oven will need to heat or defrost food.
Selecting which power, cooking time and cooking method to use is usually done by hand in low-end microwave ovens. If you’re looking for more precision, try electronic programming and let your microwave figure everything out for itself!
Compact microwaves can have a cavity capacity of under 17 litres without reducing the size of the turntable (28cm) thanks to a rounded cavity, which optimises space and facilitates cleaning. Compact microwaves are great for smaller kitchens.
Built-in microwaves take up even less space. To install them, you’ll need special kits that sometimes come included with your microwave but not always – don’t forget to check!

See all microwaves

Get cooking with a multifunction microwave!

Multifunction microwaves can reheat and defrost; but they can also grill, roast and steam!
Cook a multitude of dishes in your multifunction microwave – like bubbling and browned cheese on toast, crispy pizza or golden-brown chicken – without turning on your oven. Use your multifunction microwave’s grill, convection and “crisper” features and find new ways of preparing your favourite dishes in a flash!
Quick defrosting, automatic cooking and other functions save you even more time – just enter the type of food and how much it weighs, and let your microwave handle the rest!
Multifunction microwaves can replace full-size ovens, which is great news for small kitchens. Some models even have a capacity of over 40 litres – big enough for a proper family dinner! Multifunction microwaves also come in more single- or couple-friendly sizes (13 to 20 litres).
When choosing your microwave, depth isn’t all that matters – make sure the cavity is tall enough for warming baby bottles if you have small children for example. Consider the size of the turntable as well, since it may give you a better idea of the microwave's actual size than, say, the litre capacity. Some multifunction microwaves even come with two cooking shelves, which makes them compact and spacious at the same time!

Small ovens, big possibilities

Why bother with big rotisserie ovens – mini-ovens are smaller and even more versatile! Mini ovens are as multifunction as microwaves and allow for convection, steam and even quartz cooking. Meats will cook evenly and stay nice and moist, and fish and vegetables will retain all their flavour and vitamins without drying out.
Thanks to pre-programmed recipe buttons, mini ovens are easy to use and pre-heat quickly. If you want perfect food in little time, choose a 100-watt model with a timer or even an electronic temperature setting, and never eat an overcooked pie again!
Mini ovens are compact enough to fit into any kitchen, and with a capacity ranging between 10 to 38 litres, they cook just as well as regular-sized devices. You can find mini ovens with a built-in hob on top or even a built-in coffee maker, specially designed for studio kitchens.
If you intend to use a mini oven instead of a standard-sized one, a mini oven with a 35-litre capacity will give you all the versatility you need for preparing everyday meals like lasagnes, pizzas and even roasts. Remember to pick up some accessories for your mini oven, like a roasting spit, drip tray and interior oven light.

See all mini ovens

Easy to use, easy to clean!

(Back to top)

Making meals in a microwave or mini oven is as easy as pie, but cleaning them can leave you crying in your custard.

Helpful hints

To stop food from spattering all over the inside of microwave when cooking, cover the dish with a plate, microwave-safe plastic wrap or a plastic lid.
If food has already splattered everywhere and cooked onto the insides of your microwave, boil a bowl of lemon water inside your microwave. The steam will help to loosen up any dried bits and remove odours.
Never place any metal (silverware, aluminium foil …) in a microwave -- you run the risk of seriously damaging the machine. If you're using the oven setting of a multifunction microwave, don’t use anything plastic, as it will melt.
Self-cleaning mini ovens do the chore for you by heating up to 250°, turning fatty deposits into ash. All you have to do is wipe the inside off with a sponge and you’re good to go.
If your mini-oven isn't self-cleaning, don't worry. There are loads of cleaning sprays to banish tough grease and grime from every inch of your mini oven or microwave.
Accessories can help you get the best out of your microwave or mini oven. Microwave steamers, specially designed food crispers and rotisserie attachments help you cook healthy and tasty meals in no time.
These accessories let your microwave oven perform to its full potential. Just make sure they’re compatible with your microwave before you buy.
If microwave cooking is a bit a mystery to you, pick up a microwave cookbook and get great tips on how to make tasty dishes!
These cookbooks sometimes come supplied with the microwave oven and are filled with great ideas and useful tips to turn your plain old microwave into a first-rate kitchen assistant.

Microwave or mini oven?

Some food for thought: microwaves and mini ovens both provide speedy cooking solutions and complement each other beautifully.
Convection mini ovens don’t microwave but can be just as fast, can accommodate larger dishes than microwaves and can be self-cleaning.
Multifunction microwaves are easy to use and are better for steaming foods. A simple steamer accessory is all you need for a microwave, but mini ovens require a tub full of water to produce steam.
A microwave with a crisping plate will produce the same golden-brown pizzas and pies as a mini oven.

Best-sellers

KENWOOD BM350 Bread Maker: € 83,50 Inc. VAT; IN STOCK

Sharp R939BK Multifunctional Microwave Oven: € 313 Inc. VAT; IN STOCK

DELONGHI EO2131 Oven: € 90,63 Inc. VAT; IN STOCK

Sharp Microwave oven R-26ST: € 98,59 Inc. VAT; IN STOCK

BODUM Wok CHAMBORD K0816-01: € 42,82 Inc. VAT; IN STOCK

Philips HD6107/70 Deep Fat Fryer: € 58,76 Inc. VAT; IN STOCK

Focus on …

(Back to top)

Electronic programming

Electronic – or automatic – programming is more accurate than manual programming, and what's more, it does everything for you.
No need to estimate cooking times and microwave power -- with electronic programming, you can simply enter the type of food you want to cook and its weight.
The microwave’s electronic programming will then select the appropriate power at which to cook the food quickly, while retaining all the flavour.
This programming is also available when defrosting and some models even let you create and save your own cooking programs.

Choosing the right microwave or mini oven

(Back to top)

Steaming, grilling, crisping and convection features make your microwave or mini oven ready for anything you throw at it. Learn to use all these features correctly, because once you go fast, you never go back!

Save time and money

Microwaves and mini ovens require about 800 to 1,000 watts to run, but end up being more energy-efficient than standard electric ovens since they’re on for a shorter amount of time.
To get a better idea, check out the energy label on appliances before you buy. This label classes household appliances by efficiency – ‘A’-rated products are the most efficient and ‘G’-rated products the least efficient. An ‘A’-rated appliance is more expensive to buy but ends up saving you money in the long run.
If you’re concerned about your electricity bill, size matters. A microwave or mini oven does consume quite a lot of power but just for a short time. 900 to 1,000 watts of power is more than enough for a standard-sized microwave, especially one with a capacity of less than 30 litres.

Easy as pie

Put an end to soggy and tasteless microwaved pizzas thanks to grill and crisping features! Crisping features use three different heat sources to keep pizzas and pie-crusts nice and crispy. With a grill to brown the top of your dish, a crisping plate to turn the bottom golden brown and microwaves to heat everything up, you’ll get a perfect meal in no time.
Microwaves are not only great for making quiches and casseroles; from rotisserie chicken to prime rib, they can cook any meat to perfection without compromising taste.
Most microwaves and mini ovens with electronic programming usually have preset food buttons, so cooking a delicious meal is child's play. There's usually an illustration of the corresponding food item next to these preset buttons.
Because they defrost then cook food all by themselves, preset programs make for even faster cooking, getting food from freezer to stomach with no intervention on your part.

Conclusion

(Back to top)

With the help of a microwave or mini oven, you don't need to be an experienced cook to whip up a delicious feast! Whether you have a space-savvy kitchenette or a full-sized range cooker affair, a versatile microwave or mini oven is sure to fit right in with the rest of your trusty appliances.
And thanks to electronic programming, you don’t need to know a thing about cooking to get your meal right; your microwave will figure out the perfect time and temperature to put a tasty treat on your table in a jiffy.