Microwave ovens or microwave ovens - we understand the terms

Standard microwave programs

Main standby mode: microwave or “microwave”. Have you purchased imported equipment? Then the inscriptions on the case will be: MW or Microwave.

Any microwave can support it, regardless of its design: solo or combination. The only difference is that simple models use exclusively microwave radiation technology, while complex ones also have the “Grill” and “Convection” functions. To maintain them, heaters (heating elements) and fans operate in the stove.

Depending on the company, the radiation power ranges from 600-1100 W. The convenience is that almost every stove may not operate at full power. In recent years, stoves have up to a dozen degrees of adjustment.

Modes, depending on the brand and model, can be signed with numbers - 1, 2, etc., percentages - 75%, 100%, etc. Designations in Watts or symbols are not excluded.

If ten years ago low-power designs rated at 650 W were in use, today the demand for 800-850 W models is growing. Those rated at 1000 W are just gaining popularity.

Models with 5 power levels

There are usually 5 microwave modes (in most designs from various brands). Let's look at each of them.

1. "High" or "full" power. In this case, on foreign equipment the designation “High” is indicated. At 100% power the highest temperature is maintained. Suitable for heating and quickly cooking fish, meat dishes, vegetables, fruits, tea, coffee.
2. “Above average” or Medium high corresponds to 70-80% of the maximum. Another unspoken name is “Roasting”. It's easy to explain: the cycle allows you to optimally sear pork and poultry. Products do not dry as much as in other modes and do not require constant monitoring. Medium high is also suitable for heating and baking. A real find for those who like to cook with cheese or sauces. Another plus: cooking without boiling over.
3. “Average” or Medium corresponds to 50-60% of the maximum. Suitable for emergency defrosting, uniform heating, slow frying, stewing or simmering. The “Medium” program often prepares soups, fish and dairy dishes, and seafood.
4. “Below average” or Medium low - this is the designation of power that produces only 25-30% of the maximum value. Used for heating and softening butter for creams and desserts, melting chocolate products, natural honey and even ice cream. Sometimes the cycle is labeled "Defrosting".
5. “Low” or Low is the minimum power, designed for only 10-15% of the total. At this cycle the temperature is the lowest, so it is most often used to maintain the warmth of already prepared dishes or to warm up “delicate” foods.

Examples of models with 5 levels

• Horizont 20MW700-1378B is a 20-liter stove designed for 0.7 kW. Enameled chamber coating. Mechanical control, rotary switches. Price - from 2930 rubles.

• Supra MWS-1803MW - stove with a volume of 18 liters, 0.7 kW. Mechanical control, 30-minute timer. The cost is within 2700 rubles.

• Midea AM820CMF - 20 liters, enamel coating, 0.8 kW. Electronically controlled with push-button switches. Timer for 95 minutes. Price - from 4290 rubles.

About the grill

Imported models can be marked with the word Gril - these are combined options. The heating element itself can be infrared (IR) or traditional. When cooking with a grill, the dish is covered with a golden crust, for which many buyers prefer microwave ovens to conventional electric or gas ovens. Particularly enthusiastic reviews can be found online about poultry, meat products, casseroles, cheese and vegetable dishes.

You can activate the grill at the end - solely for the sake of the crust, and before that cook using waves.

Models

• Samsung GE83KRS-2 - designed for 23 liters. 0.8 kW, electronic control. From 6,100 rubles.

• LG MH6044V - also electronic, but with 20 liters and 700 W. Costs 5,880 rubles.

• Horizont 20MW800-1479 - 20 liter, 800 W option. Price - 3,872 rubles.

Microwave oven working area volume

This parameter is one of the most important when choosing a microwave. The volume of the microwave oven chamber determines the amount of food that can be heated. For the needs of one person, a microwave with a working chamber with a volume of 8.5 liters is sufficient; two people can use a model with a capacity of 13-18 liters; families with three or more people should focus on 20-23 liters. Among microwave ovens, real “giants” stand out: microwave ovens with an internal volume of up to 41 liters. They are ideal for large families, as well as those who like to invite guests. Such microwave ovens make it quite possible to cook a large bird, a cauldron of pilaf, or cook a large pot of borscht.

Convection ovens

Foreign manufacturers often sign the Convection program Conv. It is also designated as “Hot Air” and even “Oven”.

What's the point? The stove is equipped with a heater and a fan, the blades of which accelerate flows of heated air throughout the chamber. The convective process quickly warms up the food, at which time a conventional oven would still be warming up. As a result, any cooking process is accelerated, and heating is uniform. Simultaneous processing on a rotary table is possible using the grid included in the kit.

What to cook. Prepare appetizers, fish and meat delicacies, pizza with any toppings, souffles and aromatic pastries!

On a note! Are you planning to make a pie, sponge cake, puff pastry or muffin when your guests arrive? In this case, preheat the camera.

This program produces good pieces of lean meat weighing less than 0.5 kg. Without using microwaves, you can even cook in foil or on a metal baking sheet at the optimal temperature.

Even baby food can be heated using only convection at a temperature of 40 degrees. Read more about this on the page “Is it possible to heat baby food in the microwave.”

Models with convection

• Samsung MC28H5013AW - 20-liter 900 W stove with electronics. Volume - 28 liters. Cost - 11,190 rubles.

• BBK 23MWC-881T/BM - 23 liters, 800 W, electronics. Costs 6,442 rubles.

• Panasonic NN-CD565B is rated at 27 liters and 1000 watts. Inverter type oven. 14,991 rubles.

Program combinations

Manufacturers Gorenje, Korting, Whirlpool, Zigmund & Shtain, Kaiser and others allow you to combine available options. Let's look at the main combinations: their English designations, purpose and capabilities.

Microwave with grill

Foreign markings for this combination: COMBI, MICRO + GRILL, MW + GRILL, etc.

If the microwave power dominates the grill, less time is required, but the quality of cooking the meat will deteriorate. And vice versa: if you intensify the grill, with minimal radiation, you can achieve a familiar taste, sacrificing time - you will need more of it.

The combinations also differ in the method of influence: it can be the simultaneous operation of waves with heating elements or their sequential switching. Simultaneous operation is suitable for frying meat and fish, baking in large volumes. In the second case, you can quickly prepare the dish using microwaves, and the grill will only give it a “blush.”

In the configuration you can often find racks of different heights: low for large products and high for dishes of small size and weight. They significantly enhance the effect.

Important! Manufacturers insist on using exclusively standard grilles: their geometry is thought out to the smallest detail to suit the specific camera parameters of each individual model.

Also remember that metal trays and plates are not suitable for cooking. Dripping fat can be retained with a special ceramic tray. You should treat it with care when washing and cleaning - if the enamel chips, the tray will become unusable.

Microwave and convection

Standard international designation: MW + CONV. An excellent cycle for a large range of dishes, including baked goods. The time required is minimal, the surface of the dish has a crust.

Convection can produce temperatures from 40 to 250 degrees: nothing will burn and will bake perfectly. What can we say about the fact that the smell and juiciness of the products will be impeccable.

Convection with grill

Foreign marks: GRILL + CONV, etc.

Serves for quick frying of food and extra golden brown crust. Pizza, fatty meat, poultry - all this is fast, tasty and beautiful.

Automatic programs

Some designs in recent years include automation. Defrosting, cooking, grilling and combination modes all work without user intervention. You don’t have to set the time and temperature, the “smart” equipment will do everything for you.

The latest microwave ovens have programs designed specifically for Russian users: automatic steaming in the “Side Dishes and Porridge” mode. By pressing one button you can cook rice, buckwheat, oatmeal. Fresh vegetables and potatoes also lend themselves well to this type of processing. In just 6 minutes the oven will cook half a kilo of vegetables, and in an average of 15 minutes it will cook a quarter of a pack of rice.

Now you know everything about the standard modes of microwave ovens and their combinations. If you have any questions, we will be happy to answer them in the comments to the review.

The abundance of microwave modes can confuse the inexperienced user. Do you want to quickly figure out how and in what cases to use one or another mode? Follow the instructions from our review.

Microwave modes

A microwave oven, simply put, a microwave oven is a device designed for heating, defrosting, and sometimes for cooking food and baking, depending on the model. Without a microwave oven in the kitchen it is already quite inconvenient. It takes half a day to defrost a piece of meat without a microwave. To heat soup, you need to heat the whole pan or dirty a small saucepan, and you need to heat sandwiches in the oven. In general, a microwave oven makes our life easier and easier. And if you don’t have a microwave oven yet, when you decide to choose a microwave oven , decide why you need a microwave oven and what microwave modes are needed.

If you will only be heating and defrosting food, a regular free-standing microwave will be fine for you. Various additional modes , programs and functions of the microwave increase the cost of the oven. But they can be quite convenient and useful. For detailed information about the technical characteristics that should be taken into account when choosing a microwave oven , such as installation type, volume, power, control, internal coating, read the article “How to choose a microwave oven.”

Microwave operating modes

Conventionally, based on the microwave operating modes , all microwave ovens can be divided into four types. Microwaves only, microwaves with grill, microwaves with convection, microwaves with grill and convection.

Microwave grilling is a method of cooking food using heating elements. Using this microwave mode, you can cook grilled chicken or fry a steak. This will result in a delicious, crispy crust. The grill used in microwave ovens can be PETN or quartz. The quartz grill is hidden under the panel of the microwave working chamber. Therefore, it does not take up space and is easier to clean; a quartz grill also heats up faster and is more economical compared to a heating element. The heating element grill has a spiral shape, is located directly in the oven chamber and its location can be changed, lowered and raised, thereby ensuring more uniform heating of the dish, but it is difficult to clean.

In microwave ovens, a grill located on the top is common. But there are also models with an upper grill and a lower grill built into the bottom. This helps heat food more evenly. If you have two grills, you can optionally turn on the top grill only, the bottom grill only, or both grills at the same time.

Convection helps food bake more evenly, especially dough. Convection heating is a cooking method that uses hot air to circulate around the food being cooked. The cooking process in a microwave with mode is shortened, and nutrients and vitamins in foods are better preserved. But it is worth considering that microwave ovens with convection are much more expensive than conventional microwave ovens. Also, when convection is turned on, electricity consumption increases.

microwave modes

Microwave programs and functions

Different models of microwave ovens have different, quite convenient and useful programs and functions . When choosing a microwave , decide which programs you need and which you definitely won’t use.

Automatic defrosting will free you from calculating the time and power required to defrost a particular product. You simply indicate the name of the product and its weight, and the oven will do the rest. programs recorded in the microwave’s memory , for example fish, vegetables, can range from 1 to 7.

Automatic heating will also free you from the necessary calculations; just select on the display the type of product you are going to heat and its quantity, and the oven itself will set the optimal power and the required time. The number of programs for different microwave oven varies from 1 to 24.

Automatic temperature maintenance keeps the dish warm for some time.

Automatic cooking implies the presence of programmed recipes for preparing dishes that are used most often. The number of recipes contained in memory can be up to 60 pieces. But on average it is 3 – 8 recipes.

The Crisp function and the Crusty plate will help you fry food like in a frying pan, with a crispy crust.

Recipe programming allows you to write your own recipes into the oven's memory.

Express cooking mode is a fast cooking mode in which the microwave oven operates at maximum power, which can significantly save time.

The child lock prevents oven operation when the door is opened. Also, some models of microwave ovens when function , do not respond to button presses.

An audible shutdown signal notifies you when work is complete. In some cases, this signal can be turned off.

The odor removal mode will quickly remove foreign odors from the working chamber using the built-in fan.

The delay start feature allows you to program the time the microwave starts to operate. For example, so that the food is warmed up when you get home from work.

The steamer mode allows you to steam food.

microwave programs

Additional equipment for microwave oven

An additional microwave oven may include a spit; it can be vertical or horizontal. Many manufacturers prefer to use special grill grates instead of spits. microwave oven may have two of them, one low for larger dishes, and a high one for smaller products.

It is recommended to additionally purchase a protective cover for the microwave; it will protect the walls of the working chamber from grease and dirt. If, nevertheless, the inner walls of the microwave oven are very dirty, then the advice in the article “How to clean a microwave oven” will help.

Standard microwave programs

Main standby mode: microwave or “microwave”. Have you purchased imported equipment? Then the inscriptions on the case will be: MW or Microwave.

Any microwave can support it, regardless of its design: solo or combination. The only difference is that simple models use exclusively microwave radiation technology, while complex ones also have the “Grill” and “Convection” functions. To maintain them, heaters (heating elements) and fans operate in the stove.

Depending on the company, the radiation power ranges from 600-1100 W. The convenience is that almost every stove may not operate at full power. In recent years, stoves have up to a dozen degrees of adjustment.

Modes, depending on the brand and model, can be signed with numbers - 1, 2, etc., percentages - 75%, 100%, etc. Designations in Watts or symbols are not excluded.

If ten years ago low-power designs rated at 650 W were in use, today the demand for 800-850 W models is growing. Those rated at 1000 W are just gaining popularity.

Models with 5 power levels

There are usually 5 microwave modes (in most designs from various brands). Let's look at each of them.

1. "High" or "full" power. In this case, on foreign equipment the designation “High” is indicated. At 100% power the highest temperature is maintained. Suitable for heating and quickly cooking fish, meat dishes, vegetables, fruits, tea, coffee.
2. “Above average” or Medium high corresponds to 70-80% of the maximum. Another unspoken name is “Roasting”. It's easy to explain: the cycle allows you to optimally sear pork and poultry. Products do not dry as much as in other modes and do not require constant monitoring. Medium high is also suitable for heating and baking. A real find for those who like to cook with cheese or sauces. Another plus: cooking without boiling over.
3. “Average” or Medium corresponds to 50-60% of the maximum. Suitable for emergency defrosting, uniform heating, slow frying, stewing or simmering. The “Medium” program often prepares soups, fish and dairy dishes, and seafood.
4. “Below average” or Medium low - this is the designation of power that produces only 25-30% of the maximum value. Used for heating and softening butter for creams and desserts, melting chocolate products, natural honey and even ice cream. Sometimes the cycle is labeled "Defrosting".
5. “Low” or Low is the minimum power, designed for only 10-15% of the total. At this cycle the temperature is the lowest, so it is most often used to maintain the warmth of already prepared dishes or to warm up “delicate” foods.

Examples of models with 5 levels

• Horizont 20MW700-1378B is a 20-liter stove designed for 0.7 kW. Enameled chamber coating. Mechanical control, rotary switches. Price - from 2930 rubles.

• Supra MWS-1803MW - stove with a volume of 18 liters, 0.7 kW. Mechanical control, 30-minute timer. The cost is within 2700 rubles.

• Midea AM820CMF - 20 liters, enamel coating, 0.8 kW. Electronically controlled with push-button switches. Timer for 95 minutes. Price - from 4290 rubles.

PACKAGING AND APPEARANCE

The BBK microwave oven is supplied in a colorful, glossy cardboard box. The packaging shows the BBK microwave oven itself, as well as the cooking products, and describes the main characteristics of the BBK microwave oven.

The packaging of the BBK microwave oven has holes on both sides for easy carrying.

As is often the case, most manufacturers use foam plastic as protection against impacts from external influences, the BBK microwave oven was no exception. The BBK microwave oven box was heavily exposed to external influences during transportation, but the foam plastic sufficiently protected it from damage.

The entire set of the BBK microwave oven is placed in the oven. The rotating plate, grill grate and instruction manual are carefully secured and do not dangle during transportation. This helps prevent damage to the inner surface, as well as breaking/bending components.

The BBK microwave oven is made entirely in stylish black color. The front/facade part is glossy, the side walls are matte.

There are ventilation holes on the side of the BBK microwave oven; they promote better air circulation throughout the interior of the oven to cool the components.

There are many ventilation holes at the bottom of the BBK microwave oven.

Of the four legs, only the front two have rubberized soles.

View of the BBK microwave oven from the back. The back wall is painted gray. The power cord comes out of the BBK microwave oven from the top corner.

BBK Microwave Oven Information and Warning Label detailing features, warning, manufacturer information, and model and serial number. As you can see, this BBK microwave oven was manufactured in Belarus.

The BBK microwave oven has a built-in, fairly large fan; this fan facilitates better air flow inside the body of the VVK microwave oven. While all microwave ovens are operating, you can hear the fans running.

But any cooling system needs free space. In order not to reduce cooling efficiency, the manufacturer of the BBK microwave oven has provided

special stops/legs in the amount of three pieces. They serve to fit loosely against the wall during installation, so that there is a gap for ventilation and better cooling. One support leg is located on top of the rear wall.

The other two legs for support are located at the bottom of the rear wall. Do not remove these support legs under any circumstances! Without them, the BBK microwave oven may adhere more tightly to the wall and, as a result, overheat and quickly fail.

There are warning labels on the top of the BBK microwave oven. If with the first it is even more or less clear that hardly anyone will use a BBK microwave oven without a housing lid. Then the second warning sticker is more necessary, because... During operation in the “grill” mode, the heating of the housing is very significant, even with an active cooling system.

Microwave oven BBK 20MWG-739M/B is equipped as standard for most microwave ovens. A rotating plate and a base on rollers, a grill grate and an instruction manual, which also includes a warranty card.

In working condition, the BBK microwave oven looks like this.

There is no button to open the door of the BBK microwave oven. There is a handle on the door; if you pull it, a pair of latches automatically disengage and the door opens.

The operating panel of the BBK microwave oven is simple. Does not have a touch screen or buttons. The control is completely mechanical with two round switches. Let's stop here and take a closer look at what these provisions mean.

Microwave oven top switch BBK 20MWG-739M/B “POWER”

MIN value – in this mode, the microwave operates at a minimum power mode of 17%, this operation is intended, for example, for: melting ice cream.

SIZE value – in this mode, the microwave operates at 33% power and is intended for preparing soup, melting or defrosting butter.

AVERAGE value – in this mode, the VVK microwave oven operates at 55% power, this operation is suitable for stewing and cooking fish.

HIGH value – in this mode, the microwave already operates at 77% of its power and this operation is intended for cooking rice, fish, chicken, and minced meat.

MAX value – in this mode, the BBK 20MWG-739M/B microwave oven operates at full power of 100%, during this operation you can heat water, milk, drinks and cook vegetables.

The meaning of COMBI is that in this mode there is already a combination of the operation of the microwave together with the grill 80% grill + 20% microwave, this mode is used for sausages, lamb, kebabs and steaks.

COMBI 2 value – in this mode the distribution is at the level of 70% grill + 30% microwave, in this mode it is convenient to cook pieces of chicken and pork.

COMBI value 3 - in this mode, the combination of joint work is distributed thus 60% grill + 40% microwave, in this proportion you can cook whole chicken and other products.

GRILL value - in this mode the microwave is no longer used and operates at 100% GRILL, with this operation you can prepare bread for toast, sliced ​​​​pieces of meat and other products.

The bottom switch sets the operating time of the BBK 20MWG-739M/B microwave oven in minutes. MAX can be turned on for 35 minutes. Near some numbers around the circumference there are additional numbers 0.2/0.4/0.6/0.8/1 this is the weight of the product you are going to defrost, very convenient.

The working chamber of the BBK 20MWG-739M/B microwave oven has an opening height of 17.5 cm

And horizontally, the BBK 20MWG-739M/B microwave oven has an opening of 27.5 cm

According to the manufacturer of the BBK microwave oven, the diameter of the rotating plate is 25.5 cm. The manufacturer has indicated the size completely accurately.

The diameter of the GRILL grate along the working circumference was 21 cm

About the grill

Imported models can be marked with the word Gril - these are combined options. The heating element itself can be infrared (IR) or traditional. When cooking with a grill, the dish is covered with a golden crust, for which many buyers prefer microwave ovens to conventional electric or gas ovens. Particularly enthusiastic reviews can be found online about poultry, meat products, casseroles, cheese and vegetable dishes.

You can activate the grill at the end - solely for the sake of the crust, and before that cook using waves.

How to choose a microwave oven brand

Home appliance stores have a large assortment of microwaves, most of which fall in the range of 3,000 – 15,000 rubles. Very quickly you will notice that the price of microwave ovens from different manufacturers with the same set of functions differs. It would seem that the choice is obvious: take a cheaper stove. But this is not so, or rather not always so. Microwaves from top brands are more expensive, but these brands care about the quality of their products. Little-known brands usually do not charge a high price, but sometimes their products may be of poor quality. I would like to list the most famous brands, the quality of which has been tested by time - these are Siemens, Bosch, Kuppersbusch and some others. Models from famous brands have a modern design, the presence of additional features and long-term operation over many years.

Convection ovens

Foreign manufacturers often sign the Convection program Conv. It is also designated as “Hot Air” and even “Oven”.

What's the point? The stove is equipped with a heater and a fan, the blades of which accelerate flows of heated air throughout the chamber. The convective process quickly warms up the food, at which time a conventional oven would still be warming up. As a result, any cooking process is accelerated, and heating is uniform. Simultaneous processing on a rotary table is possible using the grid included in the kit.

What to cook. Prepare appetizers, fish and meat delicacies, pizza with any toppings, souffles and aromatic pastries!

On a note! Are you planning to make a pie, sponge cake, puff pastry or muffin when your guests arrive? In this case, preheat the camera.

This program produces good pieces of lean meat weighing less than 0.5 kg. Without using microwaves, you can even cook in foil or on a metal baking sheet at the optimal temperature.

Even baby food can be heated using only convection at a temperature of 40 degrees. Read more about this on the page “Is it possible to heat baby food in the microwave.”

Models with convection

• Samsung MC28H5013AW - 20-liter 900 W stove with electronics. Volume - 28 liters. Cost - 11,190 rubles.

• BBK 23MWC-881T/BM - 23 liters, 800 W, electronics. Costs 6,442 rubles.

• Panasonic NN-CD565B is rated at 27 liters and 1000 watts. Inverter type oven. 14,991 rubles.

Program combinations

Manufacturers Gorenje, Korting, Whirlpool, Zigmund & Shtain, Kaiser and others allow you to combine available options. Let's look at the main combinations: their English designations, purpose and capabilities.

Microwave with grill

Foreign markings for this combination: COMBI, MICRO + GRILL, MW + GRILL, etc.

If the microwave power dominates the grill, less time is required, but the quality of cooking the meat will deteriorate. And vice versa: if you intensify the grill, with minimal radiation, you can achieve a familiar taste, sacrificing time - you will need more of it.

The combinations also differ in the method of influence: it can be the simultaneous operation of waves with heating elements or their sequential switching. Simultaneous operation is suitable for frying meat and fish, baking in large volumes. In the second case, you can quickly prepare the dish using microwaves, and the grill will only give it a “blush.”

In the configuration you can often find racks of different heights: low for large products and high for dishes of small size and weight. They significantly enhance the effect.

Important! Manufacturers insist on using exclusively standard grilles: their geometry is thought out to the smallest detail to suit the specific camera parameters of each individual model.

Also remember that metal trays and plates are not suitable for cooking. Dripping fat can be retained with a special ceramic tray. You should treat it with care when washing and cleaning - if the enamel chips, the tray will become unusable.

Microwave and convection

Standard international designation: MW + CONV. An excellent cycle for a large range of dishes, including baked goods. The time required is minimal, the surface of the dish has a crust.

Convection can produce temperatures from 40 to 250 degrees: nothing will burn and will bake perfectly. What can we say about the fact that the smell and juiciness of the products will be impeccable.

Convection with grill

Foreign marks: GRILL + CONV, etc.

Serves for quick frying of food and extra golden brown crust. Pizza, fatty meat, poultry - all this is fast, tasty and beautiful.

equipment requirements

As experts admit, kebab is best obtained in a microwave with a grill - it is practically no different from “natural”. Some ovens even have a “Shashlik” function, but not all microwave oven owners are so lucky. However, a grill is enough (although some insist that convection is absolutely necessary). Thanks to it, your meat will be provided with an appetizing ruddy tan.

However, if your device is one of the simplest, do not despair. You can cook shish kebab in the microwave without a grill. To do this, you will need to turn on maximum power - the taste will be identical to the classic one, although the crust may appear weakly. The most successful option in this case is the chicken option, which suits many for other reasons.

Automatic programs

Some designs in recent years include automation. Defrosting, cooking, grilling and combination modes all work without user intervention. You don’t have to set the time and temperature, the “smart” equipment will do everything for you.

The latest microwave ovens have programs designed specifically for Russian users: automatic steaming in the “Side Dishes and Porridge” mode. By pressing one button you can cook rice, buckwheat, oatmeal. Fresh vegetables and potatoes also lend themselves well to this type of processing. In just 6 minutes the oven will cook half a kilo of vegetables, and in an average of 15 minutes it will cook a quarter of a pack of rice.

Now you know everything about the standard modes of microwave ovens and their combinations. If you have any questions, we will be happy to answer them in the comments to the review.

The abundance of microwave modes can confuse the inexperienced user. Do you want to quickly figure out how and in what cases to use one or another mode? Follow the instructions from our review.

Standard microwave programs

Main standby mode: microwave or “microwave”. Have you purchased imported equipment? Then the inscriptions on the case will be: MW or Microwave.

Any microwave can support it, regardless of its design: solo or combination. The only difference is that simple models use exclusively microwave radiation technology, while complex ones also have the “Grill” and “Convection” functions. To maintain them, heaters (heating elements) and fans operate in the stove.

Depending on the company, the radiation power ranges from 600-1100 W. The convenience is that almost every stove may not operate at full power. In recent years, stoves have up to a dozen degrees of adjustment.

Modes, depending on the brand and model, can be signed with numbers - 1, 2, etc., percentages - 75%, 100%, etc. Designations in Watts or symbols are not excluded.

If ten years ago low-power designs rated at 650 W were in use, today the demand for 800-850 W models is growing. Those rated at 1000 W are just gaining popularity.

Models with 5 power levels

There are usually 5 microwave modes (in most designs from various brands). Let's look at each of them.

1. "High" or "full" power. In this case, on foreign equipment the designation “High” is indicated. At 100% power the highest temperature is maintained. Suitable for heating and quickly cooking fish, meat dishes, vegetables, fruits, tea, coffee.
2. “Above average” or Medium high corresponds to 70-80% of the maximum. Another unspoken name is “Roasting”. It's easy to explain: the cycle allows you to optimally sear pork and poultry. Products do not dry as much as in other modes and do not require constant monitoring. Medium high is also suitable for heating and baking. A real find for those who like to cook with cheese or sauces. Another plus: cooking without boiling over.
3. “Average” or Medium corresponds to 50-60% of the maximum. Suitable for emergency defrosting, uniform heating, slow frying, stewing or simmering. The “Medium” program often prepares soups, fish and dairy dishes, and seafood.
4. “Below average” or Medium low - this is the designation of power that produces only 25-30% of the maximum value. Used for heating and softening butter for creams and desserts, melting chocolate products, natural honey and even ice cream. Sometimes the cycle is labeled "Defrosting".
5. “Low” or Low is the minimum power, designed for only 10-15% of the total. At this cycle the temperature is the lowest, so it is most often used to maintain the warmth of already prepared dishes or to warm up “delicate” foods.

The myth of extreme temperatures

Hot food in cold dishes

A microwave is not a regular oven. It heats up food in minutes. This ability formed the basis for an incorrect assessment of her capabilities. Some people are convinced that very high temperatures make food hot.

But it's not quite like that. To make sure of this, you need to remember about the dishes in the microwave. Glass or plastic containers do not heat up in most cases. But if the temperature inside the microwave chamber was very high, the containers would also heat up. Consequently, conditions for this are not created inside the furnace.

Why do foods heat up?

For this purpose, ultra-high frequency waves (abbreviated as microwave) . Their properties are similar to radio waves. Their source in the microwave is the magnetron. The device is a vacuum tube with compartments at two ends. Strong magnets are attached to them. When turned on, the device receives high voltage. Under the influence of magnets, electrons (particles that form an electric current) begin to move in circles at great speed. This causes strong radiation.

This phenomenon was first noticed by an engineer working on radar, Percy Spencer. According to one legend, while working in 1942, chocolate melted in his pocket. But according to another, he got burned, and later it was hidden so as not to spoil the opinion of buyers. Already in 1946, the American received a patent for the invention. After this, the first mass-produced bulky devices began to appear.

About the grill

Imported models can be marked with the word Gril - these are combined options. The heating element itself can be infrared (IR) or traditional. When cooking with a grill, the dish is covered with a golden crust, for which many buyers prefer microwave ovens to conventional electric or gas ovens. Particularly enthusiastic reviews can be found online about poultry, meat products, casseroles, cheese and vegetable dishes.

You can activate the grill at the end - solely for the sake of the crust, and before that cook using waves.

Models

• Samsung GE83KRS-2 - designed for 23 liters. 0.8 kW, electronic control. From 6,100 rubles.

• LG MH6044V - also electronic, but with 20 liters and 700 W. Costs 5,880 rubles.

• Horizont 20MW800-1479 - 20 liter, 800 W option. Price - 3,872 rubles.

Review of popular models of microwave ovens with grill

Among the wide variety of offers and companies, a review of the most popular models will help you determine the priorities and capabilities of small household appliances.
Among the economy class, the most popular is Midea. The majority of positive reviews belong to the C4E AG720C4E-S model. It has a fairly spacious enamel chamber of 20 liters, controlled electronically and displayed on the display. There are also 8 programmed cooking modes and 3 reheating modes. The model is equipped with a quartz grill with a power of 1050 W. The average price is 4,300 rubles.

Microwave oven MIDEA AG720C4E-S

Microwave oven MIDEA AG720C4E-S on Yandex Market

For lovers of reliable and well-proven equipment in the mid-price segment, we can suggest Samsung or LG. However, it is worth recognizing that the first brand has a much wider range of products and it is possible to choose a profitable option with the same technical and functional parameters as the more expensive competitors’ analogues. The Samsung MC28H5013AK model is considered the best. For 9900 rub. the consumer receives a productive multifunctional machine with a 1500 W heating element grill, convection and a chamber volume of almost 30 liters with a bioceramic coating. There are also 24 cooking programs and 6 defrosting programs. Among the new products there are options for fermentation (making yogurt) and removing unpleasant odors.

Microwave oven Samsung MC28H5013AK

Microwave oven Samsung MC28H5013AK on Yandex Market

Among the VIP category, the Panasonic NN-CD565BZPE microwave received the best recommendations. In addition to high basic characteristics, it has a number of additional advantages: inverter defrosting (turbo), step-by-step cooking, preheating, two-level placement on baking sheets, etc. It is enough to pay an average of 20,000 rubles to use these convenient innovative technologies.

Microwave oven Panasonic NN-CD565BZPE

Microwave oven Panasonic NN-CD565BZPE on Yandex Market

Convection ovens

Foreign manufacturers often sign the Convection program Conv. It is also designated as “Hot Air” and even “Oven”.

What's the point? The stove is equipped with a heater and a fan, the blades of which accelerate flows of heated air throughout the chamber. The convective process quickly warms up the food, at which time a conventional oven would still be warming up. As a result, any cooking process is accelerated, and heating is uniform. Simultaneous processing on a rotary table is possible using the grid included in the kit.

What to cook. Prepare appetizers, fish and meat delicacies, pizza with any toppings, souffles and aromatic pastries!

On a note! Are you planning to make a pie, sponge cake, puff pastry or muffin when your guests arrive? In this case, preheat the camera.

This program produces good pieces of lean meat weighing less than 0.5 kg. Without using microwaves, you can even cook in foil or on a metal baking sheet at the optimal temperature.

Even baby food can be heated using only convection at a temperature of 40 degrees. Read more about this on the page “Is it possible to heat baby food in the microwave.”

Models with convection

• Samsung MC28H5013AW - 20-liter 900 W stove with electronics. Volume - 28 liters. Cost - 11,190 rubles.

• BBK 23MWC-881T/BM - 23 liters, 800 W, electronics. Costs 6,442 rubles.

• Panasonic NN-CD565B is rated at 27 liters and 1000 watts. Inverter type oven. 14,991 rubles.

Program combinations

Manufacturers Gorenje, Korting, Whirlpool, Zigmund & Shtain, Kaiser and others allow you to combine available options. Let's look at the main combinations: their English designations, purpose and capabilities.

Microwave with grill

Foreign markings for this combination: COMBI, MICRO + GRILL, MW + GRILL, etc.

If the microwave power dominates the grill, less time is required, but the quality of cooking the meat will deteriorate. And vice versa: if you intensify the grill, with minimal radiation, you can achieve a familiar taste, sacrificing time - you will need more of it.

The combinations also differ in the method of influence: it can be the simultaneous operation of waves with heating elements or their sequential switching. Simultaneous operation is suitable for frying meat and fish, baking in large volumes. In the second case, you can quickly prepare the dish using microwaves, and the grill will only give it a “blush.”

In the configuration you can often find racks of different heights: low for large products and high for dishes of small size and weight. They significantly enhance the effect.

Important! Manufacturers insist on using exclusively standard grilles: their geometry is thought out to the smallest detail to suit the specific camera parameters of each individual model.

Also remember that metal trays and plates are not suitable for cooking. Dripping fat can be retained with a special ceramic tray. You should treat it with care when washing and cleaning - if the enamel chips, the tray will become unusable.

Microwave and convection

Standard international designation: MW + CONV. An excellent cycle for a large range of dishes, including baked goods. The time required is minimal, the surface of the dish has a crust.

Convection can produce temperatures from 40 to 250 degrees: nothing will burn and will bake perfectly. What can we say about the fact that the smell and juiciness of the products will be impeccable.

Convection with grill

Foreign marks: GRILL + CONV, etc.

Serves for quick frying of food and extra golden brown crust. Pizza, fatty meat, poultry - all this is fast, tasty and beautiful.

REVIEW

The LG MS-2595GIS microwave oven is one of a whole line of new microwave ovens equipped with an inverter magnetron.
If we ignore the design details and the presence or absence of a rotary control knob, then the set of functions and control of these devices are unified. So everything said below is quite applicable to other new microwaves in this series, namely: LG MW23R35GIH, LG MW-25R95CIS, LG MW-25W35GIS, LG MW-23D35GIH, LG MW-25R35GIH, LG MW23-R35GIB, LG MW-25W95DIH , LG MW-25W35GIH, LG MW-25R35GISW, LG MW-25R95GIR, LG MW-25R35GIS, LG MW-25R95FIS, LG MS-2336GIH, LG MS-23M38GIB, LG MS-23M38GIH, LG MS-2336GIB, LG MS-2595FISW , LG MS-2595DIS, LG MS-2595GIS, LG MS-2595GIH, LG MS-2595CIS, LG MS-2535GIS, LG MS-2042DARB Note: MS2595FISW/MW25R95FIS have a modified control panel.

If your model is on this list, continue to get acquainted - it may differ from the LG MS2595GIS in camera volume (23 l or 25 l), door design, color, but everything else is the same. All these are microwave ovens without grill and convection - Solo according to LG classification.

The name Smart Invertor itself should tell us that this is a smart inverter. Indeed, the use of an inverter control circuit significantly expands the possibilities of using the furnace. And now functions such as maintaining heat and making yogurt are possible. The main difference of this scheme is the ability to flexibly change the radiation power. In classic microwaves, the real power of the magnetron did not change, but the energy changed due to periodic switching on and off of the magnetron.

LG MS2595GIS has a glass door made of solid tempered glass, the control panel is located separately on the oven body. The chamber has a special EasyClean antibacterial coating, which prevents burning and is easy to clean.

The turntable is larger than the older models and almost completely covers the bottom of the oven, which I really liked. A scheme of six roller bearings is used, which allows you to increase the load.

LG MS2595GIS control is completely touchscreen.

It is possible to remotely diagnose faults. To do this, just bring the phone's microphone to a special point on the front panel. It’s a pity, but smart home functions—control from a smartphone—have not yet been implemented.

Automatic programs

Some designs in recent years include automation. Defrosting, cooking, grilling and combination modes all work without user intervention. You don’t have to set the time and temperature, the “smart” equipment will do everything for you.

The latest microwave ovens have programs designed specifically for Russian users: automatic steaming in the “Side Dishes and Porridge” mode. By pressing one button you can cook rice, buckwheat, oatmeal. Fresh vegetables and potatoes also lend themselves well to this type of processing. In just 6 minutes the oven will cook half a kilo of vegetables, and in an average of 15 minutes it will cook a quarter of a pack of rice.

Now you know everything about the standard modes of microwave ovens and their combinations. If you have any questions, we will be happy to answer them in the comments to the review.

PROGRAMS

Basic information about the programs is given on the nameplate, which is located behind the microwave door (pictured).
To select the appropriate program, you first press the STOP/CLEAR button, then the button that determines the desired function: DEFROST, COOK or YOGURT/TEMPERATURE. On the display you can see an indication of the button pressed. Note that the indication in the microwave is not very obvious, so the information on the nameplate will be very useful to you. At the second stage, to which we proceed by pressing START/ENTER, we set the type of product or dish to be prepared (see information tables or information on the nameplate) by pressing the “+” key. Confirm the selection of the program by pressing START/ENTER again.

At the last step of programming the microwave, you need to select the weight of the product. This is done by clicking on “+”. Cooking is started using the START/ENTER button.