Microwave oven test: through the waves of culinary masterpieces

There are microwave ovens in almost every home. Some people reheat cooked food in it, some people defrost it, and some people cook it. We, too, wanted to try ourselves as microwave cooks and see what modern microwave ovens can do.

We were given microwave ovens of different sizes and feature sets for testing. We cooked four dishes in each oven: vegetables, meat and fish, grits, and dough.

Our task was to assess what they taste like, is it convenient to cook them in a microwave, how long does the process take and what are the peculiarities of microwave cooking.

Why is it faster to cook with waves??

We got very different ovens for dough. But thanks to this we got a vertical slice of the market: we were able to assess almost all the features that are typical of this technique.

The main mode in any microwave oven is, of course, the microwaves. Debates continue as to whether it’s healthy or unhealthy to eat food cooked in this way. This is a topic for a separate big conversation, so we won’t touch on it in this article. We are interested in the specifics of microwave cooking.

– Microwave ovens heat foods from the inside.

This is perhaps the main difference from traditional cooking methods, in which the heat comes from the outer layers of. That’s why the crust is so different with different cooking methods: you won’t get a browned chicken in microwave mode, and baked goods will look paler than with heat cooking. It is necessary to take this into account when cooking, for example, to Dollars a special breading on poultry and add chocolate or orange zest to the dough for color.

– Many dishes are cooked 2 to 3 times faster in the microwave mode.

Before the test, we were sure that everything cooked faster in the microwave. But our test showed that this opinion is somewhat erroneous: rice and buckwheat cook in the microwave about the same amount as on the stove, but the pasta cooks even longer – almost 20 minutes. But groats do not stick or stick together. The rice is crumbly, the buckwheat is crumbly, and the pasta looks great. In addition, they do not have to be stirred all the time. In general, an inexperienced cook can prepare these dishes in a microwave oven easier than on the stove.

– Cooking proceeds from the edges to the center.

This is another important difference from stoves, in which burners are located under the central part of the pot or pan, and that’s where the maximum thermal impact goes.

It is recommended to put chicken pieces with bones to the center of the rotating pan and bigger pieces of chicken should be placed with the thicker side to the outer edge of the plate – in this way they get more energy.

This rule should also be taken into account when cooking baked goods: the middle is cooked the longest, so the ideal for microwave ovens would be a ring-shaped. Check the readiness of baked goods with a wooden stick, but again, not in the middle of the product, but at a distance of 1/4 from the edge in the middle of half the edge – center .

Also, if you cook a dish with a thick sauce in a flat plate, be sure to cover it with a lid, otherwise the sauce will harden around the edges and stick to the edge of the plate.

– Products with a lot of moisture turn out better in the microwave than dry ones.

The main thing is not to overdo it, microwave ovens have a more complicated relationship with liquids because of the peculiarities of their boiling in microwaves. But here’s a couple of spoons of water added to vegetables will not hurt. The same rule applies to baking in a microwave oven. Experienced cooks advise making the dough a little more liquid than for cooking in the oven. This is achieved by adding either a little less flour or a little more water.

– Cooking time depends on the composition of the product.

A butter biscuit will bake faster than a fat-free biscuit. Sugar heats up faster than other foods, so it’s important to dissolve it in batter or sauce.

– Thick food takes longer to cook than loose food.

A minced meat patty will be cooked faster than a similar-sized piece of meat. Accordingly, sliced meat also needs less cooking time than a single piece of the same weight. You should therefore take the structure of the dish into account when planning the time.

– Cooking process doesn’t end the moment you turn the mode off.

This is the most important rule in microwave cooking. All dishes cooked in microwave mode must be left to rest after the oven is turned off. During this time they are being finished. That is why it is recommended not to cook it until it is completely cooked, so that it does not dry out.

Thus, it is recommended that fish be removed from the oven when the middle is still a little translucent.

Potatoes are cooked in the microwave for about 5 minutes, and then another 5 minutes it needs to lie down – and it will already be ready to eat. Baking should also stand after turning off the oven for 5-7 minutes. Only then can it be served.

– Some experts recommend flipping or stirring foods even during microwave cooking, not just in grill mode.

This is due to the unevenness of microwave exposure. But it is not necessary to stir constantly stirring from the center to the edge once about halfway through the process is sufficient.

Model	volume, l	Dimensions, cm	Price, Dollars.
AEG MCC2580E-m	25	45,5×59,4×54,2	7990
VVK MO2592B	25	51,3×43×30,5	4500
Hyundai h-MW3420	20	46,2×35,3×26,13	1990
Panasonic NN-CS596S	27	32×52,3×49,4	18 990
Whirlpool JT 369	31	37,7×48,7×53,8	16 240

Grilling, convection, and steam

Using just microwaves, you can cook see. HYUNDAI H-MW3420 , but the grill significantly expands the range of dishes. After all, with its help you can not only give a crispy crust cooked with the microwave, but using it separately, without microwave radiation, cook hot sandwiches, vegetables, fish, cutlets for hamburgers. And the smaller volume of microwave oven compared with a standard oven allows more economical use of energy.

Inside and out, it’s a beauty!

Modes that combine the grill with microwaves are a godsend for hostesses! Because they allow you to cook delicious meat and fish dishes in a short time. Microwaves cook the food inside and the grill roasts the food outside – beauty!

The main thing to remember is that the grill heats up and must be removed carefully. Another limitation inherent in microwave ovens is the small distance between the grill grate and the grill itself, which greatly limits the height of the dish.

Convection: now you can smell the oven

This mode brings the microwave even closer to the oven. It is designed specifically for baking yeast dough. At the same time, biscuits can be cooked simply in the microwave mode. The convection unit is usually located at the bottom of the rear wall of the chamber. During this mode, the heater and fan are activated, which circulates hot air in the chamber. You can select the heating temperature and it is the same as in the oven. Since baking is recommended to be placed in an already hot oven, this microwave mode also provides for initial heating of the oven.

Steam: go on a diet

Recently, a number of microwave ovens have been equipped with steam cookers: vessels consisting of a tray for water, a pan where food is placed, and a lid. You can cook in it just like in a regular steamer. Among tested models, a Panasonic oven with a built-in steam cooker stands out: a container with water is integrated into the oven. Steam in this case, not just a separate program, but an additional feature, and you can use it in different modes, not only to cook with it, but also to prevent the drying of food and even return the juiciness of dishes.

Once again about the crispy crust

Ovens from Whirlpool and some other manufacturers have a “Crispy Crust” mode. In fact, it is a combination of grill and microwave operation, but the power and percentage of operation of these elements manufacturers have not disclosed.

The trick of the program is a special tray that heats up and thus toasts the food which is lying on it. Though we could not achieve really crispy crust in dishes in this mode, so we can not evaluate this mode highly. So, an interesting option, handy utensils, it’s good that there is a removable handle – but no more than that.

We have not checked the reliability of technology, heating uniformity, safety, power consumption. We just cooked and evaluated the technique exactly in terms of its functionality.

Model	Microwave power, W	Grill capacity, W	Convection	Steam cooker	Combi modes	Automatic Programs
AEG MCC2580E	900, 630, 450, 270, 90	1020 and 600	230, 220, 200, 180 °C	–	convection + microwave, grill + convection, grill + microwave	Warming 1 , Cooking 5
VVK MO2592B	900, 720, 450, 270, 90	1000	–	+	55% microwave + 45% grill, 36% microwave + 64% grill	Auto Menu 9 , “American cuisine” 6 , “Steam cooker” 4
HYUNDAI H-MW3420	800, 640, 480, 320, 160	–	–	–	–	Auto Menu 6
PANASONIC NN-CS596S	1000, 700, 550, 400, 300, 200	3 levels	without preheating with preset by preheating	built-in	Microwave + grill steam + microwave, steam + convection, Steam + grill, Steam + grill + convection	22
WHIRLPOOL JT 369	7 power levels 1000, 750, 650, 500, 350, 160, 90 W	1200 W	–	+	grill combi 6 power levels , crispy crust grill + microwave	“Crispy crust 4 , “Reheat” 1 , “Steamer” 4