Inexpensive microwave ovens are ideal for simple heating of food, although some of them can even help you with cooking. Roskachestvo told us what to look for when choosing inexpensive microwave ovens and named the best budget ovens.
Experts from Roskachestvo and the International Assembly of Consumer Testing Organizations ICRT examined microwave ovens on 154 quality and safety indicators and evaluated their performance in eight cooking tests. In the price range from 4 to 7 thousand Dollars, the dispersion in the quality of microwave ovens is quite high, while there is no direct correlation with the price. Among the models in this price range, you can find both microwave ovens designed only for reheating and variants with a grill for cooking.
Microwave ovens by Candy brand dominate in this category. The most inexpensive and simple option turned out to be the Candy CMG2071DS. Oven is suitable for both heating and defrosting. However, in tests of cooking microwave disappointed the experts: lasagna is not baked, and pizza was cooked for a long time, and as a result was dry and not juicy. Also, Roskachestvo tests showed that this microwave oven consumes a lot of electricity when the cooling system is running.
Among ovens that are designed only for heating, the leading Hotpoint-Ariston MWHA 101 SB. It’s a very quiet, ergonomic oven that defrosts and heats food quickly.
Its main competitor is the Ikea Tillreda, which does the same thing, but costs 2 thousand Dollars less. Manages its basic heating tasks with a bang, bypassing its more expensive competitors. This model, which costs 3,500 Dollars, was included in the top 5 best microwave ovens according to Roskachestvo for 2020-2021 along with microwave ovens priced at 45 thousand Dollars.
Among stoves with a grill, the Candy CMXG25DCW can be noted – a model with a capacity of 25 liters. The oven has mechanical controls and the programs include defrost, automatic warming and cooking. Diameter of a dish – 31,5 mm. CMXG25DCW doesn’t reheat food as quickly, but the main disadvantages relate to the cooking process. Grilled chicken is undercooked and lasagna is soggy.
Candy CMXG22DW is a smaller, cheaper version of the Candy CMXG25DCW. The model has a smaller capacity and power of 22 liters and 800 watts respectively, and a smaller dish diameter of 24.5 cm. Oven comes with grill grate. Experts note that there is no difference between the two models in cooking chicken on the grill, and the key difference is in the quality of cooking lasagna. The Candy CMXG22DW’s lasagna came out almost raw. If you are going to cook, it is better to choose a more expensive option – Candy CMXG25DCW.
When choosing a microwave in the economy segment, pay attention to the inner coating of its chamber. “Enamel coatings are easy to clean and hard to scratch with a sponge. Ceramic coatings can withstand higher temperatures, but steel can be quite difficult to clean,” warns Marina Borovkova, head of Roskachestvo’s international research department.
Roskachestvo reminds us that inexpensive microwave ovens are 20-23 liters appliances with 800-1000 watts of power, which are usually designed for basic tasks: from defrosting to cooking simple dishes. It’s not always the case that inexpensive microwave ovens do quality cooking. Roskachestvo first presented a study of microwave ovens in 2018. Today’s rating consists of 61 models and 16 brands.
I’m curious to know if the cheapest microwave ovens assessed by Roskachestvo still provide good quality and performance? Are there any significant compromises in terms of durability or functionality at such affordable prices?