Solo on the waves: an overview of the simplest microwave ovens

For many buyers, the microwave is an auxiliary device, in which they do not see a competitor for the oven, and therefore additional options in the form of grilling or convection for them completely irrelevant. For such users, manufacturers create solo appliances of varying complexity.

A lesson in mechanics

The volume of the microwave oven determines its purpose. Devices serving mainly for defrosting and heating have a small capacity, ovens with oven functions have a medium or maximum.

Among the solo models are compact ovens – a little less than half of all proposals are appliances with a volume up to 18 liters, and prevail about half microwave ovens up to 25 liters. Ovens with large capacity of a few pieces, including Brandt Baby F2 at 26 liters, Panasonic NN-SF550W at 27 liters, Samsung M197DFR at 28 liters, Mabe HMM925RB0 at 30 liters.

The simplest version of a solo oven are models with mechanical controls, they occupy about half of the market. This control allows you to select the desired power level and cycle time by turning the corresponding knobs.

Despite its simplicity, the device is able to implement all the functions assigned to the microwave oven by selecting the appropriate power level.

For defrosting, the second level is most often chosen.

During the cooking process, the power and therefore the intensity is set according to the recipe. Defrosting, one of the most requested microwave functions, is performed at the maximum or one or two lower levels, depending on the type of food.

Ovens with mechanical control lack automation, but it is not always necessary to make settings, going into all the details of the process. Some manufacturers use prompts, placing on the scale of the timer regulator special icons to help you choose the correct duration of the cycle.

Sometimes there is a special “defrosting” position on the power regulator for example, LG MS-1920U, Panasonic NN-SM330W, Samsung MW712BR , which corresponds to the optimal step for this purpose.

The ready-to-use reheat setting Panasonic can be used. Samsung ovens have three such settings at once: for heating a cup with a drink milk, water , a bowl of soup or sauce, and a large portion of vegetables.

Automation in action

Ovens with electronic control are equipped with a more sophisticated system that allows manual setting or automatic mode. Automation is the most important advantage of models in this class because it simplifies the process of setting the task, entrusting part of this work to the electronics.

All the automatic programs can be divided into two groups:

– Automatics by weight. Depending on the type of program and the weight of the foodstuff entered by the user, the electronics independently switches on the required power level and calculates the cycle time.

– Automatic timed defrosting. Here the power is calculated based on the condition that you need to achieve the desired result in the time set by the user.

Automatic programs are created for all three tasks for which the microwave is used. The most common defrosting programs we can even say that for many brands this is a must-have attribute , often taking into account the type of food meat, vegetables, fish .

The appliance can be equipped with both a defrost by time may be called a quick defrost and by weight.

Slightly less common are self-cooking programs. The user is usually offered a set of several modes. These modes can implement very simple recipes, such as Supra MWS-1724: cooking popcorn, baked potatoes, pizza and drinks.

Or more complicated, like the Samsung MW733KR, where the menu is divided into breakfast 7 recipes , lunch 8 , dinner 7 and holiday 8 , and it includes such dishes as pikeperch with tomatoes and cheese, pork neck with mustard and meat solyanka.

The rarest are the auto-heat programs, perhaps due to the fact that heating is the easiest to program, most users quickly get used to the fact that a plate of mashed potatoes can be heated in 2 minutes., Glass of milk in 1 min., and a spoonful of butter in 20 seconds.

However, there are such programs. For example, Sharp has a beverage warmer, Midea has two programs for auto-heating food and beverages, Samsung has three: chilled or frozen ready-to-eat meals and beverages.

Program and memorize

Another automatic function is programming – creating a mini-algorithm of multistep action. In the case of solo ovens, this algorithm has only 2 steps: defrosting and cooking LG MS-2048GG, Rolsen MS1770SH, Erisson MW-17SD .

The memory function works in a slightly different way. It is in demand in case of frequent use of any identical settings, e.g. maximum power of 2 min. reheating second dishes . The function allows you to activate your mode by pressing just one button.

In the solo ovens, “memory” is not as common, the largest selection offered in the range of Samsung, there are also Bosch HMT 75M420 and Midea EM821LMO.

One-button deal

To simplify the task even further, the oven can be equipped with an express cooking function, or “quick start. It activates the maximum power mode, which operates for a limited time often 30 seconds . , turns on at the push of a button – very convenient. Examples of models: Supra MWS-1734, BBK MO2591B, Erisson MW-17DD.

To prevent unauthorized users from turning on the device inadvertently, the panel locks. This function is very common, there are a lot of models equipped with it, most often it is called childproofing.

Punctuality – politeness of kings

Some microwave ovens are equipped with a time programming function, it is called delayed start. Function allows to appoint the moment of turning on the program to get a ready meal by the required hour with the minutes.

It can be used to make breakfast in time for the family to wake up, or dinner for everyone to come home. In solo models, this function is not as common as among the microwave in general, but there are many to choose from, the price ranges from 1600 to 6000 Dollars. Examples of models: Gorenje MO17DE, Scarlett SC-1710 2011 , Mystery MMW-1707.

How much you have to pay extra

The price of solo appliances ranges over a very wide range. The cheapest oven can be bought already for 1500 Dollars. Fusion MWF-1701, Erisson MW-17MD, Supra MWS-1714 , the most expensive costs about 9000 Dollars. Brandt Baby F2 . The closest to the upper price threshold are also Whirlpool appliances of Max series.

If we consider the ovens depending on the control system, we will see the following picture. Mechanics give the most affordable appliances, although you can buy a cheap oven with electronic control for only 100-200 Dollars extra. Erisson MW-17SA 1600 rbl. .

Herewith the price of the models with mechanical regulators is up to 4500 Dollars. Vitek VT-1667N , and maximum by the solo ovens in general belongs to microwave ovens with electronic control.

Controlling the “heart”

In the family of solo microwave ovens, there is a special group – a few ovens from Panasonic, they use an inverter to control the “heart” of the oven, the magnetron. The inverter technology provides flexible control of operating power.

In conventional ovens, this does not happen, because the power is always turned on at the maximum, and the intensity of exposure ie, the required level of reduction is provided by longer pauses between turning off and on the magnetron.

Panasonic invertor furnaces have electronic control with automatics and cost from 3500 to 5500 Dollars., Which fits in the mid-price range. The inverter is also used in Toshiba ovens, but there are no solo models among them.

On all fumes

Microwaves are increasingly equipped with additional features that widen the range of dishes that can be cooked with them. In solo ovens, steaming is the most common steam cooking function.

This function is implemented quite simply: no steam generators are used here, a special steamer is added to the set of ovens – a two-story construction with an airtight cap.

The first level of this design is filled with water, which in the process of heating turns into steam. Products are stacked on the floor above and covered with a cap.

Steaming can be combined with microwave effect the cap transmits radiation, for example, Samsung MW73BR-X or go without it metal cap detains the radiation, for example, LG MS-2388DEB . Models with steam cooking function are available in Samsung, LG, Daewoo Electronics, Whirlpool, BBK collections. The cost ranges from 2000 to 7000 Dollars.

You can buy a plastic steamer for the microwave separately for 300-500 Dollars.

Company secrets

Solo ovens use the same specific technical features as in more complex appliances:

– These are the wave distribution systems that promote a more even cooking process. For example, Baumatic, Whirlpool 3D system, technology C.t.r. Samsung, Intellowave for LG, concave reflector system C.R.S. of Daewoo Electronics.

– More advanced defrosting technologies: the Samsung accelerated defrost, Whirlpool’s Jet Defrost, Panasonic’s inverter or accelerated turbo defrost.

– Coatings are easier to care for: Samsung bioceramic, Daewoo Electronics acrylic coating or Baumatic fingerprint protection.

Often these designs are used in more expensive models.

To be beautiful

The design specifics in solo appliances are completely consistent with the overall picture for the microwave class as a whole. Models have 4 types of design: fantasy with volumetric, complex door forms, asymmetry, contrasting color combination of materials , business-like simple, strict, without excesses , technological emphasis on steel, its finish, clear contours and lines, the specific control unit , with touches of retro reference to the 60th, rounded contours, bright colors .

As for colors, the leader belongs to white, followed by a family of ovens, made in stainless steel color, there are models in black. It is possible to buy a device with a more intricate shade: yellow Daewoo Electronics KOR-5A07Y , red Whirlpool MAX 25 RP, Daewoo Electronics KOR-8A3R , green Daewoo Electronics KOR-5A07G .