Microwave Buying Guide: Common Mistakes to Avoid

Choosing a new microwave can be more complex than it first appears. The market is flooded with models advertising numerous features and technical specs. But not every advertised feature proves useful in daily life. In fact, the most tempting marketing promises often lead to buyer's remorse. This guide will help you identify the crucial criteria and find an appliance that truly meets your needs.

The 3 Most Common Traps When Buying a Microwave

Before you decide on a model, you should be aware of the typical pitfalls that often lead to disappointment.

1. The Capacity Trap: Manufacturers often advertise a large cavity volume in litres. In practice, however, a large turntable significantly restricts the usable area. A small microwave with 20 litres might be sufficient for a round plate, but a rectangular casserole dish often won't fit or will block the rotation, leading to unevenly heated food.
2. The All-in-One Illusion: A combination microwave with grill and convection functions promises to replace your oven. However, in many budget-friendly models, these additional functions are underpowered. The grill browns slowly, and the convection feature doesn't match the performance of a full-sized oven. The result is rarely a crispy pizza or an evenly baked cake.
3. The Wattage Myth: A high wattage (e.g., 800 watts or more) is often presented as a mark of quality. However, without technology for even heat distribution, more power simply means food burns on the outside while remaining cold on the inside. The wattage figure alone is therefore only of limited value.

What Really Matters: The Decisive Parameters

To make an informed decision, you should focus on the following three core aspects.

1. Cavity: Usable Space, Not Just Volume

The specified volume in litres is a starting point, but the actual usable space is more critical.

• With a Turntable: Measure the diameter of the turntable. This determines the maximum size of your round dishes. For rectangular shapes, the usable space must be measured diagonally, which is often impractical. Models with 20 litres to 23 litres are usually sufficient for individuals and small households.
• Flatbed Microwave (No Turntable): These appliances use a microwave reflector at the bottom to distribute heat. The entire cavity floor is a flat, usable surface. This allows for the use of large, rectangular cookware and makes cleaning significantly easier.

2. Functions: What You Actually Need

Modern microwaves can do more than just reheat. Consider which functions are relevant to your daily routine.

• Solo Microwave: The basic appliance for heating and defrosting. Ideal if you already own an oven. A power output of 700 watts to 800 watts is generally sufficient for this.
• Microwave with Grill: An additional heating element at the top of the cavity allows for browning and grilling food. Look for a grill power of at least 1000 watts for satisfactory results.
• Microwave with Convection: An integrated fan circulates hot air throughout the cavity, similar to a convection oven. This function is suitable for baking cakes, crisping up rolls, or preparing a crispy pizza.
• Combination Microwave with Steam Function: These appliances allow for the gentle cooking of vegetables or fish using steam. A special container is usually required for this.

3. Build and Design

The microwave should blend harmoniously into your kitchen.

• Freestanding: These models can be placed flexibly and only require a power socket. They are available in various colours such as black, white, or with a stainless steel finish.
• Built-in Microwave: These appliances are integrated seamlessly into a kitchen cabinet, creating a uniform look. The niche dimensions of the cabinet must exactly match the appliance's dimensions.

Recommended for your needs

Here are some models tailored to different user profiles.

SUITABLE FOR: BUDGET-CONSCIOUS BEGINNERS

COMFEE' 700w 20 Litre Digital Microwave Oven

Why it's a good fit: Ideal for students or individuals looking for a compact and straightforward appliance for quick heating and defrosting. Operation is very simple thanks to digital controls and preset programmes.

How It Avoids the Trap

This appliance is an honest solo microwave. It doesn't promise over-the-top combination features and focuses on its core task. The compact 20-litre capacity is appropriate and transparent for its intended purpose.

Key Advantage

Six automatic programmes and an express cook function significantly simplify daily use. Operation is intuitive, even without studying the manual.

SUITABLE FOR: THE FLEXIBLE FAMILY

Bauknecht MF 259 SG Microwave/Extra Space

Why it's a good fit: A versatile combination microwave for families who want to do more than just reheat. It offers grill, convection, and steam functions and is also suitable for large, rectangular casserole dishes thanks to its flatbed design.

How It Avoids the Trap

This model solves the capacity trap with its "ExtraSpace" technology, a flatbed microwave. The entire 25-litre floor is usable. The combination functions are solidly powered at 1300W (Grill) and 1500W (Convection).

Key Advantage

The combination of a flatbed cavity and a Crisp function offers great flexibility and delivers crispy results often unachievable with standard combination models.

SUITABLE FOR: DESIGN-FOCUSED HOMEOWNERS

Samsung MC32DB7746KDE1 Bespoke Microwave

Why it's a good fit: For users who value aesthetics, modern technology, and seamless kitchen integration. This Samsung microwave combines a large 32-litre capacity with advanced cooking functions and smart controls.

How It Avoids the Trap

This premium appliance avoids the all-in-one illusion by offering specialised, high-performance functions like AirFry and Healthy Steam. It's designed as a fully-fledged secondary cooking appliance, not a compromise.

Key Advantage

The Smart Control function via an app allows for remote operation and monitoring. The Bespoke design in "Clean Navy" adds a modern accent that goes beyond pure functionality.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How many watts should a good microwave have?

For basic tasks like heating and defrosting, 700 to 800 watts is perfectly adequate. Models with 900 to 1000 watts will heat food faster. For a combination microwave, the power of the additional functions is just as important: a grill function should have at least 1000 watts and a convection function over 1200 watts to achieve effective results. However, even heat distribution is more important than the raw wattage number.

Can you put square plates in a microwave with a turntable?

This is often problematic. A square plate can hit the corners of the cavity, blocking the turntable's rotation. This results in the food being heated on only one side. To avoid this, measure the diagonal of the cavity and compare it to the diagonal of your dish. A safer and more flexible solution is a flatbed microwave, where the entire floor space can be used.

What's the difference between a microwave with a grill and one with a convection function?

Both are features of combination appliances but serve different purposes.

• The grill function uses a heating element at the top of the cavity to radiate heat from above. It is ideal for browning, gratinating, or melting cheese on dishes like lasagne or cheese on toast.
• The convection function works with a ring heating element and a fan that circulates hot air throughout the cavity. This simulates the function of a fan-assisted oven and is suitable for baking cakes, pizzas, or cooking roasts.