Kitchen Appliances

What are microwaves?

Microwave ovens are designed for people on the move as they can cook meals in minutes, or reheat leftovers. Some of today’s models even include grills and fan ovens, making them ideal if you’re short on space. They use radio waves – usually around 2,500MHz – to heat food. Bear in mind that microwaves are not absorbed by most plastics, ceramics and glass – but are reflected by metal. So never put metal objects into a microwave oven.

What types of microwave ovens are available?

There are several types of microwave ovens available including:

• Microwave only: Can be used to reheat, defrost and cook foods.
• Microwaves with grills: Features all of the features of a standard microwave but will also include a grill which can be used on its own or for browning and crisping.
• Combi microwaves: This is a combined microwave with grill and a convection oven with functions that can be used independently or together.
• Built-in microwaves: Ideal for designer kitchens they free up worktop space.

What to consider?

When choosing a microwave oven, the first considerations are usually size and power. Capacities can vary from 17litres to more than 32litres; while power usually varies from 800W to 1,100W – the higher the power, the quicker your food will cook.

There may also be additional features available with a microwave, including: preset programmes; sensor cooking, which detects the moisture in the food and the oven’s humidity and adjusts cooking times and power accordingly; turbo reheating, for fast reheating of soups; catalytic or pyrolytic linings that are self-cleaning; and chaos defrost, which can reduce defrosting times even further.

Ekco has built a strong reputation for offering quality kitchens throughout Glasgow, Edinburgh and across Scotland. Its range of microwave ovens is no exception – so check out the listings to see what’s available now.