The size of a microwave oven is defined by its cavity volume.

 

By European standards, built in microwave ovens are limited to 20 / 23 / 25 / 28 litres capacity.

Despite being invented & used since 1955, some are still suspicious of the health & safety aspect of microwave ovens due to the apparent lack of a heat source.

 

Microwave ovens cook not through heat transmission but by microwaves emitted by a magnetron. The microwave is the exact wavelength of the water molecules in the food, agitating them to vibrate & generate heat. The food cooks from the inside, making it fast & especially effective for reheating.

The internal cavity of a microwave oven may be made from enameled steel or stainless steel material.

​

Top of the line microwave ovens use food grade 304 stainless steel material for the cavity construction.

Entry level microwave ovens are equipped with simple knobs for power setting & time adjustments.

​

High end microwave ovens feature digital control interfaces to provide  users with multiple automatic cooking programs, preset timers to switch on or off.

 

Some high end microwave ovens may be equipped with the grill function that are operated alone or in combination with the microwave function.

​

Food cooked with by the microwave is known to be bland, the grill function improves the colour & taste dramatically.

​

The two cooking methods are complimentary since microwave cooks from the inside & grill from the outside.

A free-standing microwave placed on the counter top occupies useful (and expensive) space that could have been used for food preparation.

 

On the other hand, a built-in microwave tucks neatly into your kitchen cabinet revealing only the door and control panel which are really the only interface you need.

 

True, a free stand microwave microwave cost less to buy but the counter top space it occupies is worth far more.

​

 

​